A Day in the Life of a Red Wiggler

Hey there! I’m just your average worm living in the UW Farm’s bustling vermicompost bin. Let’s wriggle through a day in my underground life.

Rise and shine, it’s morning routine time. I move through our cozy bedding in search of breakfast. I can always find my buddies lined up at the buffet. Today, they’ve found some mushy tomatoes and banana peels, yum! Our job is to break down this organic matter, turning it into nutrient-rich compost.

After our light snack, it’s time to get down to business. Tunneling through the layers, we begin agitating the layers of bedding. This helps the beneficial microbes flourish by aerating the compost. For keeping our bin in good health, our movements are crucial.

In the afternoon, it’s time to chow down! We red wigglers aren’t picky. Whether it’s carrot tops from campus cafés or pastries from the UW Food Pantry, organic waste is added by the bucketful. After the food is added, a thick layer of leaves, grass clippings, and coffee grounds blankets the top of the bin. This carbon-rich bedding provides the bulk we need to increase airflow.

As the sun sets on the world above, our bin bustles with the cacophony of contented munching. The mucus membrane from our skin keeps moisture and nutrients in the soil, making vermicompost an incredibly efficient fertilizer.

Though red wiggler worms are small, we pack a punch in the world of regenerative agriculture! Churning trash into treasure, decomposition kick-starts the benefits of healthy soil. So next time you think about your kitchen scraps, remember us worms– composting’s secret weapon, working tirelessly beneath the surface.

Until next time, keep composting, and remember to appreciate the little guys. Goodnight from your friendly neighborhood decomposer!