Worm Nannies

What You Received:

• Plastic bin (white) - with small air holes, painted black & sealed with Mod Podge

• 2 pieces of coco coir

• Paper crinkles

• Tea bags for creating food packages

• Red wriggler composting worms (not pictured)

Common foods to feed the worms:

• • Veggie scraps

  • Used coffee grounds

  • Eggshells

• No citrus

• No animal waste, meat, or bones

Tips:

• Check twice a week - if it's dry spritz it with water

• How much food? Make a package of food and see how long it takes them to eat it

• Rotate your packages of food scraps around the bin; add another package when the first package is almost gone

• Worms prefer darkness but need airflow; leave the lid offset for airflow

Why Do We Need Worm Nannies?

• The goal is to keep the worms alive over winter so we don't have to buy more worms next year.

• Worms don't like it too cold, 55° is when we start our nanny program - usually around Oct. 12 through May.

• No worries if the worms don't make it - this is a learning experience for all of us!

• We'll have a group chat for the worm nannies in case we have questions.

• You are welcome to use any worm castings created - house plants, save for your garden, or keep the castings in the bin and we can put them in the bin in the spring at the garden.

Additional Information:

• Worms are from ABC composting in Aurora. You can place an order online and they will email you for a pickup day/time. I've previously purchased from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm, but ABC worms are much better quality!

• Book recommendation: “Worms Eat My Garbage” by Mary Appelhof

• Link to "Worms Are Our Buddies" on Facebook group

• Links to Denver Urban Gardens basics of vermicomposting pages:

  • Tips for vermicomposting

  • Basics of Vermicomposting