|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Friends
Welcome to The Urban Worm newsletter, and thank you so much for joining us, for believing in the humble but mighty worm!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our newsletter content is 100% human-generated, and always will be!
|
|
|
|
|
Summer is coming - we’re looking forward to sharing more wormiful news, because we know it makes you happy! As a small social enterprise we exist to make the world a better place, and we firmly believe that one of the strategies to realise this is inspiring new worm farmers. We are grateful to all worm lovers and worm farmers - you are absolutely changing the world.
|
|
|
|
A world of worms, part 2
|
The international vermiculture industry is a small but perfectly formed group of people dedicated to building soil and planetary health. We can honestly say there is not a worm farmer we have met (and we’ve met many from every corner of the world) where we have not become fast friends, and Cristy Christie from Black Diamond Vermicompost is no exception. Last year we took an epic trip to the USA in the name of the worms to visit Cristy in the wine county of Paso Robles, California. Cristy is the master of the Continous Flow Through system, her operation is truly inspirational and we came away totally excited and full of stellar knowledge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anna & Cristy Christie in Paso Robles
|
|
|
Cristy runs an impressive 4’ x 40’ ft system producing 55 tons of high quality worm castings a year, from a feedstock of pre-composted cow manure operated with an automated aeration system. Rather than supply a handful of vineyards in the area Cristy has a strong and loyal domestic client base, selling direct to market rather than through retail. Human connection is fundamental for Black Diamond Vermicompost and Cristy’s wealth of expertise is an asset to Paso Robles and beyond - we love her (and Jac too).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Worms & Wine
|
|
The worms get us to some pretty interesting places, and connect us to some very interesting people. A few weeks back we were invited to speak at Yorkshire Heart Vineyard for a Waffle & Walk meet for viticulturists (that’s producers of wine to you and I). It was inspiring to learn that Ian Sargent from Laurel Vines began applying worm tea supplied by our friends at Soil Nurture in 2021, and since then the worm count has grown from 200 per square meter to 560 per square metre as of last year.
|
|
We are often asked to supply extra worms for people’s gardens to fix their chronic lack of worms; however, this is not the answer, and will only lead to unhappy, and potentially dead worms. Instead, we need to create biologically complete environments where the worms actually want to hang out, and sending in the microbes is the best place to start, just ask Ian. We’ve got World Microbe Day coming up on the 28th June and we can think of no better way to honour the unseen heroes than getting a worm tea brew on.
|
|
|
|
Anna at Yorkshire Heart Vineyard
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Worms on trial, update
|
|
Earlier this year we asked your for your assistance on a little citizen science project, to run some growing trials for us and send them over so we can share in New Worm Order News. The results aren't in just yet but here's our own trial, so far.
|
|
|
|
If you’re reading this you are already no doubt are well aware of the powers of worm poo for your precious plants, but here is a visual representation for you. This is a photo of our basil experiment, planting the same batch of seeds with 10% Magic Manure mixed with coconut coir versus just coconut coir. A little really does go a long way.
|
|
What's on
|
As you may have guessed we do love to travel for the worms, and next week we will be heading up to the picturesque Lake District delivering a talk and workshop for our friends at Growing Well, Low Sizer, on the 8th June for Open Farm Sunday. If you are in the area, or fancy a special trek to make your own mini DIY worm farm you can book yourself on a place here >>>
|
|
|
|
If you are East Midlands-based and are planning a trip to FarmEco for Open Farm Sunday, Urban Worm team members Joanna and Joseph will be holding the fort and will be happy to give you a little tour - you will be in good hands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Photo of the month
|
|
|
We always get a little excited when we have a Click & Collect, firstly of course to meet our wonderful customers, and secondly because we love to show off our new CFT system - The Urban Worm’s most prized possession. We don’t always remember to snap a picture with all the excitement, but we’re getting better at it. We met Hope and Sarah at Portland College Spring Fair a few weeks ago and Hope was hooked on the magic of worms. Thank you for this visit ladies, and happy worm farming!
|
|
On the Beeb
Some excellent PR for the worms coming up! We are happy to share The Urban Worm will be featured in the Radio 4 Illuminated series airing on the 8th June 19.17-19.45, perfectly coinciding with National Open Farm Sunday. Thank you Jack Monaghan of Pronk Productions for a super lovely chit chat about all things worms, it was thoroughly enjoyable.
|
|
Our friend Josh Heyneke of Parc Carreg is featured too - a super lovely guy who is doing some pioneering work, and he also knows an awful lot about guinea pigs (read all about it in Issue 13 of New Worm Order News). You should also check out his You Tube Channel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That is your New Worm Order News fix for this month friends, thank you as always for reading and for your support, we wish you a magical (and sun-filled) June and look forward to a catch up next month.
|
|
Anna & The Urban Worm team
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
