Lately we are being bombarded with the idea of keeping our identity safe - check your credit, pay for a service, and shred everything! Well, I have the ultimate in paper shredders, and it is right in my garden. It is slower than most of your paper shredders though, but the finished product is completely unreadable. Hey, the finished product isn't even recognizable as paper! A worm bin makes a great paper shredder!
Okay, I do own a paper shredder, and sometimes I even use it before I feed my old bills and statements to the worms, but sometimes I just rip the papers in a few pieces and throw them in. Paper is organic, and the worms don't seem to care if it is shredded or ripped. The end result is lovely, crumbly, nutrient-rich worm castings. (That's just a fancy name for worm poop. Note to self: remember to ALWAYS wear gloves when working in the garden!)
I also feed my worms kitchen scraps - banana peels, apple cores, etc. (Just like regular compost, I leave the meat and diary products out of my worm bin.) They also like grass clippings and leaves, and any other plant-based yard materials. Worms will eat approximately their own weight each day. One worm doesn't eat much, but get several together in a bin, and not only do they eat lots, they start reproducing as well.
There are all kinds of instructions out there for vermicomposting (a fancy name for using a worm bin) but all you really need is a container with some drainage holes and a way to get air, some worms, and garbage. I use a large window box planter. I made sure the drainage holes were opened, covered the bottom with a layer of cardboard, threw in some shredded paper, a couple handfuls of dirt (it helps the worms get started), and of course the worms. I use redworms, since they are one of the best worms for composting. When I add kitchen scraps, I make sure they are buried. That way they don't attract other critters, and they don't smell bad either.
I have added a link for a web page about worms, and it is a great place to start learning more. Happy composting!
I'm liking the brunette look... :)
1 day ago
3 comments:
That is a very creative use for paper shredders. I have heard of people using shredded paper for animal bedding, but never for worms. Nice!
Thanks!
I wrote about this, this week in my blog. There are several links there related to the subject of paper shredding and composting. Do you know of any preference on the size of the paper? I can't seem to find out much information about what size the paper should be. Some same use a strip cut shredder and others a crosscut paper shredder.
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