Worm Farming

Hello everybody! As promised, this week I will talk about worms! More specifically, I will start by talking about worm manure, why it is so great, then go into how you can start your own worm farm!

Vermicompost, worm casings, and black gold are just a few names to describe the glorious excrement that comes from composting worms. Arguably the most premium nutrient supplement you can add to your soil, red wigglers are used commercially to create worm manure. 

The advantages of using any kind of organic soil supplement, but especially vermicompost, over a conventional fertilizer are countless and there are only 2 disadvantages I can think of. 

Pro: Worm manure contains all the minerals a plant needs to stay healthy. Conventional fertilizers only supply macronutrients; specifically, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium (NPK). As a result, continual use of conventional fertilizer will rob the soil of its micronutrients, like Iron, Calcium, Zinc, Boron, Magnesium...I think there are nine in total. Basically, plants take up all the available micronutrients they can while making use of the abundant NPK, until the micronutrients become limiting factors to the plants growth. Over time, no amount of inorganic fertilizer will help them thrive when minerals like Iron, used to create chlorophyll, or Zinc which regulates plant growth, are missing from the soil.

Con: Worm manure is more expensive to buy from the store than conventional fertilizers.

Pro: Worm manure is easy to make yourself. Conventional fertilizer... forget about it.

Pro: Worm manure also contains beneficial microbes which help create and maintain a resilient and bio-diverse soil community. This community supports the plant and makes nutrients more accessible to the plants fine root hairs. Conventional fertilizers often create extreme soil conditions that singe off those fine root hairs and kill the microbes in association with the plant. Consequently, the plant needs to be watered more because it lacks a healthy root system. Even worse, the plant is more susceptible to new plant diseases who now have all the resources they could want in a soil community sterilized from all of its competitors. 

Con: The nutrients in worm manure are released more slowly into the soil community. Thus is takes longer than conventional fertilizer to get the plant what it needs.

Pro: The nutrients of worm manure stay in the soil where they are needed. Conventional fertilizers often leech into the groundwater and pollute the environment and surrounding habitats.

So, at this point you are probably thinking one of two things. 1) "Jeff, I get it, worm manure is better.. please move on," or 2) "OMG I feel so empowered to learn more! Quick, tell me how I can make my own and not feel like I'm being ripped off from the store!"

Well, either way, here's how I did it. The picture to the right shows the bin which I constructed of redwood. The dimensions are 2.5' tall x 3' wide x 6' long. Making sure the worms don't overheat or get too cold is important. Making a bin that is low to the ground and using plenty of bedding and  cover will prevent extreme temperature fluctuations. In addition, you never want the bin to be waterlogged so make sure there is drainage. The worms need access to air as well.

NOTE: Access to air does not necessarily mean an open container. You want the worms to have a home where they don't have to compete with flies, roaches, or rats for their food. This bin did have a lid which closed down on top. However, the lid did not close very snugly and I had a fly problem with this bin. 

So, I re-purposed the bin into a raised bed, where you can see zucchini and tomatoes growing, and made version 2.0 out of a broken refrigerator that my fraternity was going to throw away. This is the perfect worm farm. It is insulated, retains moisture, and is sealed air-tight to keep out flies and other pests. Because it is air-tight, I had to drill some holes on the sides so the worms could breathe and just taped some mesh over the holes to keep out flies.

So, with this old fridge, I adopted a small starter colony of worms from the Ecological Garden at the UC Davis Student Farm. I simply tucked the little wigglers into a bed of damp, yet fluffed out, newspapers and gave them just a little food to snack on. Once I was sure that the population was growing I started feeding them more, and more, until now, I just can't feed them enough!

So to conclude, I thought I would leave you all with a big ol' picture that showcases the raw awesomeness of version 2.0. BEHOLD!




Next week: Fall companion planting!

P.s. When reading the paint on the side of the Bad Fridge you may have noticed that "NON ORGANIC PRODUCE" is on the side marked with an unhappy face. You CAN feed worms conventional, non-organic, produce. I just didn't want any residual pesticides or herbicides to end up in my compost. Okay, The End.

Mosaic Stepping Stones

Hello again, as foreshadowed at the end of my last post, today's post will be about mosaic stepping stones!

Stepping stones are wonderful. I just cant say enough good stuff about them.


They can be designed to be focal points in a garden, enhance the colors in nearby vegetation, or you can place them in series to act as little targets for the feet of children, who may otherwise take a detour through your lovely flower patch.


A single, intricate, and particularly colorful stone can be placed in a remote part of the garden. This is the kind of thing that can lift your spirits when you are hanging your head and just feel like staring at the ground. They transform broken plates and tears into beautiful art .

They make great conversation pieces too. They can be made from sea shells that were collected during a beach vacation, favorite rocks from a hiking trip, or even the broken glass from David and Rachel's wedding ceremony.

As you can see in the picture to the left, this stepping stone is made from broken dishware. The dishware was collected by the UC Davis Dining Services staff whenever a student would drop a piece of colorful "fiesta-ware."

If you are blessed enough to be in range of a large scale cafeteria or restaurant with clumsy waiters I would suggest networking a little bit to recieve some free art supplies. Simply explain to the manager that you are concerned about waste in the food industry and hint that the business' name is sure to come up in conversation whenever somebody asks, "Oh my, what a beautiful stepping stone! Where on earth did you find all those plates?"

Instructions:

This is not a step-by-step guide complete with mixing ratios. The following is simply a couple of pointers that the bag of mortar, or box of grout won't tell you.

Planning:

Once you have collected your broken plates or leftover bathroom tiles. Roughly lay out the pieces onto the stone to make a design. Consider the function of the tile when creating the design. If the stepping stone is being used to facilitate heavy foot traffic, it is pretty important to use flat pieces to create a uniform and durable stepping surface.

Mortar:
Use the instructions on the bag to mix your mortar. In order to glue the pieces in place, Apply some mortar to the back of the tile like you are smearing a big glob of thick peanut butter onto the back of a cracker. Next, smush the tile down onto the stone, so that the mortar squishes out from the sides. Just make sure that the side squish does not come above the level of the tile. Otherwise, the mortar will interfere with the grouting process.

Grout:
Mix the grout and apply generously into every nook and cranny of the design. Don't be scared to really cake it on thick. The grout doesn't dry very fast and you can always smear it to other parts of the stone that are lacking. Once you have grouted the design, reinforce the rim of the stone to reduce the chance that someone will trip and break a piece of tile off. I like to use my hands, once the grout has dried a little bit, to smooth down the contours of the stone, and shape the rim.

Polishing:
After the grout has dried for about 20 minutes,  take a slightly damp rag and gently wipe off any grout that is stuck to the surface of the mosaic pieces. Careful not to make the rag too damp, otherwise it becomes too easy to wipe off more grout than you bargained for. After 2 hours, the grout should start getting pretty hard. Use the damp rag again to finish polishing the mosaic pieces until they shine.

And there you have it, your very own signature garden piece! So, start collecting those broken dishes and give them a life beyond the landfill.

Next week: Worms!

Looking forward,
Jeff

Open for Business!

For my first post on this blog it seems appropriate to write about where the business is going and how it got started. My intention is to keep my clients, friends, and family up to date with my professional endeavours and, hopefully, to inspire you, the reader, with all kinds of ways to get involved in your food system! 

Now that you know my intention, I will admit that this first post is not nearly as professional as I promise future posts will be. Anyways, here's where I am going with this: 

Edible Landscape Solutions (ELS)  is a garden consultation business that can install raised garden beds, compost systems, and chicken coops. The clients are then invited to periodic workshops which serve as tutorials; teaching those involved how to grow and use their own food. 

The goal of ELS is not to turn every front lawn into a row cropping operation. The goal is to get people excited about growing their own food by creating dynamic gardens which incorporate annual crops into an ornamental landscape full of color and nutrients. 

This blog will highlight different projects that I am working on, advertise workshops that are coming up in the future, and serve as an online portfolio for those interested in a consultation. 

But how did this journey begin? (Warning: sentimental section ahead)

Well, I suppose the path which led to the creation of ELS begins on my Great Grandfather's farm in Landenberg, Pennsylvania (pictured left) and meanders around the inspiring people and teachers I have had in my life.

This farm gives me something to fight for. The experiences I have accumulated here has helped cultivate a massive sense of appreciation for nature and seeded my desire to protect and restore the balance of things. The first 13 summers of my life were spent exploring  the surrounding woods and creeks of this 48 acre piece of paradise. This farm is the reason why I love the smell of compost. Every time I close my eyes and smell a handful of casings from my worm bin, I am instantly taken back to my Pop-Pop's woods. I can see myself standing among the trees, inhaling the aroma of the wet forest floor. Now, I can see myself searching for insects to throw into my pet spider's web or perhaps more toads to keep safe in  the window well above the basement. 

Just as the farm gave me something to fight for, the following acknowledgements are made to those who taught me to fight:

It was my AP Environmental Science teacher in High School who opened my eyes to the injustices that humanity had inflicted on the earth and inspired me to pursue further education in the subject matter. Thank you, Mr. Holloway.

It was my college adviser who put the bug in my head that I might want to try my hand at growing my own food. Thank you, Liz. 

It was the Kids in the Garden program at the Student Farm that showed me that I could inspire the next generation of citizens to appreciate good food and biodiversity. Thank you, Carol and Maggie. 

It was the director of the Student Farm that showed me how to organize and mobilize a group of individuals, with the same vision, to achieve something great. Thank you, Mark.

It was the founder of F.A.R.M. Davis that taught me how to make a front yard farm, and that the best way to learn something is to just do it. Thank you, Robyn. 

It was my uncle who inspired me to start my own business and my grandfather who taught me the value of craftsmanship. Thank you, Robb. Thank you, Granddad. 

Finally, It was my mom who gave me the confidence to dream and do whatever I put my mind to. Thank you, Mom. 

To those reading this thinking, "Gee, I am rather disappointed I did not receive any mention," try not to be too upset. Those mentioned had particular relevance towards the creation of ELS in particular. Take solace in the fact that I may mention your name when/if I start a more personal blog. 

Until then, keep reading! 

Coming up next: mosaic stepping stones!