During the Halloween season, thump coffee had a fun project for those who wanted to participate in the “Day of the Dead” art walk. They offered up markers and compostable cups to thumpers to ghoulishly decorate. Many created skulls and halloweenish themed pictures.  I collected these cups knowing red wigglers loved to chomp on them!  I weeded through the cups which were not completely covered with markers and tossed them.  I was not sure how the worms would react? Would they love them or be killed?

So with this in mind, I first soaked the cups in a bucket of water.

Then I drained the colored water and did a refill.

After about two or three batches of rinses, I called it quits and left the cups to soak for a few days. Blah, I was done!

After the soaking, I introduced the red wigglers along with established compost into the bucket with the cups.  The cups were quite moist to help with the decomposition. Can you spot the wigglers?

Finally,I covered them with a blanket of leaves to keep them cozy and warm.  They are now munching out in my garage. More pictures to follow soon!

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Back to School Night at Cascade Middle School was fun and insightful. Carlos and I joined what felt like millions of parents in the gym to get the beginning of the year info from the principal.  After a review of last year’s test statistics and this year’s goals, we were set free to Max’s first period.  For an hour, we followed Max’s daily schedule.  Each class was about 5 min with 3 min passing periods.  We even went to the cafeteria to sample some of the school food which was actually really, really good!  Chicken Poppy Salad, fresh veggies, and fruit were served by a super sweet cafeteria lady.  It was such a difference from my middle school days!  Gone are the days of cardboard frozen pizza and mystery meat sandwiches.  Clam chowder in bread bowls, baked beef ziti, terriyaki chicken and brown rice, chili, hummus, black bean burgers, hamburger bar, and spaghetti bar are just a few items on the menu. The kids have many, many choices healthy choices.  With each main meal, there is a side of fruits and vegetables.  All of the fruits and veggies are from local growers, and the beef is from local farms.  Carlos and I were really impressed and happily surprised!  Way to go nutrition services.

Here are some highlights from the brochure.

- whole wheat and grains are used

-trans-fats have been eliminated

-low-fat cheese and milk

-only fruits and veggie can be “super sized”

-breads are baked at the high school

- ooooh they even have a panini machine!

Now to get them composting with Red Wigglers!

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Wow!  Our strawberries are so tasty.  This year, I didn’t tend the garden as much as last year.  We bought the strawberry starters last year and incorporated the soil with 40 pounds of worm castings.  Unfortunately we forgot to put up a screen to keep the critters away, and they had a feast. This season, I top dressed the garden with 2 inches of worm castings.  As you can see, we didn’t put up a screen to keep away the deer.  I am not sure why they haven’t been in our yard.  I’m thinking the dogs in the hood have kept them away!  Any way, WE have been enjoying the berries.

This morning the kids decided to wash the car so I went to get them set up. While they were arguing about the hose, the soap, the sponges…blah, blah, blah….I went to the garden, grabbed some berries and shoved them into their mouths!  It helped for a few seconds….. Then I got my phone and snapped these pictures.

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So happy to share the news!  My sweet friend, Kristin Davis, is running her own baking company, Spin Kitchen.  After a few years of battling food issues, she decided to get down to business and find out what was going on inside her body!  She recently had some serious tests done and discovered she had to make a change with her menu.  Not happy with the food alternatives in the stores, she ventured out, bought some cookbooks and began baking delicious goods.  Her goods are free of a lot of “stuff”…. gluten free and dairy free are on the top of the list.  There’s nothing artificial, and I can pronounce the ingredients! (lol) I am so lucky to be her friend because I get to taste test a lot of the baked goods! I love that Kristin tweaks the recipes and adds her own twist.  She’s not afraid to try something different and is always open to suggestions! I am so happy for her!  She will rock the Bend baking scene!

She also has a Wonder Worman Worm bin filled with wigglers!  Of course these wigglers will be munching on her fruit and veggie scraps.  Oh to be a worm in a test kitchen!

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I have one more bin left!  The dimensions are 4′ x 2′ x 1′.  I would love to deliver and set up this beautiful and locally made worm bin for $155.  This includes free delivery in the Bend area (call for specifics), worm bedding, and a pound of Red Wigglers!

Check out my website for more info.

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The Environmental Center is a fabulous place to learn about environmental choices and grow into an Earth Loving Person. The hard working staff at the center is devoted to the environment in a variety of ways! Check out their site for a list of what they do!

Educating the young kiddos in our schools is the most valuable asset to the center’s program.  They stress the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling one’s own waste.  When visiting the schools, they educate by using hands on materials. Whether they are bringing in trash to create something usable or sharing Red Wigglers to learn the value of composting, they are sharing their love for the planet.

Another piece of their pie is The Kansas Avenue Learning Garden,a new project this year.  They are creating a beautiful space filled with many raised garden beds, composting units and areas for learning to take place.  Last week when I dropped off my Red Wiggler castings, Denise was showing a group of second graders how to sift through the compost created by Red Wigglers.

They were using this air vent grate to sift out the Red Wigglers and large pieces of material which wasn’t quite composted.  This material and wigglers were then put back into the worm bin and the valuable casting were stored for later use in the garden beds.  I thought this was a very clever way to reuse an air vent!  I hope to get my hands on one soon.  I will visit Packit, the local salvage center.

I am so grateful for the Environmental Center!  They provide so much to the community and to my business.  Many of my clients are referrals from my friends at the center.  WE are doing our best to reduce the amount of usable waste that heads to the landfill!

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Today, I decided to take some pictures of my thump coffe cups in my worm bins.  The cups are 100% compostable and made from sugar cane and lined with material derived from corn.  Most of the compostable products made today are meant to be hot composted in a commercial facility, but I like to see what happens when these products are put into a cold composter like a Red Wiggler bin.

I have conducted many, many tests with compostable products.  Compostable plates, cups, utensils, and packages have been put to the test.  They are all breaking down at various rates with the plates being the quickest.  thump coffee (yes, I realize the “t” is not capitalized.  That’s their logo.  Bravo Carlos) cups are breaking down rather quickly too.

The Red Wigglers are doing fine and are not bothered by the cups.  Some days I can find them inside cleaning up the leftover coffee!

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Thanks Miller Elementary’s PTO for purchasing 2 Wonder Worman Worm Bin Packages!  The Red Wigglers are ready to chomp on fruit and veggie scraps from the students and staff.

Miller Elementary is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified School.  Most of their standards revolve around the “3 R’s (reducing, reusing and recycling) which begin during construction and continue through the life of the school.  Having Red Wigglers recycle their usable waste fits perfectly into the school’s concept.

For more info on Miller’s design click here.

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Bend River Song School is a new Montesorri School located across the beautiful Deschutes River near The Old Mill District.  They were granted the funds by the Environmental Center and purchased a Wonder Worman Worm Bin Package customized with casters for mobility.  I had a blast delivering the bin as it was rolling all over the back of my Worm Mobile :^)

The school plans to compost their fruits and veggie scraps from lunch, and will use the valuable poop to amend their potting soil for the indoor garden. Learning and contributing to the process, the students are gaining a valuable lesson in Science.  They will observe the decomposition process, the behaviors of a Red Wiggler, and the needs of living creatures.

I am always so grateful to have the opportunity to visit schools and share my love for the planet and my amazing sidekicks, the Red Wigglers!

Thanks Bend River Song School!

Wiggles,

Wonder Worman

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Today, I went to deliver a pound of Red Wigglers to Aspen Academy, a BEAUTIFUL preschool in a quiet neighborhood in Bend.  When I pulled up, I was really impressed with the school. The yard was well manicured with a play structure and fun toys appropriately placed on the lawn.  There was a chicken coop, sand box and raised garden beds, welcoming the kids to come and play.

Teresa, owner, director and lead teacher,  was inside the school on the floor engaged with 2 little ones, sorting some toys.  I greeted her as Laurie then had to elaborate and let her know I was Wonder Worman.  Then the connection was made.  She only knew me as Wonder Worman :^)  She led me to the worm bin, and I released the Red Wigglers into their new comfy plastic bin which was already set up with bedding and holes for aeration.

Teresa decided to purchase Red Wigglers after Denise from the Environmental Center visited and shared the value vermicomposting.  Composting fits into the philosophy of Aspen Academy.  They are a certified Eco-Friendly Child Care Provider.  Check out their web site for full details.  I am happy to know my Red Wigglers will be members of another nature friendly school.

Here’s a shot of the back yard.  The raised beds are in the foreground, the play structure in the middle, and the chicken coop in the background.

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