4-H Lets Worms Invade Library

Eight hundred seventy worms made their way into the Robeson County library and into the hearts and hands of almost 50 youth who attended the weekly youth program at the Lumberton Branch of the Public Library as they learned about the process of vermicomposting.
The youth had the chance to learn the importance of earth worms and composting worms in our environment. As Ms. Shelly read them a story on a worm and butterfly, 4-H volunteers and staff from the Robeson County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service prepared a very special bedding for the worms. They soaked a brick of coconut fiber in a bucket of water to start the vermicomposting exhibit that will be available to travel to area schools, educational programs, and youth programs in the future. The exhibit known as "A Can-O-Worms" currently has close to one pound of worms in it thanks to the help of the youth at the library. All of them lined up and used spoons or their hands (how brave is that?!?) to move the worms from cups into their new home lined with coconut lining. Some were so excited that they even wanted to take the little critters home as pets, which was discouraged by every parent and grandparent in the room. After loading the worms into their new home volunteers prepared a blanket of wet newspaper and the youth tucked in their friends for their busy new life.
Composting worms, the most popular of which are red worms, can eat half their body weight each day in vegetable and fruit scraps, wet paper, and coffee grounds. The worms are considered vegetarians, and even though they will eat egg shells they will not eat the inside of the egg or anything that involves animal fat. The castings they provide will produce an organic fertilizer for plants while the liquid waste known as "worm tea" is considered a fantastic liquid fertilizer for plants. It will take approximately a month for the worms to get settled in their bed and start the composting process.
The worms will reproduce up to 20,000 in their new environment but will regulate their population so that there are not more worms then food. There is no odor to the can as the worms eat the food scraps before it rots. It is an organic way to recycle and a wonderfully fun educational tool for youth.
The Can-O-Worms will be tended to during the year by members and volunteers of the "Dirty Rascals" Junior Master Gardener 4-H Club, and 4-H staff. If you are interested in bringing the Can-O-Worms to your classroom or youth facility, please contact the 4-H staff at (910) 671-3276.