Vermicomposting – if you didn’t already know – is the practice of using earthworms to turn organic matter into castings, which can then be used as organic fertilizer.   Worm castings are extraordinarily rich in nutrients, and as an extra added ICKY bonus, contain worm saliva, which keeps the nutrients from washing away.

How freaking cool is that??

Anyway, several weeks ago, my most generous employer (and fellow gardening enthusiast – though I think she’s shooting for micro-farmer this year) purchased for us a Can-O-Worms.  As you can see from the link, it’s a nifty contraption that allows you to add kitchen waste for wormies to make into worm castings and worm compost tea.  It even has a handy spigot on the bottom for the collection of the latter.  

The wormies arrived today, so I set to getting their Can together.  I do wish the shipper had marked the outside of the box in some fashion, though, and I might not have shaken it (and ultimately dropped it) on the way back into the house.  The wormies are fine, of course – what, a fall might break their spines??

Anyway, I took the parts and supplies out to the shadiest spot in the garden, and set to.  This is where it will live:
 

This might have to change once the sun moves back to summer declination, but for now it’s the perfect spot.

Started by putting the round part of the cardboard packaging in the first section, to keep the bedding from falling through:
 

The coir bedding soaked up a bucket full of water while I did that.
 

That was spread on top of the cardboard and then the wormies were added:
 

Most of them were clumped in a big, nasty, wriggly ball:
 

Gah.

The kids had to come out and watch them burrow for the bottom:
 

Note the girlchild, hanging sensibly back.  Boychild would have undoubtedly tried to shove the wormball down her shirt otherwise.  Dorks.

Added the second section and the, er, fragrant kitchen scraps we’d been saving for our new guests:

Going to have to check that in a couple of days, make sure it isn’t too much at once.  Then capped the can and saved the two other sections for months down the road, when the wormies work their way up into the second section.  

It takes about 12 months to get the system really going, but if there’s one thing this whole gardening adventure teaches, it’s patience.  And the reward is going to make for some seriously happy plants.