Mrs. Lyman has Worms!

It's true, our red worms have arrived, and thanks to Capital Educators and their grant for $581.25 we were able to purchase 6,000 of them!

Our worm towers arrived just after Christmas break and the live worms followed a few days later. My students helped to prepare the towers with moistened peat moss and shredded paper. Once the worms arrived we divided three pouches into the six towers and gave them a light feeding of non-protein lunchroom scraps.

This all might sound easy, but just like any new endeavor there were a few learning curves along the way. I had a red worm dress rehearsal last summer when I purchased one tower and 1000 worms of my own. When the instructions said "don't over feed your worms" I should have listened as 75% of my worms escaped the overly-moist environment and fled to their dried-up death. So, good thing I learned a few things with my home trial.

Sophia, my high school aide babysat the worms the first few hours after they were placed in their towers. Those little rascals tried to escape and she had a challenge keeping the residence at bay.
After our three day weekend, I only found five shriveled carcases on the counter, so out of 6000 worms the life/death expectancy is going exceedingly well.  

As the worms get acquainted in their new home we anticipate a vermi-compost harvest in just a few short months, just in time for spring planting!

More updates to follow!

MMS Art Program Wins Cap Ed Grant

Today while teaching my 8th period class, I was surprised by: my principal, Molly Burger, our vice-principal Stoney Winston and two representatives from  Capital Educators who came to present me with a HUGE check (you know the kind you see on TV) for $581.00!

Earlier this month I applied for a Cap Ed Grant to purchase red worms and worm factory towers. With this money I plan to raise red worms by feeding them lunchroom scraps (vegetables and fruit) and paper trash we accumulate from our school. Students and I will  feed and care for the worms and the worms will produce vermicompost which is a fabulous garden fertilizer. Since red worms double in population every three months, we plan to sell worms for profit as well. The money we make from the vermicompost will help to purchase much needed art supplies. This project is self sustainable and should help supplement our art supply budget each year.

I want to publicly thank Capital Educators for providing the Cap Ed Grant program and for choosing our school as the recipients for this month! I couldn't be more excited.

So, with this said, be thinking of us here at the MMS Art Alley come spring time, I know of a great place you can purchase some amazing vermicompost for your garden!