This was a vermicompost harvesting weekend for Peter and me. Our not-so-little army of Gerards has been very busy making gorgeous black, rich compost for us! We are still seeing lots of babies week after week, and Peter and I thought this would be a good weekend to give the Gerards some special upgrades (some for their benefit and some for ours).
First, the news from the vermicompost harvest production line...
Big (but really downsizing) upgrade for the Gerards and our backs... we divided our large bins (30-gallon) into smaller ones. When our current 30-gallon bins are full of worms, vermicompost, and food, they were getting too heavy to handle. We liked the size of our original 20-gallon bin (the "Welcome Home Gerards" one from the early days), so we bought enough that we could divide our current bins into new digs for the Gerards.
Sifting the vermicompost and rescuing Gerards to their new bins.
Sing it with me, "Fruit salad...yummy, yummy!" Figured with a big move, the Gerards would like something special with their regular rolled oats and vermiculite meal!
This is a beautiful batch of vermicompost! Next weekend we'll put together special holiday gift bags with compost and other goodies...a great gift for your gardening friends!
Second, it's Autumn, so everyone loves PSLs, including the Gerards... Post-Summer-Leaves. With almost 4-plus acres of trees on our property, we have an abundance of leaves. Many have gone into our compost bin and on to our gardens for overwintering flower bulbs and garlic, but we still have plenty for other creative purposes. I thought, if the Gerards were in the wild, at this time of year, they would absolutely be munching away on the fallen leaves. So, as we were preparing the new materials for their smaller bins, we mixed in some Post-Summer-Leaves for our wiggly friends!
This afternoon, Peter and I took some time to visit our favorite vineyard/brewery/barnyard (Wilderness Run/1781) and enjoyed the menagerie of farmyard friends that kept us company. We dream of expanding our own animal kingdom one day, but for now, worms, nosy neighborhood dogs, and gearing up for bees will do just fine!
Around the homestead the wildflowers are still blooming, and there is grass peeking through the straw where there were once trees and scrub brush. Hopeful for a productive 2025 growing season!
Lastly, with the cooler, perfect fall afternoon, my sweet Peter built me a little campfire to enjoy...
And our Gerards are now back inside, in their much-expanded living quarters. Looking forward to that worm-shed Peter is building for them!
Yes, we have a wall of worms in our living room.
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