|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Friends
Welcome to The Urban Worm newsletter, and thank you so much for joining us, for believing in the humble but mighty worm!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For The Urban Worm the true new year begins in the spring. Life is springing at the farm too and we’ve finally packed away the thermals. The worms are certainly enjoying these milder temperatures, we’re seeing some serious reproductive action, a sure sign the worms are happy. When the worms are happy, we are happy.
|
|
New worm system
|
The time has come, we have been eagerly awaiting to share some very exciting news with you, The Urban Worm has a new toy; a Continuous Flow Through (CFT) system which - so far so good - is working a dream. What is a CFT you ask. Well, you may remember last year we took a trip to the USA, and the reason for this adventure was to learn from the best, with the intention of bringing the CFT to the UK. As part of the trip we headed to Detroit to meet Dan Lonowski of Wormgear, a motor engineer by trade turned master worm gear maker. With ecology and economics in mind we purchased the plans from Dan and had the CFT manufactured locally, only 10 miles from the farm, and in our home town of Newark on Trent. A big shout out to Dan for guiding the construction from start to finish, it's a brilliant piece of kit.
|
|
|
|
|
Our very own Wormgear CFT begins operation at The Urban Worm HQ, Notts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The amazing Dan Lonowski at his Detroit works with Anna & his modular CFT
|
|
|
The use of a CFT is common place in the USA (they have vermicomposting down to a worm tea!) although the original concept was born on home soil here in the UK by the late Dr. Clive Edwards, a pioneer of vermicomposting. Unfortunately for us Brits, Clive took a position at Ohio State University in the 1980’s and the push for the power of worms transferred across the atlantic. Here at The Urban Worm we’ve been doing our very best to bring it back.
|
|
How does it work?
|
Although it may just look like a metal box on legs a CFT is in fact a perfectly designed system that not only takes the labour out of harvesting, it also works to not disturb the worms, or the microbial activity. The comfort and happiness of our worms is paramount, and the final product speaks for itself, only the best for the worms, only the best for the plants. There is a cutting bar underneath the system which shaves off the worm manure, but don’t panic - it doesn’t slice the worms in half.
|
Our little worker worms are surface dwellers, and will gradually move their way up to the top as we charm them with layers of food. With the worms happily feeding and breeding at the top, the cutting bar will harvest the processed worm manure at the bottom - simple.
|
|
|
|
|
Loving it Local
|
We understand the power local communities have to transform and instigate real change, and we want to be part of that story. As of last month we have been spreading the good worm word at Newark Market every Saturday, and will continue to do so throughout the growing season (bar 10th May). We are grateful for the overwhelming support we have received, we have made new friends, and new customers. As we find ourselves catapulted into this new age of virtual reality, and computer generated ‘humanity’ the necessity for fostering real human relationships is crucial. The rich culture of local markets is a tradition well worth fighting for, and we’re in it for the long haul. Find us at the Newark Royal Market most Saturdays, and keep an eye out here for announcements about other local markets we plan to visit on weekdays.
|
|
|
|
|
"Compost! Compost! Get it while it's hot!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Easter Wormathon Extravaganza
We participated in some serious egg hunting over the Easter holidays, although not of the chocolate variety! We delivered 11 sessions in two weeks, which was no easy feat, but again, nobody said healing the soil was an easy task! Well, technically that’s not true as worms can do the remediation no sweat, but we were certainly super busy. We facilitated making over 100 worm farms, sending new little worm guardians into the world.
|
|
Thank you Urban & Civic and Newark District Council, and of course all the wonderful participants for making this happen, investing in the worms empowers the potential for strategic change and fosters a deep love and appreciation for the natural world.
|
|
|
|
|
Sconce & Devon Park, Newark
|
|
|
|
Egg hunt - when worms first lay cocoons they are pale yellow-green, then turn orange when they are ready to hatch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
One For The Photo Album
|
|
Eagle-eyed readers may have spotted some fresh artwork in the picture of our workshop above. Our artist and signwriting partner Verna Poppy was back in the Worm HQ recently to deliver a lovely new menu board for our touring workshops and to get our New Worm Order badge up on the wall in large scale. Here she is in action - another brilliant job from the master, thank you Verna!
|
|
Take a look at Verna's amazing portfolio on her artist socials here >>> and here >>>
|
|
Dates For The Diary
|
|
|
We will be spreading the word at Nottinghamshire County Show on Saturday 10th May, and if you want to come and check out our new CFT we would love to see you at Open Farm Sunday at FarmEco on the 8th June, we will give you a little tour of Worm HQ!
|
|
|
|
Two more dates for your diaries - find us at the Scottish Game Fair at Scone Palace, Perth 4th-6th July and the Belvoir Castle Flower & Garden Show on 12th & 13th July.
|
|
|
Look out for us at Newark Market on Saturdays through till August - we'll be there most weeks; in May you'll find us there on the 3rd, 17th, 24th and 31st, with discounts on all purchases and of course a friendly worm chat for anyone who's interested!
|
|
|
|
|
|
That’s all for this month friends, as always we are grateful, and thank you for joining the New Worm Order and reading our wormiful news. Your love and support keep us moving forward, and we wish you a merry May, and happy International Compost Awareness week for next week!
|
|
Anna & The Urban Worm team
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
