I am a compost fraud
Of sorts. The truth is, I volunteered to help feed the vermicomposting installation at Hallwalls (Music for Worms and Compost) at an insouciant moment during the opening night celebrations. I think the offer was made at around 1:30 a.m.
Not that feeding compost is any big deal, but I don't compost and never have. I don't save scraps in a bucket under the sink or whatever. After casting about (would X café give me their scraps, etc.) I came up with the easiest solution, which is to simply buy the appropriate matter from the supermarket. So as I write this I have a plastic container filled with attractive layers of torn up lettuce, cut-up carrots, a few stalks from old paperwhites, and some cilantro. It's quite pretty. It's all been sitting at room temp for a while, and seems wilted enough. I hope the worms like the little salad I have prepared for them.
This week it's Boston lettuce; next week I'll try them with some radicchio or maybe some curly endive.
Not that feeding compost is any big deal, but I don't compost and never have. I don't save scraps in a bucket under the sink or whatever. After casting about (would X café give me their scraps, etc.) I came up with the easiest solution, which is to simply buy the appropriate matter from the supermarket. So as I write this I have a plastic container filled with attractive layers of torn up lettuce, cut-up carrots, a few stalks from old paperwhites, and some cilantro. It's quite pretty. It's all been sitting at room temp for a while, and seems wilted enough. I hope the worms like the little salad I have prepared for them.
This week it's Boston lettuce; next week I'll try them with some radicchio or maybe some curly endive.
Comments
Amy Stewart's blog has a link to a worm composting handout with a list of stuff you can feed them. It includes shredded paper, hair, and dryer lint (admittedly not as colorful as radicchio, but a lot cheaper).
The thing that stopped me from making the vermicomposting leap is most 'clean' multi-level worm bins require an exact arrangement of food (first the food can't touch the ceiling of the current level, then it has to so the worms can 'climb up' and leave the castings behind).
You can compost in a plastic tub, but when you want castings you have to throw the whole mess on a tarp in the driveway and sort the worms from the castings. No thanks.
For the present, I am still thankful for the garbage disposal.
Thank you. Oh, dear.