Kids corner
Magical adventures through composting
As a parent or Grandparent teaching our children about having the love for nature and sustainable living through having a worm farm and composting.
Really, it brings me back to I was a kid on how we ran around collecting frogs, fireflies, butterflies, crickets and caterpillars in our backyard. Along with playing in the mud and creeks, those were the days.
Sometimes we’re simply inspired instead of being the person who inspires. One day my granddaughter said “Grandma, since we no longer have an angel fish can we get an axolotl.?” And she’s five. Without even knowing what an axolotl was, I said yes. Finding out that it’s a type of aquatic salamander. After doing some research my interests were peaked.
Then, I realized an axolotl was a perfect fit for our household. Why? Because we already have a worm farm for composting and axolotl’s eat red wigglers.
Red wigglers repopulate every 60 days and my original purpose for composting was for worm castings. You ever hear fresh is best? well, that also goes for worm castings too. The castings that you harvest will have its full potential amount of microorganisms, vitamins and minerals.
Activities and Hobbies
Help kids connect with nature with this classic worm farm or compost containers. Re-create a real underground worm habitat. Construct your own worm farm, decorate it and then find some wiggly inhabitants. Kids love exploring nature and capturing worms for their farm. Worm not included.
- Composting
- Worm Farms
- Butterfly Gardens
Exploring nature
Worm Bin and Observation Crafts
Creating a worm bin can be a fun and educational craft for kids! See how they colonize throughout. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Materials:
– Clear plastic or mason jar
– Newspaper or cardboard
– Soil or bedding material (shredded paper, coconut coir)
– Red wiggler worms
– Food scraps (fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds)
– Water spray bottle
– Add a layer of soil or bedding material on top of the newspaper.
– Introduce the red wiggler worms to the bedding material.
– Add food scraps on top of the bedding material. Be sure not to overfeed the worms.
– Cover the bin with the lid and secure it in place.
Decorate:
– Let the kids decorate the outside of the worm bin with non-toxic paint, stickers, or markers. They can draw pictures of worms, fruits, and veggies.
– Use colorful duct tape to add borders or patterns to the bin.
Educational Activities:
– Teach the kids about the importance of worms in composting and soil health.
– Have them observe the worms and document their behaviors in a journal.
– Discuss what types of foods are suitable for worms and why.
Maintenance:
– Remind the kids to regularly check on the worm bin to ensure it stays moist but not too wet.
– Help them monitor the food levels and add more bedding material as needed.
– Encourage them to turn the contents of the bin occasionally to aerate the compost.
By combining creativity with learning, this worm bin craft can be both entertaining and educational for kids!
The caterpillar kit looks cool