by Wonder Worman | Nov 9, 2010 | Less in the Landfill, Red Wiggler World
I am pumped and ready to put the SunChips bag to the challenge. I am not too concerned with the amount of time it will take for the bag to be completely composted. I am more focused on the hope that it will just break down into usable compost.
As an avid composter for about 6 years, I know all of the right conditions need to be present for the optimum breakdown to occur, adding the right amount of brown and green waste and also reaching the right temperature. These conditions, I believe only happen in a controlled environment. The Sunchips bags were tested in a facility which maintained the composting temperature at 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The bags broke down in about 12-16 weeks. Realizing a home composter would not have access to those conditions, the SunChips testers mimicked a home composting bin and added browns and green waste to the SunChips bags. The bags broke down in about 13 weeks. They also conducted an Industrial Composting Standards test which is way beyond my backyard so I am not going to discuss all that they did…….
Basically, they passed a rigorous test protocol conducted by Cedar Grove in Seattle, Washington.
So, I am going to try two different composting methods, maybe even 3, depending on SunChip cravings!
1) Red Wiggler composting Bin
2) Backyard compost pile
3) Compost tumbler
All of these are already set up with brown and green waste. Temperatures will vary among the three.
I am thrilled SunShips created this compostable bag and am excited to see the results.
Happy Wormin’
by Wonder Worman | Oct 10, 2010 | Less in the Landfill, Red Wiggler World
My neighborhood is cool, especially my block. I live about a mile from downtown which is an easy walk to restaurants, shops and the beautiful Deschutes River. We are on a busy street, but looking at this picture you really couldn’t tell. That’s because this is the back alley. A place where the kids ride their bikes, scooters and skateboards, and the parents can let them without worrying about traffic. This alley has hosted many parties and gatherings in the warmer months and sled and snowboard races during the winter months.
I also have some really sweet neighbors. Yeah, they are sugar and spice and everything nice, well some of them (just being honest here), but what I mean is… they are sweet…. as in “cool”. Most of them know I am the Wonder Worman and have hoards of Red Wigglers on the side of the house. They tell me they don’t mind! Some actually think it’s pretty cool and some, well…. are a little “grossed out.”
Some have their own compost piles and others bring their food scraps to this blue bin located by the alley. They are helping to keep my sidekicks happy and healthy. I am thankful for their waste and am happy to see them do what is right for our planet!
I think this type of Neighborhood Drop Off Waste Collection Bin (I just made that up as I am typing this. LOL!) could work in many neighborhoods. If you have a worm bin and have neighbors who are not into composting, you could start a collection bin. Give it a try! Then after a year of feeding the wigglers, you could share the castings and beautify your flower beds in the neighborhood.
Just a thought!
Happy Wormin’
by Wonder Worman | Oct 2, 2010 | Red Wiggler World
See that little tiny yellow speck that looks like a mini lemon. See it? See it?
Do you know what it is? huh? huh? come on do ya? do ya?
If you have a worm bin, maybe you’ve seen it before.
Well if you’re still at a loss and you’ve never laid eyes on it in your entire life, I bet you have an idea…just by the title of the blog.
It’s the result of doing “it”, making whoopie in the worm world. Red Wigglers, as with other worms, are hermaphrodites. They have both male and female parts and need each other to reproduce. I have seen this in action, and it is really cool. They actually form a love knot. After doing “it”, they each leave behind a cocoon.
After 3-4 weeks, about 5-10 worms will hatch from the cocoon. Then these babies will be reproducing new compost eating, earth saving creatures in 2-3 months and the cycle will start again.
Thought it would be cool to share this with ya! and don’t worry you won’t have worms crawlin’ out of your bin…they self regulate their population. They determine their space and reproduce accordingly!
Happy wormin’
by Wonder Worman | Sep 23, 2010 | Less in the Landfill
I am excited to share a product introduced to me a week ago. Linda, CEO and Co-Founder of Elements Naturals and Shannon, her PR sidekick met with me at a local, fantastic coffee house in Bend. Linda’s compostable baby wipes are 100% Natural and are chemical and fragrant free. These wipes will break down into usable compost in a home compost pile and soon to be tested in my Wonder Worman Super composting Worm Bin!
Now that my kids are way past the diaper stage…Nice for me!…, I have started using these wipes for our hands rather than their bottoms. (I am happy they are no longer pooping in their pants, but I do miss their baby smell.) These wipes are super soft and hold up to the wear and tear of removing dirt from grimy hands.
I have also used them for cleaning my key board. They have just the right amount of moisture and are not sopping wet. I think I’ve used 4 so far and will be tossing them into a worm bin over the weekend.
Here’s to a cool compostable product!! More later! Happy Wormin’
by Wonder Worman | Sep 20, 2010 | Red Wiggler World, Sidetracks
My sweet, “Little a” went to work pulverizing eggshells for our red wigglers. Eggs shells contain calcium which the worms need to survive and to help with reproduction. Being a red wiggler merchant, this is important to me. I need to have the perfect environment for the worms to reproduce. If the worms have too much calcium, they have a gland unique to their species. The calciferous gland is located in their digestive tract. This helps regulate the amount of calcium in their blood.
The calcium in the bedding also helps balance the ph. Calcium will bring the ph to neutral, neither acidic or basic. The ideal composting conditions.
Many vermicomposters have shared there is no need to worry about adding too many egg shells if you eat eggs daily.
I didn’t take a picture of the final product. It was a bit finer than what you see here. This is really close, though. I then took the bag out to my Wonder Worman bin and sprinkled it on top and then gently mixed it in about an inch.
Thanks for your help “Little a”
Happy Wormin’
