2. materials

Thank You, 2009

time to go shopping

If you've ever dabbled in gardening, you just might have some of these items stashed wherever you stash such things. As you can plainly see, all of these materials are not specifically garden-related. Even if you've never planted a seed or potted an herb, it is still likely that you possess a stainless steel bowl, a bucket, and possibly a tarp and a couple of trash cans. Read over this list and take a look at your belongings before going out and buying a bunch of new stuff that you really don't need. Mom & Dad, sis, neighbor, or one of your best pals might have a few of these items stored away. Ask them if they do and if they'd like you to help them clear some space in their garage. Enjoy the adventure of shopping for what you cannot find and save the rest of your money for some aged Italian balsamic or that life drawing class you keep meaning to take.

Here's what you'll need:

1) hand held trowel, cultivator, garden fork or "worm fork"

used for moving bedding around inside your worm boxes

2) small hand held garden shovel

used for shoveling bedding and finished worm compost

3) pretty and practical gardening gloves

used for keeping your hands soft, smooth, sun-protected, and clean

4) two metal trash cans

one can is used for bedding and the other for finished worm compost

5) large stainless steel bowl

used for storing worm edibles in your kitchen

6) worm edibles

used for feeding your worms

7) tree stump or small table that will fit between your worm boxes

used for holding your tools of the trade

8) tarp or large piece of plastic (6x8 is a good size)

used for harvesting your worm compost

9) five gallon bucket (preferably with a lid)

used for moving bedding and harvesting worm compost

10) gardener's knee pad

used for protecting your knees while harvesting worm compost

11) two wooden worm boxes

used for housing your worms

12) watering can with a shower spout (lots of tiny holes versus one large spout) or a garden hose that reaches your boxes and has a nozzle with a mist or shower setting

used for balancing the moisture level in your boxes

13) bedding (animal bedding made from pine shavings)

used for creating the basis of your worm environment

14) soil
a couple of handfuls per worm box will be mixed with bedding

14) worms (one pound of Eisenia fetida or Eisenia andrei)
they will be eating your kitchen rubbish and making compost

15) two chopsticks

used as markers for the grid systems in your boxes