Salty Lemons

Eisenia fetida, commonly called red worms from my 2011 archive

May 12, 2011

Worms

I have been wanting to compost with worms for many years, ever since I first watched someone harvest their vermicompost. The person was a former landlord (think Christopher Walken's long lost twin) of The Swede's. I observed as the landlord mounded some of the matter prompting the worms to crawl downwards. He was then able to scoop some from the top, worm free, and held it for me to smell. It had a sweet, robust, earthy scent. I was instantly sold on the method, and have been pining to get worms ever since. Last week, I finally got my wish, nearly seven years later.

The Swede has been understandably reluctant to compost indoors using a worm bin. If it is done right, it is low maintenance and wonderful. If it is done wrong, you have a mess (and putrid smell) on your hands. He finally agreed to an outdoor trial run in Plot95. If all goes well, we will bring the worms indoors for the winter, then back out again each spring. We found a discarded fruit crate while out biking that we modified into a worm bin. We lined it with wire mesh to allow for air circulation while keeping rodents out. We also built an inverted lid that I will line with plastic and then fill with soil and either succulents or lettuce. The worms will soon have their own rooftop garden to keep them cool and to keep out the rain. What luxury.

I ordered the worms at the cost of $22 per pound, and then picked them up at The Lower East Side Ecology Center's stand at the Union Square Farmers Market. I was skeptical that there were really 1,000 worms, which the woman quoted, in the milk carton I was handed since it was half full and not very heavy. But later that evening as The Swede and I transferred the worms into their new home, more and more worms revealed themselves until there was a clumped mass of them at the bottom; I was now a believer. (They like to be as far away from the light as possible.) We had prepped the bin by filling it halfway with shredded newspaper and dampening it. The worms were then scattered on top and covered with food scraps and dried leaves. Several days in and they are happily munching away. A few days ago, I added leftover pulp from a carrot, apple, celery, ginger, and lime juice I made. I also added some washed crushed eggshells which supposedly encourages them to procreate. Soon I hope there will be worm baby stories to share.

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