Gardening by Cathy

Upside down plants can take a lot of water and so have a tendency to dry out the soil faster than just a regular hanging basket filled with flowers would. Hence, adding worm soil just may reduce the number of times you have to water.
Red worms or squirmies, affectionately named by my husband, [...]

Red worms or making vermicompost can be an all encompassing job or a relaxing hobby. It all depends on how you approach it. For starters these worms are not native, so do not expect them to thrive in the heat of the summer which can be anywhere from 90- 100 degrees Fahrenheit. [...]

A big thank you goes out to Paul and Cyndi Muller for opening their farm generously again for the 5th year!!! Without their vision, the Illinois-Wisconsin region would be a poorer place in terms of homesteading people interacting and connecting.
As usual it was a rounding success. Success can be measured in both quantity and [...]

If you liked the previous painting by Jory Sherman, there are more treats in store. The Winnesboro today has published a Father’s day piece on him that you can view here. They even show some of his paintings.
His paintings exude vibrant colors and are a delight to the eyes. His western [...]

What if you don’t see any cocoons after a few months?  Then you first need to check the temperature.  Does the bedding feel hot or cold to the touch?  Grains can heat up the compost, so perhaps you should cut back on the amount of grains or leave them out altogether.  Next, check for smells.  [...]

For adequate drainage, be sure to drill holes in the individual tray bottoms and/or sides of the bins or construct the bin of chicken wire which is full of holes. Lastly, if you are using a plastic container, leaving the lid ajar would also promote air circulation. The red worms may not need a fan, [...]

Next, sprinkle a light layer of crushed eggshells, followed by a light layer of sand. Since the worms do not have teeth, by swallowing sand grains it helps their muscular gizzard to grind away at the vegetable matter. Next, a light layer of soil gives them some additional bacteria to aid breaking down [...]

Growing your own red worms is easy if you remember a few basic rules. Worms need oxygen just as humans do, only their exchange site of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide is their skin instead of lungs. Therefore, worms need adequate circulation. Worms also live in temperatures that we are able to [...]

Today with the concern that we are slowly poisoning ourselves it is comforting to know that there is an all organic alternative to chemical fertilizers. Vermicomposting refers to the turning of our vegetable garbage into a soil additive called Worm Castings.
The natural fertilizer contained in worm castings is very high in nutrients. Take [...]