I had the opportunity to e-interview Stephanie Kichler, owner of Wormplicity, a business to help set up worm bin composting. If you want to check out the website for Wormplicity, go to www.wormplicity.com. Here is the interview:
What is Wormplicity?
Wormplicity is a small consulting and educational business I created to help bring the knowledge of worm composting to the public. I use a simple approach to composting that can be done easily and cheaply by anyone who is interested in composting. I really try to keep my methods and teachings simple.
Where is Wormplicity located?
Wormplicity is located at my home, in my computer and in my head :) I don't have an actual store - I do have a website: www.wormplicity.com. I spend the majority of my time going out to classrooms, businesses, and doing private in home consulting.
How long have you had your business? What was the inspiration for starting it?
I have had my business for just about a year. I have been teaching about worm composting for over three years now. I previously worked at a museum in Chicago and when I left that job I had a clear understanding that there was need and a draw from the public to learn about composting. I loved teaching about it so I simply continued to do so with many of the contacts I had made.
What is the goal that you have for your business?
I want to inspired people to compost. Indoors, outdoors - in whatever capacity they can. It might be the first step they are taking towards a sustainable lifestyle or it might be something they have been wanting to do for a while. I want the public to see composting as something that is simple, easy, fun and inexpensive.
Why should people compost?
Composting is one way the people can recycle or close their own loop. Wastes are traditionally thrown away and discarded in our dumpsters. When that happens, the loop is open and the food will end up in landfills. When you compost you are turning your food into something usable, making it a cycle or a closed loop system. Reducing the amount of wastes that end up in our landfills is something that can easily be done by composting.
Some people do compost for other reasons... those being: for the compost, to use on plants and in gardens - the other for the worms, which are a great fishing worm!
Why do you prefer worm bins to other composts?
Worm bins can be any size, live inside and be active all year round. They also are much more productive than any outdoor method. I live in a city and outdoor composting is just not something I could consider here. I also rent an apartment so if I set up an outdoor compost bin I might move the next year and it would be impossible to take that with me. I can take the worms with me anywhere I go and keep them inside. As for size, I don't have a lot of room so I actually keep a few smaller compost bins, rather than one big one.
The worms are very productive because they quickly eat the food wastes. Composting outdoors takes about a year to turn the food wastes into soil, with worms you can have a usable amount of compost in just a few months. During the winter months outdoor composts bin have little or no productivity - but with worms they live indoors so you can keep feeding them all winter.
If I want to start a worm bin, can I just get worms from outside after a storm?
Those worms you see are usually night crawlers which are not a good choice for composting. There are two types of worms. Worms like night crawlers which are great at burrowing and aerating the soil, they don't eat a whole lot. The best worm to use for composting is the red worm or red wiggler. These guys are great at eating and decomposing but won't move around a whole lot. Red worms are also a great option because you can easily purchase them online or at any bait shop.
If someone wants your help with a worm bin, what do you do for them? How do they contact you? Do you have any classes coming up in or near Chicago?
I can give advice as needed over e-mail or phone or I can come for an in home set up. I can be contact at stephanie@wormplicity.com
Here are my upcoming classes in the Chicago area:
In these classes I give a demonstration with an option to buy a worm composting starter kit which is $17 and included 100 worms and a small shoe box sized bin,
April 9th Whole Foods Market Palatine - 10am
April 16th Whole Foods Market Hinsdale - 10am
April 16th Whole Foods Market Wheaton - 3pm
April 17th Whole Foods Market Sauganash - 1pm
April 20th Whole Foods Market River Forest - TBD
Aprril 20th Whole Foods Market Naperville - 1pm
How much room does someone need in order to compost or have a worm bin? What size are the bins?
It depends on how many worms you want, or how much food you want to compost. A couple would need a minimal amount of space. A compost bin about the size of a two by three foot plastic bin would be great. I personally have three smaller shoe box sized compost bins at home right now, they live on a bookshelf. You just need to find something that works for you.
What's the best advice that you have for people interested in composting?
There a lot of different ways to set up a compost bin. Research and figure out what will be the best for you based on food wastes, space, price and maintenance. Do what is most convenient for you. When figuring things, keep in mind that 1,000 worms = 1 pound of worms which will eat about 3.5 pounds of food a week. You can usually put about 2,000 worms comfortably in a regular plastic storage bin. I only have about 300 worms for my boyfriend and I - we cook at home and eat out. We don't create a lot of food wastes but we do feed the worms everything we can.
Do any of you have composts set up? If so, what type of composting do you do? Do you have any other advice for people who want to get started?
