|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Friends
Welcome to The Urban Worm newsletter, and thank you so much for joining us, for believing in the humble but mighty worm!
|
|
|
|
|
Cool Worms
A warm (in every sense) welcome to July’s New Worm Order News. We are finally in the full swing of summer and enjoying the glorious sunshine, although with this comes its challenges and keeping the worms comfortable and cool is a big one. If you’re being challenged by the heat, the worms are feeling it too. Unfortunately, we have had several reports of fatalities/escapees from worm farmers reaching out for advice, and here are a few tips & precautions to put in place:
|
- Keep you worm farm out of direct sunlight in a nice shady spot. If you can’t do this covering with a white sheet will help reflect the heat.
- If you have some spare ice packs, placing them inside the worm farm (not deep in the bedding just on the surface) will bring the temperature down, and wrapping them in a towel will reduce the initial shock of the freezing temperatures so they can adjust gradually.
- Don’t over feed. Food waste is bacteria-dominant, and when bacteria multiplies it creates heat. This reverse strategy works the same for colder months, adding more food than usual will keep them warmer.
|
|
|
|
Some of our worms taking shelter in precious shade underneath the ivy
|
|
|
|
|
|
Worming Well
|
As always, it was a joy to visit our friends at Growing Well for Open Farm Sunday, talking worms and building worm farms. Growing Well is an organic certified mental health charity based in the Lakes providing veg boxes for the local community. We are firm believers in the power of worm farming to provide therapeautic benefits. Giving love is equally as important as receiving it, and the emotional value of nurturing your worms must not be underestimated, plus, worm compost contains mycobacterium which releases serotonin helps too. We came away from Growing Well feeling great, and very much appreciated! Thank you Growing Well, and to everyone who attended our workshop and talk, you were an absolute delight, and we know the worms are in good hands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
New worm farmers preparing their wormeries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
World Environment Day
|
|
|
We love our microbes as much as we love our worms, and there could be no better way to spend World Environment Day (5th June) with the members of Pulp Friction CIC making EM/ Bokashi Mudballs. EM mudballs are made with clay and Bokashi bran and are used around the world to clean rivers, waterways and oceans. With International EM Mudball Day coming up on the 8th August you have plenty of time to join in on the collective action, plus it’s a great activity to keep the children occupied in the holidays. You can buy pre-made Bokashi bran, or you can make it yourself.
|
|
|
|
Bokashi mudballs made at Pulp Friction
|
|
|
Here's a handy guide to making your own mudballs:
|
|
|
|
If a worm were a woman
|
|
|
We’re sure she wouldn’t mind but we want to shine a bit of light on Jill Carter MBE, founder of Pulp Friction, as she is a shining star, and has been a longstanding worm farmer and supporter of The Urban Worm. Pulp Friction is a social enterprise based in Nottingham supporting adults with learning needs to develop life, work and social skills, and they’ve been worm farming for a good while now. So why do we think Jill would be a great representation of a worm? Well, she has an enormous pure heart, never seeks the spotlight, and has been working quietly and tirelessly over the years to enrich the lives of countless adults with additional needs. We love you Jill.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pulp Friction member Beth with the project's
|
|
|
|
|
|
Photo of the month
|
|
|
Worms are a perfect companion for canal life, as our friends Gina & Ben can attest. Green in every way, their worm farm even matches the colour of their boat. Here are the little stars taking a quick photo call before sensibly going back down to cool off below decks.
|
|
Scots Worms
|
|
We’re heading up north again this week for the Scottish Game Fair at Scone Palace, spreading the good word. You will find us in the education tent and we have two talks scheduled on the Friday and Saturday in the Listen To The Land talks tent. We are forever grateful for the opportunities the worms bring our way, not only to enable us to travel to places of spectacular beauty, but to have the opportunity to make human connections. We may be a small social enterprise, but we have a national reach. Worms without borders!
|
|
|
|
You've Got Worms
|
|
To listen again, or in case you missed it on the 8th June, click the Radio 4 button for the BBC show Illuminated featuring Anna on the power of the humble worm. A thank you to Jack Monaghan for a great production.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That’s a wrap for this fix of New Worm Order News. Have a wonderful July, and we look forward to bringing you more wormiful updates next month.
|
|
Anna & The Urban Worm team
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
