Click
here if you'd like
to see a video of Mary
herself inside a worm bin.
Click below to listen to the
Worm Woman as she answers
some of Wendell's tough questions.
What would the world
be like without
worms?
AIFF | WAV
But Mary, after all, I'm
sure, like many
humans, you think
that us worms are
really pretty yucky
when you get down to
it, right?
AIFF | WAV
What are some of the
fanciest worm bins
you've ever seen?
AIFF |
WAV
|
A Special Yucky Interview
Dateline: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Wendell the Worm here. Today we'll be interviewing Mary Appelhof, better known as the Worm Woman.
Wendell: Mary, I understand that you've been a friend of my species for
over 25 years. I admire your good taste, but please tell us how you got interested in worms.
Mary the Worm Woman: I built my first worm bin and the worms ate my garbage. I was
amazed! That was the beginning of a life
 long
friendship. With a worm bin in your basement or garage, you can watch the worms, see them lay
cocoons and see the worms hatch. It is fascinating!
Wendell: I read your book, Worms Eat My Garbage; it sure was interesting. Could
you tell our friends at Yucky all about worm composting and how a worm
bin works?
Mary the Worm Woman: You start by buying or building a special container. The container
must let air in. Then you add bedding, this could be shredded newspaper, leaf mold, animal manure,
coconut fiber or wood chips.
Wendell: Not my style, but it sounds comfy!
Mary the Worm Woman: That's the idea! Now you add some water, a little bit of soil and
some worms.
Wendell: Worms? You mean like me?
Mary the Worm Woman: No, composting is not your kind of work, the worms for this job
are called redworms or composting worms. They are earthworms, but a different species than the
worms that live in soil, like you Wendell. Composting worms live off of organic material, they
reproduce well, and they can tolerate being stirred up all the time.
Wendell: Let's take a closer look at this worm bin, Mary. I can see there are holes in it.
Mary the Worm Woman: Those are air holes. If your worm bin has a top on it, then you
will need air holes on the top, sides or bottom. The holes allow oxygen to get in. This is called
aeration and it's an important part of the process.
Wendell: Looks some like there are some old, wet newspapers inside. Worms don't read,
so why do they need newspapers?
Mary the Worm Woman: Shredded newspapers make the bedding for the worms. This bedding
needs to be a little moist to keep the worms skin moist. All worms need moisture because they
"breathe" through their skin.
Wendell: There's also some of my favorite stuff in there - dirt.
Mary the Worm Woman: That's right, Wendell. We add just a little soil to the worm bin
when we are preparing for our guests, the worms. Redworms are litter dwellers, they prefer leaves
and manure and garbage. But a little soil provides grit to help them break down food particles in
their gizzards. And it helps the composting process. Now we're ready for worms! You can order worms
by mail. When they arrive, you put them in the bin, make them comfortable and give them plenty of
your food scraps to eat. They'll go to work making the nicest soil you could imagine.
Wendell: I hate to think of my cousins getting hit over the head with meat bones. Do
people throw all their garbage in the bin?
Mary the Worm Woman: We don't recommend it, Wendell. A little meat and bones won't
hurt, but the best stuff to add is fruit and vegetable scraps from cooking, egg shells, coffee
grinds, tea bags and the food left on your plate after a meal.
Wendell: I understand why you want to get rid of your stinky garbage, but why do you
want to make dirt?
Mary the Worm Woman: Vermicomposting, that's the proper word for composting with worms,
creates good, nutrient rich soil that helps gardens grow. And it gives humans a clean, odor-free,
environmentally correct way to get rid of garbage. The worms get a good meal and their poop, or
castings, produces good soil that helps us grow better flowers and vegetables.
Wendell: Then you eat the vegetables, make more garbage and start all over!
Mary the Worm Woman: That's right, Wendell! And it's what makes worm composting a great
thing for everyone to do. By the way, the bin is a great place for the worms to reproduce, so we
have plenty of worms for fishing. And that starts a whole new cycle.
Wendell: How can our Yucky friends start their own worm bins?
Mary the Worm Woman: You can click here for directions or,
for even more information, you should read my book Worms Eat My
Garbage or watch my video.
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