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Dear Friends
Welcome to The Urban Worm newsletter, and thank you so much for joining us, for believing in the humble but mighty worm!
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As the autumn calls in the next chapter after the brightest of summers we are grateful to have had a wonderful summer full of light, and a thriving worm population. The worms are living their best lives in the new 'continuous flow-through' or CFT worm farm, and for next year's growing season we will have some very special magic manure to share!
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District Worms
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We know local authorities don’t always get the best PR, but you will know we have nothing but praise for Newark & Sherwood District Council, who have long embraced the worms. Having the support and drive from councils has the potential to shift systemic behavioural change, and it was great to be out working alongside Danielle Davies, Environmental Development Officer at Newark-on-Sea spreading the good word making worm poo tea bags with holiday makers. And with Danielle running wildseed bomb sessions we were a biodiversity power team.
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Danielle Davies and the worm displays
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The World At Our Feet
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This year we were honored to be invited to speak at the regenerative farming conference Groundswell Agricultural Festival, in the Soil Medic Tent, curated and hosted by the brilliant Land Gardeners. It’s a pretty big deal for us — basically the Glasto for farmers! Sadly we couldn’t attend due to a prior speaking engagement, but all being well we look forward to joining next year, spreading the good worm word at Groundswell.
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If you managed to get to Somerset House early this year to see the inspiring exhibition Soil: The World at our Feet, also co-curated by the Land Gardeners, you may have spotted as part of the exhibition a World Map of Soil Heroes. Although we couldn’t make an appearance at the conference we are honoured to make it onto the map - the worms are officially on the map!
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Meet The Neighbours
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If you’ve noticed a rather large family of woodlice (or the super-cute roly-polies as they say the USA) have taken up residence in your worm farm this summer you are not alone.
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Woodlice are a vital part of the composting crew and they play an important role in breaking down waste; but, understandably, a swarm of them can be unsettling if you don’t like critters with lots of legs - we personally find them rather adorable. The only issue with a bigger than usual population of woodlice is the competition for food - keeping an eye on the worms supply is essential: smaller but regular feeds will reduce the amount of standing waste that attracts the roly-polies. We’ve had exceptionally dry summer this year in the UK, and as woodlice are lovers of moist environments it is a smart move on their part to make their way into your worm farm.
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Summer of Love
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It is heartening to see local market towns thrive, and Wirksworth Market in Debryshire is exceptional - a charming gem of a community that could not have embraced us - and the worms - more enthusiastically. Thank you Wirksworth!
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You will find us at the bustling Farmers Market on Saturday 6th September if you fancy a trip out to the Peaks to stock up on your local produce and artisan wares.
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A special shout out to Cathy for impressively converting her wheelie bin into a worm farm in super quick time after purchasing a conversion kit from us at the Tuesday market. The worms are in and doing their thing.
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Click & Collect
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Brand new worm farmer Vicky popped in to see us at Worm HQ recently to collect her worm farm kit after taking advantage of our Click & Collect option on the website shop. Vicky had hoped to come to one of our workshops in Middlebeck, Newark recently but couldn't make it, so decided to get started with the worms anyway.
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One advantage for click & collect customers if you happen to live nearby or are passing through the area at some point is you can get a free tour of the worm farm at Farm Eco Community Care Farm in Screveton. We do love to show people around!
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Here's Vicky with her new kit, standing alongside our pride and joy - the famous CFT which we never tire of telling people about!
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When your next New Worm Order News drops the leaves will have begun to fall - preparing the ground for the next fertile season. After a summer of extraordinary light being shone (in every sense of the word) we are ready to welcome the season of rest and recuperation, building strength for the glorious times ahead.
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Thank you friends, and have a fabulous September.
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Anna & The Urban Worm team
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