One20 farm

Redefining "Farmer"

2012-01-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

With the "Green Revolution" upon us, many are discovering the hidden secrets of the food system and we are becoming more concerned about not only where our food comes from but also how it is grown and by whom. I am constantly reading about the so called farmers that produce the majority of the so called food we consume. First of all, these people are hardly farmers, at least in the classic sense of the title, and this is only in part due to the fact that they do not grow food, at least not in the classical sense of the term. These "farmers" are producers of food additives more so than actual food. If we tried to live off high fructose corn syrup, modified food starch, vegetable oil, textured vegetable protein and soy lecithin we would be in a far worse state than we already are. At least in our current predicament we manage to squeeze in some mildly contaminated animal protein and pesticide glazed vegetables to augment our diet, but I digress.
When it comes to our "food" we are relying on huge corporations that turn a blind eye to the real nitty-gritty everyday atrocities that happen on their so called farms, not just poor environmental practices in the form of toxic pesticide and fertilizer use but serious human rights violations against their workers as well. We don't seem to care so long as we can get a tomato in December (which we will complain about because it is flavorless and mealy) and we don't have to pay more than a few cents for it. We don't realize that every time we tighten our wallets, so do the stockholders and CEO's of these "farms". We may not be paying more but the workers certainly are. Do we not care because many of these workers are here illegally? Just keep in mind, they are doing work that we as Americans were too proud to do ourselves.
I don't want to go on endlessly about things we all should at least consider once in a while at the grocery (I do eventually have to get up for work after all) but I would like to make one point here at least. I propose that we either take back the title of "Farmer" from these agribusinesses or relinquish the term and redefine it as something less than respectable. I propose that we honor our local food growers, the people working hard to produce actual food that sustains us as human beings as well as the land on which they are growing.

Congrats San Fran!

2012-01-02T13:40:00.000-08:00

With the help of Recology, San Francisco reaches one million tons composted!

Check it our here!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T15:34:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

We wish you all a happy new 2012 filled
with rich compost!

-Jeremy and Kellie

While dancing away the night into the New Year,

Make sure to look at this helpful diagram before injuring
yourself doing the worm!

But of course have fun!

Quote of the day

2011-12-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

"Edible - good to eat and wholesome to digest, as a worm to a toad, a toad to a snake, a snake to a pig, a pig to a man, and a man to a worm."

~ Ambrose Bierce

30 in 30 Challenge!

2011-12-03T09:54:00.001-08:00

This year I (Kellie) have been inspired by my friend Annie at Blue Rock Station to purge so I can truly live more simple. But with work, kids, business and life in general its really hard to set aside time to sort the studio and make it happen! In addition, several years ago I went through some genetic anxiety issues that left me unable to even deal with my studio, let alone create very much. After climbing out of the whole, I am left with piles of fun things I just don't have time for.

As an artist, I am always finding new cool things to make or add to artwork, but when you live in a small home, its hard to make room for all that cool shiny found stuff. Plus who wants to spend their time sorting things, and putting things in buckets? Not I. My sister said the other day "How come winter cleaning inst as inspirational as Winter cleaning, you should be cleaning out clutter to make room for staying indoors for the season, right?" Good point! And this time of year is usually when we bring more in for the Holidays right?!

I thought THAT'S IT! Time to sort and get things out of here! I saw on another blog, a women who was doing a 47 in 47 challenge, so I can scale it back and do a 30 in 30 challenge! What's that you ask!?

30 bags of stuff can be trash, donated or given away in 30 days!

So I am off to start, if I make it public, then I will more likely get it done! Right?
I have my 3 piles started, plus items on my supply shop, the giveaway pile is growing!

My current studio

So cheer me on, but also share with me how you plan on clearing out clutter, simplify your life to start the new year! January 4th I am going to give away 1lb of Worm Castings to the lucky winner who shared their plans and motivations for making life simpler with less stuff!

Updates to come! ~Kellie

Need to recycle old magazines?

2011-11-30T09:31:00.001-08:00

We all have them. Stacks of magazines, dog eared and ready for the time to come to do what ever inspired us within. Jeremy pushes me to get rid of them from time to time, I usually give the good magazines to friends or leave them at the doctors office.

but Chrysti gives you 100 great ways to recycle old magazines on her blog!

Happy Creating!

Worm quote of the day

2011-11-15T19:18:00.000-08:00

"I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm."

~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Another giveaway!

2011-11-01T19:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right! We are having another giveaway as the harvest season comes to an end.

We are giving away a One20 Farm Tshirt PLUS one set of Night of the Living Compost Magnets!

Have you seen AnthropoMorphCo Magnets before? They are sooooo fun!

What do you need to do to be entered to win?

We want to hit 300 "likes" by New Years!

Just spread the word for others to "like" us on Facebook, come back on fb or on our blog here and tell us you did and tell us what kind of compost you do!

We will announce the winner on November 15th!

Good Luck!

Worm quote of the day

2011-10-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

"God gives every bird his worm, but He does not throw it into the nest."

~P. D. James

Worm quote of the day

2011-10-05T19:14:00.001-07:00

"A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm."

~ Bill Vaughan

Great dinner at the Flying J Farm!

2011-07-31T14:52:00.000-07:00

Jeremy gave a great cooking presentation and dinner at the Flying J farm last night!

Nothing beats a full meal using mostly items from the farm!

Love the little to no footprint!

We started with fresh Gazpacho!

Stuffed Tomatoes over grilled vegetables and polenta

Followed by grilled fresh local peaches!

For those who were interested, Jeremy gave a worm composting 101, saving the viewing of the worms for another day ;)

Every had a great time, leaving with full bellies and new friends at the farm!

Thanks for having us Farmer Dick!

When you spend...

2011-07-31T14:33:00.000-07:00

...all day sifting worms for a few orders,

it's a great feeling to have a handful or 3 of success!!

How does your Garden grow? T-shirt give away!

2011-06-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

Want to win a I Love Dirt T-shirt?!

Comment below and tell us what you are growing in your garden. It's as easy as that!

We know it has been a WET season here in Ohio so far. But we don't want you to be defeated! We want to spread the encouragement, keep spreading the excitement to growing fruit, vegetables, herbs, flowers, or something other than grass in your yard! What have you started to grow in your space? Trying something new this year? What are you using to fertilize your garden?
We want to hear about it!

We want to know!

Share with us below and we will pick one lucky winner on July 2nd to be the winner of one of our new awesome I LOVE DIRT t-shirts!

Want to purchase a T-shirt? All proceeds go to help us teach worm composting classes in city schools, buy one today and help us out!

UPDATE!
Congrats to Oogle for sharing your comments and winning a tshirt!

Runaway Worms!

2011-05-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

We have been getting a few e-mails from folks lately who are having trouble with worms leaving their new bins so I thought I'd send out some helpful information on how to keep them in their new home.
We have only had this problem a few times ourselves and it's been fairly easy to fix.
1) When you set up a new bin with new bedding it helps to add some compost or if possible, old worm bedding. The compost and old bedding contain beneficial microbes that start breaking down the food for the worms and the microbes themselves serve as food also. Brand new bedding doesn't contain any of this stuff and so the worms look elsewhere for goodies. Adding the compost or old bedding to the new bin will help jump start the process and give the worms the tasty snacks they love.
2) It also helps to keep the bin in a well lit area or under a bright light for about twenty-four hours, this will help to "train" your worms to their new bin. Just like most other living creatures, worms also take a while to get used to their new environment and since they don't like light, this is a good way to force them to stay home and make the new place feel more comfortable.
These steps will also help when harvesting the old castings from your bin and adding new bedding. This tends to be less of a problem in older bins but when you add a lot of new bedding, it doesn't hurt to play it safe.
This of course is all contingent on you setting up the new bin properly to begin with so remember the basics for worm preferences:
Dark is good- keep a lid on the bin to allow them free roam inside.
Moisture is a must- the bedding should be as moist as a rung out sponge, too much moisture makes smelly bins and too little makes slow, sad worms.
Worms gotta breath too- make sure the bedding isn't packed down like clay so worms can move through it. This will also help keep it from stinking, tight packed bedding allows anaerobic bacteria to grow and they pretty much always smell bad.
Good luck!

I Love Dirt Shirts are here!

2011-05-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

We got some great I Love Dirt shirts made by ThoughtCo.

Come check them out at Green on the Green next Saturday!

Stop by and visit us and the worms!

Check them out on our Etsy today!

Sunday May 15th

2011-05-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to come check us out at Eco Chic Craftacular
on Sunday May 15th!

Stop by and see us and the worms!
Plus all the other fabulous vendors!

Monday's Quote

2011-05-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

happy red wriggler worms

"Earthworms are the intestines of the soil."

- Aristotle

Eco Chic Craftacular!

2011-04-30T20:16:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to come check us out at the
Eco-Chic Craftacular on May 14th and 15th, 2011!

this is one of our favorite events, cool local artisans
and it truly means spring is here!

We will be giving a workshop on Saturday, so stay tuned for more info!

Monday's Quote

2011-04-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

Said the first little chicken,

With a queer little squirm,

"I wish I could find

A fat little worm"

- Author Unknown

Monday's Quote

2011-04-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

“If your knees aren’t green by the end of the day, you ought to seriously re-examine your life.”

-Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

What's the difference?

2011-04-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

Did you know what the major difference between tradtional and worm composting is? Worm composting IS NOT HOT! That is for sure!

If you make it hot, you loose worms, they retreat or die off.

Here is a great article with more details!
Read up and pamper your worms today!

Why you should build a worm bin today

2011-04-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article with reasons why you should build a worm bin today!
Or atleast start worm composting today!
Wormilicious!

Monday's Quote

2011-03-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”

-Margaret Atwood

Soil Testing

2011-03-09T10:46:00.000-08:00

Interested in soil testing for your garden or community garden? Here is an interesting article of why you should have your soil tested and the money you could save on investing a small amount in money in a simple test. Last year we had 2 tests done by Calmar in Westerville, Ohio for under $50.

When working in a community garden is really important to know the history of the soil, so you know what might be in the soil or dumped there before. tests are a cost effective way to find out how healthy it really is!

2011-02-28T09:37:00.000-08:00

“Carob works on the principle that, when mixed with the right combination of fats and sugar, it can duplicate chocolate in color and texture. Of course, the same can be said of dirt.”

-Sandra Boynton

Ode to all things Worms!

2011-02-24T16:16:00.000-08:00

Spring is so close we can smell it!

We get a little obsessed with worms around here, so we thought we would share some cool wormy hand made things in a Etsy Treasury!

Ode to Worms!

Night of the Living Compost,

Space Worm!

Check out our link for more wormy ideas!

Choosing your seed starter soil

2011-02-22T17:03:00.000-08:00

After a long winter, we always dream of soil and seedlings.

It makes those last cold weeks a lot easier here!

When choosing your soil for seed starters, remember the importance of worm castings. Look at the ingredients and sustainability in soil mixes. Instead of choosing peat moss (its takes over a life time to replace), choose coconut coir and worm castings. Why? Coir is a waste product and worm castings won't burn your seedlings. Plus they add lots of nutrients and goodies to help them grow strong!

Natures most complete plant food!

Worm Poem

2011-02-21T18:58:00.000-08:00

A little Worm Poetry...

Ode to Worms

Wonderful Worms!

Holy Denizens of the Tunneled Ground!

Consume and Clean this Warring Earth!

Twist and Turn through Earth’s Ancient Clay!

Hail to your Soft and Writhing Way!

Praise for your Transient yet Ceaseless Labor!

Why isn't there a National Worm Day or Month?

Why isn't your Name and Shape on a coffee cup?

You Warm and Till the Sacred Soil!

You Eat and Secrete with your Toil!

Idolize the Worm because it doth Fertilize!

True Warriors and Saviors of the Earth!

Wonderful Worms!

M.L. Squier

One20 Farm with SBB!

2011-02-14T18:37:00.000-08:00

We are proud to say, if you have a SBB card (Small Business Beanstalk)
you can use it on our Etsy site!

We are active members of Etsy Team Columbus, and as a team we have joined SBB to bring you great local handmade deals! Use your SBB card anytime this year and get 15% OFF!!

Plus check out the Etsy Team Columbus page for over 25 great deals in Columbus!

One Heart One World 2011

2011-02-06T11:25:00.000-08:00

The winner of the OHOW giveaway is Ruby in the Garden!! Congrats and thanks to all who played! This has been fun!

The 2011 One World One Heart Blog giveaway has started!
a little intro, We are a creative family who loves dirt! We started worm composting over 5 years ago, and raising worms over 4 years ago on our small urban farm. Now we spend a lot of time volunteering workshops at local schools and for the Metro parks to spread the word about composting and happy worms = happy soil!

now for the give away!

Last year it went over so well, so this year we will offer it again!

Our prize is worm castings!

1lb. bag of Worm Castings,
yes a bag of worm poop for free!

Worm castings are excellent fertilizer for your soil and seed starters! Plus it is organic and the only kind of fertilizer you can use straight on your seedlings without bringing them! You can read more about them in our past blog posts.

To win, all you have to do is leave a comment below and we will announce the winner on February 17th!!

Side note: to all our overseas visitors, if you win I will pick an alternative gift since worm castings don't travel well by mail!!

We love dirt, and goofy videos!

2011-02-06T11:00:00.000-08:00

I am appreciating Weird Al with my kids today. We love this video on dirt.

Food Waste for Money

2011-01-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

In the United States approximately 75% of "garbage" is put into the landfill where it is buried and forgotten about, of that about 66% is food waste and I'll go out on a limb and say that the majority of that is from vegetation (fruits & vegetables). Vegetable waste that is buried in a landfill with little or no access to oxygen becomes anaerobic and decomposed very slowly while producing methane gas which as most people probably know by now, is a greenhouse gas. This same vegetable waste could be collected separately from other garbage and composted converting it into nutrient rich fertilizer which could then be used to grow crops and actually growing the soil rather than just stripping it of nutrients and life.
     Another benefit to this separating and composting is that it would help to create jobs. More people will be needed to 1) educate the public on the proper way to separate garbage from food waste, 2) people to drive trucks for frequent food waste pick-ups (no one wants their scraps piled into a plastic can and sitting in the sun all week long). 3) potentially more jobs in the composting facilities sorting out non-compostable debris and running the equipment. 4) Researchers and scientists to monitor and record things like breakdown rates, pesticide residue, nutrient content, bacteria and pathogen activity, etc.
     Virtually every state in the country has some sort of solid waste removal program, otherwise all of our garbage would pile up around us. If both federal and local governments worked together with waste disposal companies and composting facilities (which are increasing in number) and develop a program for separately picking up food waste from homes and especially restaurants and catering companies, we could greatly reduce 1) our need for landfill space and 2) our dependence on fossil fuels to produce harmful chemical fertilizers which regularly leach into waterways and cause problems.
     I truly believe that this kind of food waste recycling program could be a win-win situation, we could reduce our negative impact on the environment, and increase employment while building profits.

I encourage you to contact your local solid waste authority and ask if they have any plans for these types of programs in the future and if they don't then ask what is holding them back. If we keep putting off dealing with our waste problems they will-like a landfill- continue to grow.

Keep them warm!

2010-12-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

Don't forget, when it is cold out, don't leave your worm bins out! Left in the open on the back porch or in a cold, cold room, is a sad place to leave your worms. In most places like Ohio, they will freeze for sure!

Keep them in warmer spaces, like your basement or a garage near

an interior wall.

They will thank you for it later!!

Holiday Sale!

2010-11-22T16:53:00.000-08:00

Are you or someone dear not happy with the container you're

composting in now?

Give the gift that really keeps on giving! Worm Composting!!

From now until December 15th, mention where you found us and receive $20 off any One20 farm handmade worm bin!

www.one20farm.com

Happy worms and veggies will be jumping for joy everywhere!!

Slimey Soil

2010-11-16T16:03:00.000-08:00

Usually when I talk to people about keeping red wigglers I stress the importance of their basic needs, darkness, access to oxygen and moisture. I usually emphasize the need for moisture by pointing out one of the main characteristics that many people dislike about worms SLIME! Without moisture, they can't produce slime and with out the slime the poor worms are doomed. One thing that I usually don't get a chance to discuss is the real importance of that slime, not just for the worms but for those of us who use the worms castings as fertilizer in our gardens.
For worms, their slime protects them, as they wiggle their way through the soil (or compost pile) the slime helps lubricate their skin so they may slide past all those pieces of abrasive rock and wood and sand all the while serving as a glue to maintain the structure of their tunnels-at least in the case of soil dwelling earthworms. In the case of a compost pile or worm composting bin, this slime builds up on the organic material and the final castings helping to glue bits and pieces together. In the soil the tunnels that earthworms burrow remain intact with their dried slime scaffolding and allow water to pass through easily creating well draining soil that won't drown plants, but at the same time, as it is rehydrated it holds onto the remnant water longer, allowing plants to access the moisture later on as well as binding nutrients in place where plants can get to them instead of letting them wash away through the soil.
By utilizing the castings from vermicomposting we can also increase the amount of beneficial slime in our gardens. Although castings don't create the tunnels that help soil drain they do help glue together tiny bits of soil allowing the water to move around and in between them which still increases the soil drainage. In addition to this, I have read where the addition of castings to your soil can actually attract wild earthworms, this likely has something to do with the way that castings increase bacterial activity (good bacteria that is). The castings hold nutrients which help feed bacteria and as their population increases it attracts their natural predators such as worms. This all gets even more nerdy so I'll leave it at that for now.
So long story short, worm slime-although not all that popular with people- is of great benefit to the soil world and ultimately to the plants we grow. So if you haven't tried it yet, why not give it a shot?

Slate Run Metro Park Halloween Event

2010-10-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday October 31st, 2010 we will be joining Slate Run Metro Park for their Halloween Event featuring bats, creepy crawlies and of course worms!

Join us 2-5pm by the Buzzard Roost Picnic area!

Metro Parks does a great job of educating families about everything natural, join us for activities and fun!

Flying J Farm harvest Fest!

2010-09-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

Join us on Saturday for the Flying J Farm Harvest Festival! 12-10pm, come enjoy some farm fun!

We will doing a workshop at 2pm and

a cooking demo (no worms!) at 5pm!

Frack will be glad to see you too!

"Casting" a Blanket of Beneficial Microbes for Fall

2010-09-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

As I was harvesting worm castings the other night I remembered something I read recently in Teaming with Microbes (awesome book) about the immense colonies of beneficial microorganisms that can be found in worm castings and how they can be used in the fall to get a jump start for Spring planting.
It seems that many people wait until Spring has already sprung to begin fortifying their soil but we tend to overlook the fact that Autumn is a great time of year to get things started. Spreading worm castings around your garden as finish cutting down the remnants of summer crops can help develop a thriving population of microorganisms that can go to work immediately devouring dead plant matter especially, if like some of us, you mulch your beds with leaves for the winter. Mulching with chopped leaves gives the bacteria extra food which in turn is spread by worms as they eat the bacteria and spread their nutrients throughout the soil. These bacteria are a food source for many beneficial organisms from protozoa to micro arthropods to worms. They also help to deter harmful microorganisms and pests that attack our plants every year.
So remember the next time you're outside this fall to "cast" a little love around the garden and your plants will thank you for it this spring.

Worm Update

2010-09-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked about worm availability. Since we are a small urban farm, quantity is always limited. Soon we should have a few pounds available in mid-late October.

If you are interested, email us.
We are in the process of expanding and trying some new ideas. New to us that is ;)

the goal is to expand in an urban setting by healing the land, not make a bigger footprint, and with that takes time.

So hopefully we will have more worms and a larger inventory of castings to sell in the late spring time. More to come soon!

Easy Outdoor Compost Bin

2010-09-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked what our favorite outdoor traditional composting bin is. Honesty, we still love our handmade one made out of upcycled palettes.

It is easy to turn and gets more air than our other plastic versions. Here is a simple video I found that will show how to get one set up one this fall. Then you can make some beautiful compost this winter for your spring garden. It will be here before you know it!

BTW, most companies will give you theirs because they have to pay to

have them hauled away!

Compost helpers

2010-08-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

In an effort to assist our dedicated followers in their endeavors to recycle all their plant waste we have decided to offer our opinion of one compost aerator.
Anyone who has tried to engage in standard aerobic composting likely knows that it can be tiresome to say the least. First there's all the collecting and piling of the proper items and then finding a way to house them so it doesn't look like a huge mess and finally there's the difficulty of turning it all so that the happy little microbes that are eating all our junk can breath and reproduce at break-neck speed creating that wonderful heated compost pile that helps kill off unwanted weed seeds while creating black gold in the process. There are lot's of turning methods out there from the pitchfork method with it's back breaking "lift and flop", to the crank and roll compost tumblers with their "I don't need to eat this week" price tags. Well folks, have I got good news for you! This summer we purchased an incredibly affordable compost aerator from http://www.gardeners.com/. This thing is awesome! Judging by the photo on the website I thought I would receive a rather lightweight piece of bent metal tubing with a couple small wing nuts on the end and a handle on the side, what I received instead was a very durable piece of equipment. The main pole is composed of heavy duty 1 inch steel tubing with a right angle bent handle at the top as well as a short handle that bolts on to the side lower down the tube. Each handle has thick foam rubber grips that are really comfortable to use. At the business end, the tube is pinched closed and cut to a point for ease of penetration into the compost pile. Just above the point there are two pairs of "wings" each pair set to fold out on opposite sides of the pole making a + when open. The wings are just a bit wider than the pole and they are designed to fold up against the pole when thrust into the compost heap and then fold open when pulled out so that they will grab debris and fluff the pile allowing oxygen to reach the center.
This is now one of my favorite tools after just a couple months of use. The only problems I have had with it are 1) The detachable side handle becomes loose after repeated use, but I added a ten cent lock washer and now it's fine. 2) It can be difficult to lift it out when you reach the bottom of the heap if the material is long and fibrous like tall weeds that haven't been cut up before adding them to the pile. This is simple to fix also by simply cutting long debris into smaller pieces. If you want some aggression relief, you could purchase a $15-$20 machete from an army surplus store and chop the debris into smaller pieces. This however may cause some uncomfortable silence with your neighbors as they become concerned about the blade wielding maniac whacking away at defenseless vegetation in the backyard.

In conclusion, if you are looking for an affordable way to help speed up your compost and relieve some of the physical labor involved, I highly recommend the Bosmere compost aerator, it's lightweight, compact, easy to store and very effective.

oh, Honey!

2010-08-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

They say Honey is one of those super foods! Good because it tastes good and is also helpful in medicinal purposes like treating wounds and gastrointestinal problems. While looking for tips on honey, I found this great site that is helping make people aware to check the label when you buy honey!
Just look for honey and nothing else added to the good stuff! Our friends at Honeyrun Farm have been making amazing raw honey for years! We can't wait to visit them at the Lithopolis Honeyfest September 11th, 2010 to taste the first run of honey of the season that Jayne says is crystal clear and said it was amazing!
Maybe we'll see you there!

tired of recalls yet?

2010-08-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

they announced another large beef recall in California today.
1 million pounds! That is equal to 2,300 thousand animals they say, what a waste of lives.

I don't know about you but I am discourage from even buying meat at the store simply because I am there. Usually we go to Flying J Farm and get our grass-fed beef because it's better for you AND of course it's "happy meat" as our daughter will tell you.

Farmer Dick does love his cows and gives them a good life.

We also like to buy from Sipple Family Farm, they have great natural pork products. They are always at the Clintonville Farmers market too. There are many great, natural and grass fed meat farmers in Ohio, many close to Columbus. Check out www.Oeffa.org to find one near you!

Mary Janes farm!

2010-08-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

we got a little article in Mary Jane's Farm
Magazine May 2010~!

I personally love this magazine so I squealed with delite when I saw this!!

~Kellie

Quote of the day

2010-07-29T15:20:00.000-07:00

"The more we know about our food system, the more we are called into complex choices. It more we know about our food system, the more we are called into complex choices" - Barbara Kingsolver, AMV

Global Warming Survival Handbook

2010-07-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

Finally a Global Warming book with a sense of humor. Not that its a light hearted topic but sometimes something is so heavy you have to be light about it. But this book has serious options.

the Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook has some great tips for adding green and energy smart choices to your daily life. Everything from greening your workspace, knowing your farmers, eating more veggies, and buying carbon offsets.

Hotel Composting!

2010-07-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

This beast is a beauty!

Boston’s Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center is the first hotel in the country to install a new industrial composting machine to churn out an incredible 4.5 tons of composting material each month.

Scioto Gardens July 17th -Join us!

2010-07-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

Dont forget to join us for the Scioto Gardens 4th Annual event on July 17th! All day workshops and music! More info here

Need more reasons to compost?

2010-07-12T17:54:00.000-07:00

Some people need more reasons to compost. We see that as a challenge!

So we are happy to give you more reasons:

It will save you time. You'll also eliminate the need to bag grass clippings or raked leaves.

You will reduce your needs for fertilizer and water. Chemical fertilizers demand more water and garden will get more nutrients from the compost.

You will reduce your effects on the landfill. Yard and food waste amount to more than 25 percent — or 60 tons — of the material in landfills. If more people start composting, a significant amount of waste then can be diverted from the landfill.

for mroe tips on worm composting or Traditonal Composting, visit our website!

Cool Water tips for Hot July

2010-07-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

July in Ohio usually brings to mind one word- HOT! If the rising temps aren't enough to drive you nuts, it's also typically a very, if not entirely, dry month. In 2009 I think it rained less than 5 times at our house.

If you enjoy gardening, the heat is both a good and a bad thing. The heat is good for a lot of heat loving plants like melons and cucumbers as well as chili peppers (I was told that the hotter the soil, the hotter the pepper gets). On the other hand, high temperatures usually mean less rain and drier soil which means more need to use the hose for happy vegetables and fruits. With this in mind, I thought I'd share a few tips that have served our garden well over the past few years.

First there are the basic guidelines that you usually hear on the news; water at nigh or in the early morning. Watering in the early morning has served me best, providing the plants with a good saturation as early as possible (I like it around 6 AM) this puts the water on the leaves and especially the roots where the plants can readily use it as they wake up. I have always had much better results watering in the morning than at night, however, night or late afternoon watering is very helpful too. Watering at night it will help reduce evaporation since it is darker and cooler, it allows the water to reach into the roots as well as moisten the surrounding soil.

Mulching your vegetables helps them maintain moist soil throughout the day and keeps the plants from looking wilted in extreme heat. This also helps reduce weed growth which steals water from the vegetables.

Using a soaker hose or drip irrigation helps reduce the quantity of water by distributing it directly to the base or root area of the plants where it is needed most.

There are a couple of non traditional methods that have also served me well in the past and present dry seasons: 1) Buried water jugs. Take plastic jug of some sort (2 liter bottles work too) and poke a series of tiny holes in them from top to bottom and all the way around then bury it up to the neck in the center of some plants and pack dirt around it. Next fill the jug and put the lid back on to keep out mosquito's. The water will gradually leach out into the surrounding soil serving as a buffer against drying especially when there hasn't been any rain. One gallon sized jug is decent for an area about 3 foot by 3 foot which isn't much space for a larger garden but it helps greatly for big drinking plants like watermelons. 2) Air conditioned water. If you use a window-mount air conditioner during the really hot times, you can harvest clean water from the condensation that drips from the bottom of the air conditioner. Most units have a small drain hole in the bottom somewhere but if yours doesn't, you can drill a small 1/8-1/4 inch hole just below the fan where water tends to collect (be certain you're not drilling into any important working parts). Next, simply place a bucket underneath to catch the water, we collect about 5 gallons in 24 hours when we use ours. If you're going to spend the money to run the A/C, you might as well get some water for you garden out of it as well.

These are some of the best methods that we have used at our house over the years and we're always looking for new ones, so if you have any other tricks, tips or secrets please feel free to pass them on to us and we'll continue to keep you updated when we find other water conservation methods.

beat the heat!

2010-06-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

Great ways to beat the heat this summer!

Try these Popsicles in great flavors!

Like Watermelon-Lime and Avocado - Mango!

Scioto Gardens’ 4th Annual Gardening and Arts Festival

2010-06-23T18:15:00.000-07:00

Scioto Gardens’ 4th Annual Gardening and Arts Festival
is July 17 from 9 am - 6 pm
They're offering six free gardening workshops, great music, sculptures in the gardens, and dozens of artists. Please tell your friends and join us for a great day!
Free Gardening Workshops

10:30 Design Your Backyard to Connect Kids to Nature– Amy Dutt, Urban Wild
11:30 Summer's best! - Flowers you'll want for your garden! – Beth Richardson, Designs with Nature
12:30 Backyard Conservation & Rain Gardens – Stephanie Suter, Franklin Soil & Water
1:30 Worm Composting Basics – Jeremy Gedert, One20Farm
2:30 Going Wild Without Offending the Neighbors – Denise Gualtiere, Inspirations Landscape Design
3:30 Restoring Native Eco Systems in Your Own Backyard – Tom Kessel, Renewables

Live Music too!

9:30-11:30 Three Day Weekend - Jazz
12:00-2:00 Walkin’ Cane - High Energy Acoustic Blues
2:00-4:00 Doug Wood - Instrumental Acoustic Guitar, with Bass
4:00-6:00 Rusty Strings - Rock, Folk, Jazz

Plus over 30 artists!

food for thought

2010-06-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

A small restaurant doing $30,000.00 per week in business can put over 25,000 lbs of recycleable material into the garbage not including compostable food waste.

Super Cool B-Day Present!

2010-05-20T14:51:00.000-07:00

So I HAVE to share the super-cool Birthday present my sister, Maika made me this week! A Slimey hip bag! Love it!

Cute size. Perfect for long bike rides with the kids, (another goal this summer!)Soon I will order one of their Custom Bike Messenger bags. I have to pick the perfect design first. They are amazing pieces of artwork!
Want to see it in person? ask me about it at our booth this weekend!

Check out the HAND STICHED details. No patches here.

Maika and the whole Seagull Bags team are just that DAMN good!
Ask them about Custom Work anytime!

Workshops for summer 2010

2010-05-17T17:53:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe summer is almost here! We have updated our workshop list for this summer. If you would like to set up a community composting workshop let us know, we can come and share about worm composting and traditional composting.

We love to help you heal the earth!

Also, Come see us at the Eco Chic Craftacular this weekend! May 22-23 rain or shine!

another lettuce recall

2010-05-10T16:52:00.001-07:00

This should be another little reminder, that it is worth it to start with a small vegetable garden in your backyard. However so small or large. It's only getting worse until they realize we need change!

Low Down and Dirty!

2010-04-24T17:11:00.000-07:00

In honor of our recent viewing of Dirt! the movie, I thought it only fitting to muse a bit on the subject of this misunderstood substance that we take for granted.

It seems that nowadays we do anything in our power to avoid or remove dirt from our lives and we give it a bad rap. The word dirt brings to mind images of filth and contamination, it is a negative thing to be washed away to hopefully never be seen again. In reality, dirt is what sustains us, without it there would be no modern civilization, and we would live in a state of perpetual chaos and uncertainty. Dirt allows us to settle in and establish our cultures, it let's us cultivate the foods we need and build the lives we want.

Something I have thought about numerous times over the past year or so came to mind again last night while viewing this movie, I thought about how out of balance our system is. On the one hand we have commercial-industrial crop production, monoculture's stripping the dirt of vital nutrients on a massive scale season after season and we are able to do this by relying on inefficient artificial chemical fertilizers that destroy the natural life that exists in the soil.

On the other hand we have an immense waste production problem, thousands of tons per year of food waste are buried in landfills where they do very little other than lower the property value of surrounding areas and uselessly take up space.

There is a potential solution to be found. Why can't we take the compostable items like paper, cardboard and food waste and turn them into nutrient rich natural fertilizer that feeds not only the crops we are trying to grow but also the life below the surface that we can't see and never think about like worms, insects protozoa, fungi and beneficial microorganisms? It is work like this that could eventually make some serious changes to the economy as well as the health and well being of this country. This kind of change has the potential to create more jobs, especially for the blue collar working class (majority of the U.S.) thus reducing the economic hardships such as we have been looking at these past couple years.

If we were to begin this sort of "dirt therapy", we could potentially turn around the state of health in the general public as well. The greater the quantity and quality of soil nutrients (both macro & micro), the higher the quality of food produced in that soil which in turn creates higher levels of disease resistance in both the plants and the people that eat them.

Some final bonuses to implementing this sort of industrial composting system is that it would allow us to farm the same land with less negative environmental impact and potentially better yields in the long run, also reducing our dependence on petroleum to produce our chemical fertilizers. On top of all that, this would reduce our need for landfill space while recycling our garbage into something more useful.

So remember, the next time you're wishing you had a better lawn or a more plentiful garden just look at what you are putting in the trash can, chances are there's some really good dirt to be made from it.

Taking Worms for Grant(ed)

2010-04-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago we finally received word from SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) that we were approved for our grant. We had been anxiously awaiting the verdict so for a few months and all that nail biting and holding our breath paid off.

What we are hoping to accomplish is to get a food waste from locally owned restaurants and feed it to the worms who will transform it into nutrient rich castings. The plan is to utilize some space on a nearby local farm to house the worms (our place is very limited on space), in return we would like to fertilize a portion of the farms vegetables with castings while leaving another portion untreated to compare the differences throughout the growing season. We are going to keep an eye on the obvious like differences in growth and production but also watch for disease and insect resistance in both plots. This will benefit the restaurants because they will reduce their garbage pick up thus saving money and we hope that it will benefit the farmer by increasing their production and plant strength. We also hope to form connections between local restaurants and local farms by introducing where the trash is going and how it is being recycled to produce food that the restaurants can use and then return the waste once again to be recycled by the worms. The ultimate goal is to show that worms could be of great benefit in reducing the waste steam that pours out of restaurant kitchens.

During this two year endeavor we will also be working to educate not only Chefs, restaurant staff and farmers but also the public, on the importance and benefits of worm composting. We will periodically post updates both here and on our website (http://www.one20farm.com/) on the project's progress as well as notifications and e-mail reminders of upcoming workshops we will be doing.

Alemany Urban Farm in SF

2010-04-12T16:33:00.000-07:00

We visited Alemany Farm in San Fran last year. They have a great Urban Farm growing there! There was so much more in bloom and growing when we were there. We got to meet the bees, than couldn't volunteer because our daughter got a thorn almost all the way through her foot. ouch, no fun.

Dreamy tho, can you imagine if we had this here in Columbus?
Would love to be a part of that!

Check out the video!

Is there a problem with teeny farms?

2010-04-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

Very interesting article here on The Problem with Little Teeny Farms. the author may have a point but I have a problem with economic number crunchers who dont get their hand dirty to realize it looks different in real life then on paper...

Darwin on worms

2010-04-08T21:04:00.000-07:00

"It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organized creatures (worms)"

-C. Darwin (speaking of earth worms)

Sex Ed the Red Wiggler Way

2010-03-25T16:52:00.000-07:00

Today I went to talk to our daughters forth grade class about worms and worm composting, I must say that I was really surprised at how much they knew about worms. At the end of the presentation I allowed the kids to come up row by row to look in the small box I had taken in (it was funny to carry in a converted Grey Goose Vodka box to an elementary school). As they came up pretty much all the kids wanted to hold a worm, they aren't all freaked out like grown-ups about harmless invertebrates. While handing out worms to kids I noticed that one I picked out looked funny so I brushed off all the bedding stuck to it and realized that there were two, and they were mating! Anyone who has kept worms probably knows that this is a rare sight to see, in three years I have never seen it until now, but that's not the coolest thing. After a few more kids came up and a few more worms were passed out we found another mating pair, two in one day and in the same small population! I realize it shows what a science nerd at heart that I am that I found this a little exciting but it was especially cool for the kids to get to see this. I know that alcohol can have some strange effects on the libido but I had no idea that an alcohol box could do the same thing to worms!

Killer Compost

2010-03-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

As more people become interested in composting there are more questions to be answered. We have already addressed the issue of what the difference between worms is, so now it's time to address the difference between composting methods.

The most common and well known form of composting is what is referred to as aerobic composting. That is the method of taking nitrogen rich organic matter such as food scraps and plant waste which is commonly called the "greens" and layering it with larger quantities of carbon matter such as shredded paper, or dry leaves called "browns". After layering these parts they are kept moist and occasionally aerated, that is, they are fluffed-up to allow more oxygen to reach the center of the pile which microorganisms use to survive and feed on the decaying matter, this also creates a great deal of heat so much heat that on a relatively warm day I have "turned" our compost pile and seen steam escaping.

As we have been out spreading the gospel of Vermicomposting we are very often asked the question, "can I just throw the worms in my outdoor compost pile?" Much like the answer about finding worms in you back yard, the answer is "yes" and "no". "Yes" but only under certain circumstances. "No" because outdoor aerobic composting is not optimal for worm life. Although it is usually dark inside the pile and there is usually the right amount of moisture and plenty of food, it will likely become far too hot for a red worms liking. If you regularly see worms of any kind in your compost then it will probably be fine to put red worms in there but you may want to invest in a compost thermometer to monitor the temperature and if you add worms you don't need to turn the pile as that may raise the heat level. Putting worms in outdoor compost containers such as tumblers or the tall black plastic towers is a bad idea, worms won't mind the occasional tumbling but those containers are designed to increase heat (they're usually dark colored or black) and nurture aerobic activity. If you're looking to make red worm fricassee this will probably work but unless you want to waste the $25+ dollars per pound spent on red worms I'd keep them in a worm bin in the shade.

Aerobic composting is capable of handling a larger quantity of waste since it is outdoors and less restricted by the appetites of worms but it takes about three times longer to break down and during the winter months may stop all together. However, a worm bin can be moved indoors to handle at least some of your scrap waste during the cold months and then gives you a finished fertilizer to use in early spring while the outdoor pile warms up and finishes breaking down. Especially as Spring approaches we will try and continue shelling out the useful information with regards to Vermicomposting so that you are ready to handle what nature throws at you.

Not All Worms Are Created Equal

2010-03-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years that we have been involved with Vermicomposting there is one question that comes up again and again, "I have worms in my backyard, can't I just use them?" The answer is "yes" and "no". "Yes" because the worms that are used primarily for composting may well be found in your yard eating some decaying leaves or other pile of organic matter. However the answer is also "NO" because there is a lot of confusion about worms, this is where being a bit of a science geek comes in handy. The thing that most people think of when you say worms is Night crawlers, that is the large (2 1/2-6 inch) brownish gray to brownish red worms that are found littering parking lots after it rains. Night crawlers belong to the "Earthworm" family or Anecic worms specifically Lumbricus terrestris which prefer to live in vertical burrows that they dig in the dirt, they do not like to have their burrows disturbed since they come out to feed primarily at night (hence the name) and retreat to their dark burrow in the day. Night crawlers eat some decaying organic matter such as rotting leaves and they also process dirt for nutrients, thus their castings (poop) is beneficial to gardens and lawns like most any worms.

This brings us to Red worms aka red wigglers, tiger worms, manure worms to list a few common names, these small (1-2 1/2 inch) worms belong to the Epigeic worm family (Scientifically-Eisenia foetida or Eisenia andrei) which lives in as well as above the top layer of soil, they can commonly be found gorging themselves on well rotted livestock manure or leaf piles, they do not form burrows but rather simply seek out habitable piles of rotting organic matter and eat their way through it then move on. Their name comes from their dark red coloring and the fact that they tend to wiggle or jump when handled. They, like most worms prefer the dark so you rarely see them unless you disturb their garbage pile and since they do not have burrows, they adapt well to captive living. Red worms consume more organic matter than night crawlers (about half their weight in a day) which makes them so great for composting.

So as you can see, not all worms are created equal, both are beneficial to gardens and lawns, both feed on organic matter, and both are slimy but when it comes to getting rid of garbage, red worms are the way to go.

Should I have my soil tested?

2010-03-10T19:02:00.000-08:00

If you're worried about the condition of your soil before you plant your garden this spring, you may want to have it tested. many people who live closer to the city have found surprising levels of lead and metals in their soil. It is one of many things to consider. And just because you buy new soil from the store, DOES NOT make it safe. You can visit this blog for more of this blogger story of what she found in store bought soil.

I will tell you that worm castings are a easy and proven effect way of "cleaning" your dirt. Mixing the castings in makes a huge difference.

Last winter I showed you the picture of potting soil on the left and worm castings on the right, what a big difference! There are several soil testing labs in Ohio if you are interested.

attention Facebook fans!

2010-02-22T18:11:00.001-08:00

Share the worm love!

Suggest to your facebook friends they should become fans of One20farm! share on this post that you did and you will be entered to win a free pound of worm castings as a thank you! Do so before March 9th and we will announce the winner on March 10th! Spread the word!

How to speed up Compost

2010-02-20T13:48:00.000-08:00

I found a nice blog that reminds me that composting IS a process. (I love the word process)

One of the biggest problems with outdoor bin composting is that it isn't a particularly fast process. This can be a little frustrating if you want that compost quickly in the spring to put it on plants. But there are some things you can do to speed up the process of composting.

They talk about several things to consider. One is look at the size of food you put in the compost. chop up large things like potatoes or banana peels and even crush up the egg shells. This helps the food break down faster.

Another thing they mention is that worms faster. Yes, they say worms compost 3 times faster the the standard outdoor bin method. those little guys are on a happy mission. I have started to freeze my food scraps in a large freezer bag, I smash things up once I put them in the bag, then bag in the freezer. When the worms need fed, I grab out 2 cups per bin, let it thaw and put it in. the freezing actually starts the breaking down process of the food, making the job that much easier and quicker for the worms. How cool is that.

Our OWOH Winner is...

2010-02-16T10:53:00.000-08:00

Jenna Z in Illinois!!

She won one 1 pound of worm castings!

Congrats to all and thanks for playing in OWOH!

little critters in your compost part 5

2010-02-12T19:52:00.000-08:00

Pot worms or white worms are small, white, threadlike worms that are found in worm bins when there is a quantity of finished material. They are beneficial organisms that feed on decaying organic. While usually found when the bedding in the bin is slightly acidic, their presence does NOT indicate a pH problem and pH adjustment is not recommended. Pot worms are white, segmented worms, most often mistaken for baby redworms. If you look close enough, their bodies are nearly transparent and their digestive system quite visible when viewed through a hand lens. Potworms do not feed on living plants and pose no threat to the garden or people.

little critters in your worm bin part 4

2010-02-05T19:42:00.000-08:00

Soldier Fly Larvea can be a rather freaky find in your outdoor or indoor worm compost bin. You can often hear them "chew" on your compost! They are also called a Window Fly. The following is an excerpt from the Oregon State University Garden Hints website and the quotes are from Cindy Wise, “Soldier fly larvae are voracious consumers of nitrogen-dominant decaying materials, such as kitchen food scraps and manures.‘Don’t worry, soldier flies don’t usually invade houses, unless your compost pile is close to your house,’ said Wise. ‘They almost exclusively populate compost bins or sheet mulch compost piles and manure piles,’ she said. ‘In the southern United States they are being utilized to reduce hog manure, as they can consume up to 30 tons of hog manure in two days.’ Soldier fly females lay eggs on the surface of nitrogen-rich material that is exposed. So, if you want to avoid having these large flies and their maggots in your compost pile, make sure you have enough leaves, dry grass, shredded paper and other organic “brown” material in the pile to cover the nitrogen food sources by at least two to four inches. Remember to bury food scraps deep down in the pile and cover them.

They often thrive in worm bins, as well as compost bins, where they may compete with the worms for food. ‘In a worm bin, bury food scraps down at least six inches for the worms and let the flies eat what is on the surface,” said Wise. “The flies don’t eat the worms or their eggs so they aren’t predators of the worms.’ The maggots are known to break down organic material in the pile so it can further decompose. And the flies inoculate the compost with beneficial bacteria from other sources."

little critters in your worm bin part 3

2010-02-01T19:06:00.000-08:00

As we have talked about before, the food scraps you add to a worm bin today, isn't really touched by worms until at least several days later. The food has to start to break down first. How long depends on how quickly a population of microbes can begin to decompose that material, and make it ready for worms to consume. The frustrating part is a great variety of food waste harbors fruit fly eggs, which hatch quickly in the bin. They are actually a good sign of a healthy bin. But can be reduced, but that is for another blog.

If we could only encourage worms to start eating that food waste right away, before most of the flies are born. Actually, we can do this! Just let food waste develop this microbial population before it goes in the bin. If you collect food waste in a counter top food scrap container, try this:
1. cover the container with a towel (to prevent fruit flies from pestering you) and let it sit indoors for a week. For an even better start, sprinkle finished compost or vermicompost directly onto the food waste as you toss it into the food scrap tub.

2. freeze your food scraps until needed. let them thaw out, then put them in your worm bin. This reduces fruit flies and the freeze/thaw also breaks down the food faster. Thus, encouraging the worms to dig in quicker!

One World, One Heart Giveaway!

2010-01-26T11:32:00.000-08:00

The 2010 One World One Heart Blog giveaway has started!
I thought it would be fun to switch it up a bit and participate!

This year I am giving away One pound of Worm Castings!
What are Worm Castings good for you ask? You know after looking at all this snow you are dreaming of what to put in your garden! Worm Castings make an incredible natural fertilizer for your seedlings and when planting.
full of rich nutrients, yummy goods for you plants!!
So what do you have to do to win this bag-0-gold?
All you need to leave a comment to this blog post.
then we will announce the winner on Feb 15th! You can find more in our shop at Etsy!
Don't forget to check out our give away at our sister company, BlueGiRliNk!

little critters in your worm bin part 2

2010-01-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

Mites?

Mites can be among the most numerous inhabitants in the worm bin, with many different species feeding on decaying organic matter and such. Don't worry, they are not like lice or other mites. they won't harm your worms, they actually help. They are generally found on the surface of the bin, though some predatory species will venture deeper if the material is loose and there is a food source. Mite populations can be controlled by placing melon wedges, fleshy side down on the worm bedding. This is a favorite mite food, and they will soon collect on the melon, which can then be removed from the worm bin. . Leaving the bin lid open and exposing the bedding surface to drying and UV light will also control mite populations. The vast majority of mite species in the bin are beneficial organisms which make up a significant part of the bin ecosystem. Mite species which damage living plants are not found in the worm bin. To take control of mite populations should only be considered if the worms are demonstrating stress behaviors like refusal to come to the surface, huddling in a ball, low reproduction or mass exodus. Remember what worms consider to be infestation levels of mites is often very different from the human view. Many species of mite found in the worm bin pose no threat to garden plants or people.

little critters in your worm bin part 1

2010-01-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

Molds and fungi are common organisms in a healthy worm system and play a large role. They feed on decaying organic matter with tiny enzymes which break down and simplify the organic material. They are also an additional food source to other organisms in the system, including earthworms.Molds and fungi can also serve as an indicator, telling us if the feeding rate is adequate. Mold grows best in still, quiet environments. So a sign you are over feeding your worms is a large amounts of mold and fungi. This means your feeding should be decreased. Mold and fungi pose no threat to the garden or the animals living in the worm bin, but can cause irritation to humans with mold allergies.

Famous Worms #3

2010-01-11T14:19:00.000-08:00

Ovie The Earthworm!

Thank you Organic Valley for recognizing the worm for their hard work!

Check out their site for more information and insight into how worms help dairy cow farmers!

like gold from the earth...

2010-01-06T06:33:00.000-08:00

We just sifted through one of large worm bins that we had to bring inside for the winter.

WOW.
We, um I mean Jeremy, sifted through over 2 days, using his new tumbler he built. In the end he had 5 gallons of worm castings! it's no wonder they call it black gold. This stuff is beautiful!
Ready for sale, for you to anxiously start your gardens this spring!!

Famous Worms #2

2010-01-05T14:26:00.000-08:00

James said it best;

"Thank you Mr. Worm!
You are my Hero!"

-James and the Giant Peach

Composting teabags

2009-12-28T09:53:00.000-08:00

There are lots of thing you can compost that most don't think about.

one is teabags!

What about the string you ask?

For the most part, you can vermicompost entire teabags (tag, string, and bag) with the exception of the staple. Choose a tea bag with this in mind. The new tea bags that are triangle are no good, because they are almost a silk like bag. not good for composting.Celestial Seasonings is a good choice, as they refrain from using staples in their teabags; or I guess you can opt for a tag less teabag.

What CAN I compost?

2009-12-27T10:12:00.000-08:00

I got this great list from our friends at Little Square Farm. Enjoy!

75 things you probably didn't know you could compost
... but you can!
>From the Kitchen
Coffee grounds and filters
Tea bags
Used paper napkins
Pizza boxes, ripped into smaller pieces
Paper bags, either ripped or balled up
The crumbs you sweep off of the counters and floors
Plain cooked pasta
Plain cooked rice
Stale bread
Paper towel rolls
Stale saltine crackers
Stale cereal
Used paper plates (as long as they don't have a waxy coating)
Cellophane bags (be sure it's really Cellophane and not just clear plastic—there's a difference.)
Nut shells (except for walnut shells, which can be toxic to plants)
Old herbs and spices
Stale pretzels
Pizza crusts
Cereal boxes (tear them into smaller pieces first)
Wine corks
Moldy cheese
Melted ice cream
Old jelly, jam, or preserves
Stale beer and wine
Paper egg cartons
Toothpicks
Bamboo skewers
Paper cupcake or muffin cups
>From the Bathroom
Used facial tissues
Hair from your hairbrush
Toilet paper rolls
Old loofahs
Nail clippings
Urine
100% Cotton cotton balls
Cotton swabs made from 100% cotton and cardboard (not plastic) sticks
>Personal Items
Cardboard tampon applicators
Latex condoms (It might be a good idea to bury these items in your pile).
>From the Laundry Room
Dryer lint
Old/stained cotton clothing—rip or cut it into smaller pieces
Old wool clothing—rip or cut it into smaller pieces
>From the Office
Bills and other documents you've shredded
Envelopes (minus the plastic window)
Pencil shavings
Sticky notes
Business cards (as long as they're not glossy)
Receipts
>Around the House
Contents of your vacuum cleaner bag or canister
Newspapers (shredded or torn into smaller pieces)
Subscription cards from magazines

Compost even in the winter!

2009-12-26T09:35:00.000-08:00

With a good indoor wrom composting bin, you can even compost inside in the winter time with little to no smell!

Using worms to break down food waste offers many advantages:

It reduces kitchen garbage disposal costs

It produces less odor and attracts fewer pests than putting food scraps into a garbage container

It reduces the cost of water and electricity that kitchen sink garbage disposal units use

It produces a free, high-quality soil (compost)

It doesn't take much space, labor, or maintenance

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T14:19:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!!

Happy Holidays!!

Happy New Year!!

from One20 Farm!! We thank you for you support and pray you charish
your family even more this time of year!!

online farming games addictive. why?

2009-12-22T21:33:00.000-08:00

An estimated 15 million urban white-collars spend more than five hours a day on Happy Farm, according to data from the game’s creator. China has become addicted.
read more...

Commercial Composting part 2

2009-12-17T12:23:00.000-08:00

Another great example of a city doing commercial food composting!

commercial composting catching on

2009-12-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

I found an article talking about how Wood burn, Oregon is starting a composting program with Allied Waste of Marion County, who has gotten a temporary food waste permit to launch a pilot composting project. Eventually this is what we would love to start in Columbus, Ohio. Restaurants need an option!

Pumpkin seeds in our compost?

2009-12-14T19:54:00.000-08:00

I looked in one of our large worm compost bins last week and found some rather large sprouts. Looking closer found out they are pumpkin seeds. Jeremy reminded me that worms wont touch a sprout, plant or food until it starts to break down. God's design are so cool! So they benefit a garden not destroy it. Brilliant!

Another successful worm farm in Cape Cod talks about the benefits of worm composting.

Last Chance for December Sale!!

2009-12-14T08:14:00.000-08:00

Don't forget we have a December sale going on!

Extended!

SALE!! SALE!!
We are offering 15% off all Cloth Worm Composting Bin from now until December 20th!
Blog, tweet, facebook or share some other way about our sale, send us the links and we will make it 20% off!

Pick from any of these colors! Cloth Worm bins only.
Local delivery is free!

Diary of a Worm

2009-12-11T17:11:00.000-08:00

Great easy read for young
kids about the life of a worm!

Famous Worms #1

2009-12-08T17:09:00.000-08:00

My first hero in the
world of worms!!

How did he ever tie his shoe?

Quick plastic composters; 2 cents

2009-12-07T12:14:00.000-08:00

Here is an example of plastic quick composters. They are great, and quick to make. The draw back is they are hard to keep at a good level of moisture. There is no where for the moisture to go to. So they can easily get to moist or too wet, drowning your worms. Wood bins are good because they absorb the extra moisture, cloth bins are even better because any extra can drain down or be soaked into the cloth.

Worm Bin Sale!!

2009-12-05T20:02:00.000-08:00

Don't forget we have a December sale going on!

SALE!! SALE!!

We are offering 15% off all Cloth Worm Composting Bin from now until December 15th!

Blog, tweet, facebook or share some other way about our sale, send us the links and we will make it 20% off!

Cloth Worm bins only.

Local delivery is free!

Worm Hive stackable worm bin

2009-12-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

Introducing the Worm Hive
Now available on our site for several prices depending on the number of layers
This is a multi layered design. Each layer consists of four solid wood sides with an open top and a bottom covered in ¼ inch hardware screen. They are designed to stack and interlock to avoid being knocked off one another.

The top layer is covered with a simple flat wood lid with a few air holes and a handle. The bottom layer rests in a four legged frame which has a fine aluminum mesh on its bottom and suspends the stack overtop of a plastic catch-bin. The bottom layer is filled with some worms, bedding and food scraps then topped with dry shredded paper to help keep away unwanted flies. Continue feeding in this layer until full then place new bedding and food scraps in next layer up, the worms will naturally migrate towards the food leaving a layer of harvestable castings. The open bottom and air holes in the lid help maintain air flow to reduce odor and increase oxygen to worms and beneficial bacteria. Any excess moisture that builds should pass through the box to the catch-bin at the bottom where it can be removed and used to feed plants. Any loose castings will also fall through to the catch-bin for easy harvest. As the worms migrate upwards, the lower level is removed and the castings can be sifted by shaking the layer and allowing them to pass through the screen, this may also help you find any wayward worms that didn’t move upwards. After the layer is emptied, any worms and unprocessed biomass can then be returned to the full layer and the empty one becomes the top. Maintaining this constant cycling of layers also helps extend the life of the box since each layer will be allowed a resting period at the top where it can dry out.

Beware of unwanted pests!

2009-12-01T17:26:00.000-08:00

For all you vermiculturists out there, a friendly reminder about things to watch out for when bringing your worm bins indoors for the winter. Be careful to not bring in any unwanted pests, they can wreak havoc on your home. Pictured here is a good example of two highly destructive pests that will consume all the worm food before it even makes it into the bin. Not only that but they are nearly impossible to get rid of and they are constantly buzzing in your ears and steal all your stuff, the larger female just took a coat from me and keeps landing in my wife's water cup. The male is slightly less noticeable as he tends to keep to himself buzzing in the distance but torments the cat to no end. Worst of all is at night time when they creep into you bed without notice until suddenly you wake up because they have consumed your bed covering.

So as always, be careful with those worm bins this winter and this Christmas, give a really fun and useful gift, the gift of worms! Happy holidays!

Shrinking Farmland

2009-11-30T10:10:00.001-08:00

I was reading a blog today that stated that the number of farms in the USA mostly including Ohio and and Penn. is trending downwards. We are loosing an acre every 30 years. Sizes of farms is going up, but the amount of farmland compared to our population is decreasing. We are down to 0.6 acres of acrable farmland per person and that number is shrinking quickly.
So the call for more organic farmers is out there.
We need to stop sprawling! Reinvest in the city homes the suburbs keep moving away from. Stop building more and fix the houses we have!

Our family still hear the call to have farmland outside our urban little starter farm, but its not as easy as it sounds.
Soon I pray!
Just looking for that special farmer ready to retire, ready to pass on the tradition!
is that you? Call me!

12" Wood Worm Composting Bin

2009-11-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

This is an example of our 12" Wood Worm Composting Bin

a Single Compartment Box This box is a basic design, a rectangle box with solid wood sides, bottom and hinged lid, handles on either end to facilitate lifting. Two sides are vented with holes covered in fine aluminum wire mesh to allow air flow through box which reduces odor and increases oxygen for worms and beneficial bacterial growth. These are also available with casters to ease movement of the box.

You can hand sift the worms after 3-4 months to harvest castings or we have a wood frame covered in ¼ inch hardware screen which can be slid into the center to divide box and ease the harvest of castings. To use the screen, you first need to push all worms, bedding and food scraps to one side of box then slide screen into center leaving one side empty for anywhere from a week to a month depending on how much biomass they have to eat. Once they are finished eating, you then place new bedding and food scraps on opposite side of screen and leave for another week or two. The worms should naturally migrate towards the food leaving behind one whole side of nutrient dense castings that you can add to house plants, garden or lawn.

One draw back to this design is that it rarely creates any worm “tea” or leachate from excess moisture passing through the biomass and settling at the bottom. Typically, excess moisture is absorbed into the wood but if there is too much to be absorbed it can pool at the bottom causing odor and killing worms but this is extremely rare.

Worm Tea

2009-11-24T18:44:00.001-08:00

Many people ask us what IS Worm Tea?

Worm Tea is when you put worm castings in a tea bag or straight in water and let it sit for 4 hours to 24 hours, this allows the castings to oxygenate. The extra oxygen causes a bloom of the good bacteria, plus the added benefit of nitrogen, phosphate, calcium, magnesium and potash. The liquid that drains out of a worm composting bin is actually called leachate because it is the result of liquid that leaches through the castings or compost bin.

In these two mason jars, I filled them with water, then put potting soil on the left and worm castings on the right. I let them sit over night. Look at the amazing difference. The left side is almost clear. the right is full of good stuff! all that nitrogen, phosphate, calcium, and magnesium!

I am going to take some samples to a soil tester this winter so I can tell you exactly what is in there. we are also planning some more comparison studies to stress the importance and value of these castings!

8 reasons why worm castings are important!

a natural repellent for scale, mites, white flies, and aphids
natural fungicide in soil and on plant surfaces
increase in plant stem size and foliage
acts as a soil conditioner
will not burn plants
creates healthy soil for healthy plants
aides in the creation of colloidal humus
grows healthier fruits and vegetables than those treated with chemical fertilizers
improves water retention in soil
reduces the amount of waste going to the landfill! Always good!

Checking on the cloth bin

2009-11-24T18:24:00.000-08:00

I was checking on our cloth worm composting bin last week.
I noticed the Indian corn I put in there was sprouting!

Nice moist environment, happy sprouting space. the worms were breaking things down nicely, I have to add some more water. not a lot though. that is the nice thing about the bags, you can't really over water them because it will just run out the bottom. But you do have to watch the moisture level closely so it doesn't dry out too much.

Found some happy baby worms, a good sign things are moving along nicely in your worm bin.

Did you know?...

2009-11-11T09:18:00.000-08:00

That worm composting has 2 advantages over regular composting?

the worm compost (worm castings) is actually superior to regular compost
many of the odor issues that are prevalent in regular composting are not a problem with worm composting

Ready to start worm composting yet?

Pet Food and Raw food

2009-11-10T06:43:00.000-08:00

Ever think about what you feed your pet(s)?

Your dog and/or cat were designed for raw food, many pets are no where near this diet anymore. Visit the Vexed Chef for another perspective on raw food for your pets.

for more information on changing your pets diet or why you should, buy a copy of Natural Healing for Pets by Blue Rock Station

this has been a great resource for us. I know that Annie has had her large dog on a raw chicken diet for years.

Cloth Worm Composting Bin Set up and ready to go...

2009-10-27T18:25:00.001-07:00

I liked the Navy and Teal Worm Composting bag so much I decided to set it up in our computer room.
Set up was simple.

We put together the frame.

the bag is made of eco-felt
(felt that is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. On average, 10 plastic bottles will produce 1 pound of fiber), which I placed the bag over the top of the frame. I pulled the drawstring at the base of the bag closed tight and
placed the black bucket underneath the frame.
Then the fun part, I mixed the coconut coir fiber block with about 2 gallons of water, let soak for a bit. When I came back it was all spread out in a mass,
I mixed in 1 pound of red wriggler worms, and some shredded paper.
We like shredded paper better because it does a much better job then
hand ripped paper. I then added half the mix to the Worm Composting bag that I set up. Added about 2 pounds of food scraps,
(you can see the pumpkins seeds they love them!)
Then top off with the rest of the worm and fiber mix.
I added shredded newspaper and copy paper to the top to keep moisture in.

All Done! my large curious dog has not even cared about this new thing in our back room. Proving to me that the smell is not as much as some might fear.
We add to it every 2 days and add water as needed. Easiest pet I have ever had! and I can compost in the winter in Ohio, which is the best plus!
the lid is light and the directions can be on the top or hidden on the inside.
I love the fact that the kids can add to it and have no problems.
I can add that to their chore list now even in the winter time!!

Free range Triceratops in my compost!

2009-10-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

In September I made several batches of orange scented Triceratops cookies for
Milo's birthday at school. I know a little fancy for pre-k but they were good!

As usually by the last batch I am totally side tracked by another project, so the last batch always gets crunchy!. Ask Germ, - Always!

So this time I was easily amused as I set free the "crunchy"
triceratops in our compost!
All I could think of was free range dinosaurs as they headed towards the cabbage...