Build a Wormery

Sounds a little gross, doesn’t it? Actually, this organic project helps rid your garbage of some table scraps and, if added to your garden, will add nutrients to your soil that no other product can match! Not to mention, worms help aerate your soil, improve it’s condition (by breaking down rotting plant waste in the soil) and they produce a much higher quality of compost as they eat their way through the kitchen waste. All of this help from the worms makes for a wonderful environment for your plants to thrive. An added bonus, your little ones will enjoy watch the little squirmers while they are in the jar. Let’s get started!

Materials Needed

- One large, clean, glass jar with a lid
- Moist soil
- Sand
- Earthworms
- Old leaves
- Vegetable peelings, tea leaves, overripe fruit
- Some black construction paper
- Tape
- A Cool, dark place
- Newspaper

Putting It All Together

First, cover your work area with newspaper to later help with clean up. It is also important to wash and dry your jar as certain types of food particles can harbor harmful bacteria. Next, place a 1/2” layer of sand in the bottom of the jar. Next, add a thick layer of soil, topped by another 1/2” layer of sand and then top that with another thick layer of soil; make sure to leave about 2” of free space at the top of the jar. Next you need to locate the star of this project, earthworms! You can either look for these outdoors or purchase them, whichever method works best for you. Place the worms in the jar and add some old leaves, veggie peelings, tea leaves and a little overripened fruit, if you have any. Next, punch a few holes in the lid so that the earthworms receive plenty of air and securely tighten the lid onto the jar. Tape black construction paper around the jar and place in a cool, dark, dry place for a couple of weeks and observe what the worms are up to! What has happened to the veggie peelings? What patterns have the earthworms made in the soil?

Tips
- Do not let the worms stay in the light for any length of time (do not let them get dry, either). It is best to carry a small jar of soil to place your worms in, once gathered.

-Always keep the contents of the jar moist, not too wet and definitely not too dry. Worms ‘breathe’ through their skin, which must be damp for this to happen. The jar should not be put anywhere too cold, either.

Did You Know?
Fun Fact: Charles Darwin studied worms for 39 years and concluded that life on earth would not be possible without them. Mainly because they increase soil fertility so efficiently, but also because they reduce quantities of plant waste.

Have Fun!
Heather W.
Fairview Greenhouses & Garden Center