Me and my worms

I live in a flat in an area that doesn���t currently collect kitchen waste on the doorstep. We don���t generate a lot of food waste, but there���s the inevitable banana skins, squash peel, carrot tops and things of that ilk. I hate sending things like that to landfill. Last autumn we had a family conference, and decided we needed worms.

We purchased a junior wormery ��� small enough to be a comfortable addition to the small kitchen. It���s basically a big bucket. Inside the bucket is an elevated platform so that liquid can collect at the bottom. There���s a tap to let the liquid out. The tiger worms came by post, with some starter bedding and instructions. In the first few days we had a lot of escapes and had to be very careful in the kitchen of a morning, then we got clever about tying the lid down, because the securing brackets just weren���t enough on their own to thwart the adventurous inclinations of our wormy friends.

In the last month, they���ve had babies ��� which encourages me to think they find their standard of living acceptable. This morning we were able to drain off liquid for the first time ��� watered down it provides a feed for our small array of windowsill plants. It also stinks. Apparently worm wee is one of the smelliest things imaginable. Still, hopefully the plants will like it. We should now get a regular supply of liquid. We should also get a few pots��� worth of compost, come the summer.

This just leaves the problem of the non-recyclable plastics. I continue to harass supermarkets and product produces when opportunities arise, still pondering the scope for clever reuse. In the meantime, the worms save our council a few pounds here and there on landfill costs, and provide us not only with fertiliser, but also considerable amusement. They���ve been a surprisingly entertaining addition to our little household, and are well worth considering if other compost options are not available to you.