Ok, that title is admittedly creepy, but definitely something that I’ve wanted to share. And, as a warning, this post is less than glamorous (if you are looking for pretty, check out this post or this post.) Today we are talking about vermicomposting. That’s right. WORMS!

There are many differing opinions on the ways to set of up a worm composting bin. The following information is what has worked best for us.

About 5 years ago, we started to read about and research vermicomposting and it was something we were definitely interested in trying. But we didn’t take the plunge and purchase our red wiggler worms until last year.

We ordered our worms online and received this cute little package from a seller on Ebay.

Our initial worm bin was homemade (2 cheap plastic containers with lids) and has worked out wonderfully. The bins sat one inside the other, with ventilation and drainage holes drilled into the bin. More on that in a bit. Those worms have been eating machines.

However, over the past year, we realized that we were producing a lot more food scraps than we anticipated and were running out of room in our small bin. So, we decided to do a bit of an upgrade.

When we trekked off to the store to get our new supplies, a couple of things influenced our decisions. First, our previous wormy home was small and we definitely knew we wanted something bigger, so the worms would have more room to, um, reproduce. Also, we knew we wanted something that was dark and opaque, since worms like cool dark places. (Our previous containers were clear, but stored under our sink in the cabinet.) We found these two, 12 gallon, gray storage bins for around $6 each, including the lids.

To construct the compost bin, I first started by marking spots on the bottom of one bin about 2 inches apart.

Next, using a drill, I created holes to allow leachate from the composting matter to drain out of the bottom and keep the worms from drowning.

I also drilled some ventilation holes around the top of this same bin. (Also 2 inches apart.) A worm’s got to breathe, you know.

Then, I placed the bin with holes inside the other bin and proceeded to add the worms. Originally, our worms came in a mixture of coconut coir, so if you are starting your worm bin for the first time, I would recommend buying some of that and using it as the first layer you put in your bin.

Aren’t they cute?!

Since our worms were already established, I just added all of the contents of our old bin to the new one.

Lastly, I added a few inches of shredded paper to the top, put a lid on it, and placed in on the floor of our pantry. I think we will give them a few days to acclimate before we try to give them any food.

Oh, and this is what we feed them. Basically, just our food scraps. Worms love to eat and they are particularly fond of most produce, except onions and citrus items. They can also handle starchy foods in limited amounts, but we don’t put in any meat or dairy items. So far they seem happy with this diet. And all of that decaying, rotting food in there doesn’t smell funky at all. I swear!

We keep our food scraps in a container in our freezer so they don’t get yucky while waiting to go in the bin and typically feed the worms about every week or so. For us, this seems like just the right amount of time for our worms, but I’m sure it depends on the amount of worms and amount of food a person would have.

Hopefully, this transition doesn’t kill all of our worms!

So tell us, do you compost? Do you have worms to help with the process? Or, do worms just gross you out? Let us know!

You may or may not know that planning out all of your spring cleaning tasks can take just about as long as actually cleaning your house. Well, this is at least true for me this year. My husband joked that I should spend more time doing each of these jobs instead of writing a blog post about them. But hey, we live in upstate New York. Spring won’t be here for at least a few more months. Right?

To help you save some time, I have a free printable checklist for you. This is a pretty thorough list, so don’t feel overwhelmed. Just take things one, tiny assignment at a time and your home will be gleaming before you know it.

Download this printable from THE GALLERY.

 

 

Here is a list of some helpful hints I have discovered along the way. Basically, tips, tricks and things I think might just work.

1. Abolish Dust

When dusting, move around the room clockwise, or if you are a daredevil counterclockwise, starting with the highest points and working your way down to the floor. This will enable you to get your room thoroughly dust free.

2. Eliminate Stains and Odors

Combine 1 tsp. of original Dawn dish soap, 1 Tbs. of distilled white vinegar, and 2 Cups of water. Apply to spots on the carpet and scrub. This solution is amazing on getting out those old, smelly, carpet stains.

3. Cleaning Painted Walls and Trim

To clean your painted walls, start with a clean rag and water. If that doesn’t work, dip the cloth into water mixed with a little dishwashing soap. (I personally like the original blue Dawn for cleaning.) Be sure to rinse the wall well with plain water when you have removed the stain or you’ll have soap scum leftover. Nobody wants that!

*Helpful mom tip: I have found that a damp eraser sponge can work miracles on getting crayon marks off of walls, tile flooring, and painted furniture.

4. Wash Your Windows

Clean the residue off of the window using vertical strokes on one side of the glass and horizontal on the other. The sun can dry your glass pretty quickly, which can leave your window looking streaky, so this is a job better left for a cloudy day.

5. Minor Maintenance on Your Vacuum Cleaner

Cut away threads and hair from the rotating bristles and insert a new filter. Also clean the canister, attachments and hoses with water. You’ll step-up its performance and make cleaning a cinch.

*Warning: Let everything dry completely before using the vacuum. Running it with wet parts could be very dangerous.  So, play it safe!

6. Reorganize and De-clutter Bookshelves

We have a few large bookshelves in our great room and I know they can get pretty cluttered, almost to the point of embarrassment. To start, sort books by size and subject. Line books, some vertically, some horizontally, in a well-balanced pattern. This will be eye pleasing and keep things organized all at once.

7. Start Growing Herbs and Vegetables Inside

Start kitchen herbs and vegetables inside and transplant them outside later in May when there is no longer a danger of frost. Click here to see how you can use toilet paper rolls to start your plants.

8. Freshen Blinds

Put on a pair of cotton gloves and wipe the slats of your blinds with your dampened fingers, or blow the dust off with a hairdryer set on cool.

9. Clean Tiles and Grout

Clean bathroom and kitchen tiles with a homemade cleaning solution of water and baking soda. Mix 1/4 cup baking soda into a gallon of water. Mop the liquid across the tiles. Let it dry. Then stand back and admire your squeaky-clean floors.

10. Get Dents Out of Carpet

Have you recently move furniture? Set an ice cube on the indentation, let it melt, then gently rub carpet fibers with your fingers or someone else’s. Dent be gone! (Spritzing the spot with a little water would probably work the same, but this just looks cooler.Literally.)

Well, hopefully someday soon, spring will make its way to this frozen tundra, we call New York, and I can get to my cleaning.
We are sending you warm weather wishes and we hope you have a happy, successful spring cleaning!

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Papers! So many papers! Where do they come from? I can never keep them all organized! If you are anything like me, then you have mail, coupons and school papers consuming your kitchen counter, table and desk space.

I would go through them, sort them into neat little piles, but the minute my kids woke up or we were expecting guests I would chuck those puppies into a enormous basket to sift through at a later date. This method has been a giant waste of time!

In the past, I attempted various systems of organization. These techniques seemed to work for a short period of time, but in the end we are creatures of habit and the basket chucking would commence. This time, I had to come up with a plan that worked with my nature. So, I created chalkboard clothes pins to clip to my tidy stacks and keep them together before being tossed in a bin.

Such a simple solution only required a few wooden clothes pins, chalkboard spray paint, a drop cloths, chalk and a teensy bit of time.

I arranged the clothes pins on my drop cloth and began to spray paint. Each pin was given two coats of paint and the drying time seem to take forever!

Once dry, I primed each clothes pin with chalk to prepare it for labeling.

Whoohoo! I was finished. Ready to organize all or our junk!

How do you keep all of your papers from devouring your kitchen, office, or entryway?