‘Pets’ with a work ethic: Put a worm bin in your fireplace

We live in a 1920’s bungalow.  It has a fireplace that doesn’t work very well, so instead of using it for fires, I use it to store our Worm Factory worm bin year round.  We hide the worm bin behind a large silk scarf draped over a tension curtain rod near the front.  It doesn’t smell, so no one knows it’s there but us (and now you).

The worm factory is easy to use since the instructions are printed on the black plastic lid.  I like the spigot near the bottom where you can siphon out ‘worm tea’ to feed plants indoors and out.  Not only is this a great way to recycle kitchen veggie scraps, but also to recycle paper from the shredder, lint from the dryer, and more.

To know those little worms are hard at work 24/7 makes me want to be industrious, too.  It’s like having working pets in the house in an odd sort of way.  There is a difference between the worms used in indoor worm bins and the common earthworm or night crawlers.  The indoor ones don’t like being in the light, so they will stay inside the bin where it’s safe and dark instead of curiously wandering about.  Which is nice to know, since I really don’t want to step on a surprise.  I’ve had the bin for about 4 years now, and the worms have stayed inside their bin and gotten their work done quickly, efficiently, and without any smell or notice.

In return, I’ve received free compost and worm tea to enhance and strengthen both my indoor houseplants and outdoor edible plants.  Worm compost is one of the best fertilizers there is, and it also is said to make plants more disease resistant, so basically it’s like a flu shot for your plants.

I picked up my Worm Factory at a home and garden show.  I’ve also seen them at various home and garden centers, and online.  If they are too spendy, you can also find do-it-yourself plans for worm bins online.