Monster Worms now has a Master Gardener in the family. On Saturday, May 15th, Dave and 29 of his classmates received their Master Gardener Certificates. He had been taking classes and studying since January. 
We are very proud of him. While in class, he was also able to pass on his knowledge of vermiculture and of our red worms. Specifically the red wigglers, European nightcrawlers and African nightcrawlers. All great composting and fishing worms.
Archive for the ‘Walkabout’ Category
Master Gardeners, Red Wiggler Worms and Monster Worms
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010Gusanito Worm Farm Bins are Tough!
Saturday, February 20th, 2010
Today while doing some Spring cleaning in the garage, I knocked off our Gusanito Worm Farm Bin from its shelf. This shelf is over four feet high! Actually four feet, five inches. As I walked around the other side (I won’t tell you what words were coming out of my mouth), I expected to see a mess of broken plastic, red worms and castings all over the place. To my surprise, what I saw instead was our five tray Gusanito standing upright! The only thing askew was the roof. It was lying on the floor.
This Gusanito dove head first into some boxes, did a loop, a full twist and landed on its feet three feet to the right. I think that it deserves a gold medal. Amazing…..the only damage that I could see was a slight turned up corner on the front left “foot” and the side next to the foot had a very slight bow to it. It is barely noticeable. I checked on the red worms. They acted as if nothing had even happened……maybe it was all just a daydream……..
Red Worms in the White House?
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010I recently read an article about First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign which was designed to help parents deal with and eliminate childhood obesity. In this article she talked about the organic garden she set up on the White House lawn and how important fresh fruits and vegetables are in our diets.
Back in August, actually on President Obama’s birthday, I happened to be in Washington, DC and I had the opportunity to visit the White House. (I didn’t get past the black wrought iron fence though. 
) I walked all the way around the grounds and I got a glimpse of this organic garden.
All of this got me to thinkin’ though, do they do any composting? If the garden is organic, what do they use for fertilizer? And what about all of their food scraps? Do you think that they throw them out?
I have a couple of great ideas for them…..they could buy a bunch of our Dual Drum or Original Compost tumblers and compost all of the garden waste, shrub prunings, grass clippings and fallen leaves. Then inside they could put a whole row of our Gusanito worm farm bins next to the bowling alley. All of their food scraps could be put in them for the red worms to eat.
If they did this, they would have all the organic compost and worms castings that they would need for their garden. They would also be diverting a bunch of “garbage” from going into a landfill.
So what do you think First Lady Obama? Red worms in the White House?
Monster Worms and the Nutcracker
Friday, January 1st, 2010What does Monster Worms and the Nutcracker have in common? Well…two members of the Monster Worms family were highly involved in the Black Diamond Ballet Theatre’s wonderful 2009 Nutcracker performance.
Our oldest daughter loves to dance and she’s really good! This is the second year that she has performed in the Nutcracker. In this years show, she played one of the children in the dance scene in Act 1 and later on she was a Bon Bon. Our girl loves to perform and she was very sad to have the shows end.
The other member of the family that played a big roll was Dave. Not only did he make sure that our daughter made it to all of her rehearsals and had her hair and makeup done, but he also made the sleigh that was used in the show. It looked great! Maybe next year in appreciation they’ll add in a special red worm dance. 
For more information about the ballet company, go to www.BlackDiamondBalletTheatre.org
The Adventures of the Monster Worms Family…..Part 2
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Our next stop was Sea World in San Diego, CA. Even though it was windy and a little cold, we had a blast! We saw a few shows, one of which featured sea lions. We learned that seals, sea lions and walruses are called pinnipeds (from Latin pinna, wing or fin, and ped-, foot) or fin-footed mammals.
The next show that we saw featured the great Killer Whale, Shamu! We enjoyed watching the whales leap out of the water and make huge splashes. The people sitting in the splash zone got really wet, especially when the whales used their flippers and tails to splash them!
Throughout the park they have many exhibits. We saw seals, sea lions, walruses, beluga whales, Commerson’s dolphins, manatees, killer whales, polar bears, sharks, flamingos and fresh and salt water aquariums. 
While we were looking at the dolphins we noticed a sign that read “Access to Child Swap Area”. We told the kids that that was the area where parents swap their children when they are misbehaving. ….Just kidding! (The color of the photo looks blue/green because of the reflection from the dolphin tank)
We also went into their “Garden of Discovery”. Guess what we saw???
We saw an earthworm viewing window and a vermicomposting setup. They also had an active and passive composting exhibit. We were very disappointed though because the vermicomposting and composting exhibits were not maintained. I plan to make a phone call to see if they need our help.
The Adventures of the Monster Worms Family…..Part 1
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
Once a year we take the kids down to Southern California for a vacation. Like all children we know, they love to go to Disneyland. We try to plan our trips so that the girls don’t miss too much school. They only missed 2 1/2 days and we brought their school work with us.
The kids really enjoyed it. It is a little sad for us to see our older daughter growing out of the younger kid rides. She even wants to do rides by herself. Before we know it, she won’t want us there at all. 
Fortunately our youngest still wants to do the little kid rides. Her favorite is the carousel and she made sure that she rode on Mary Poppins’ horse.
I have always been impressed with the Disneyland and California Adventure Parks. You constantly feel as though you have been transported into another part of the World. Each section has its own theme and the decor and plants add to the charm. The rides are clean and kept in great condition. 
Personnel are constantly picking up debris and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Recycling containers are conveniently located throughout the park and most of the food containers are made to be biodegradable.
If you go….make sure to see the fireworks show. It is spectacular!
Monster Worms Attends the First Annual Sustainable Contra Costa Awards
Thursday, October 8th, 2009On Septmber 29th Beth and Dave from Monster Worms attended the First Annual Sustainable Contra Costa Awards gala. Businesses from Contra Costa County were recognized for promoting and implementing sustainable practices and reducing their carbon footprints. These businesses represented many different sectors of the business community. They ranged from organic farmers to solar and wind powered retailers and from an engineering firm to a worm farm named Monster Worms!
Senator Mark DeSaulnier was there to hand out the awards and to show his support for the newly formed Sustainable Contra Costa (SCOCO) and the hard work that this organization and businesses are doing to promote “green” practices.
Monster Worms donated a four tray Gusanito worm farm bin containing one pound of our red wigglers (Eisenia fetida) for the silent raffle.
Sustainable Contra Costa’s Mission is “to provide the education and inspiration that help to create and maintain sustainable communities.” Their Vision is “that local citizens, businesses and governments will live and operate in a way that sustains the health and well being of our society, environment and economy.” For more information go to www.sustainablecoco.org.
Monster Worms at Coastal Cleanup Day
Sunday, September 27th, 2009
Dave represented Monster Worms and helped clean up along the river in downtown Antioch on September 19th. It was the 25th Annual Coastal Cleanup. 
He along with 230 volunteers ranging from girl and boy scouts to business people and residents helped to collect three tons of trash along the Delta. It was a very rewarding experience.
Monster Worms also donated 15 pounds of our castings for the raffle. We understand that they were won by a person with a garden that needs some TLC. Perfect!
“Our Garden” Update #3
Thursday, September 24th, 2009Every Friday Dave helps out at the CC Times community garden in Walnut Creek, CA. The food grown at the garden is donated to the Solano County food bank. To date more than 100 pounds of fresh produce have been donated! Donations of home grown food from gardeners is also greatly appreciated. Each week a different topic about gardening is presented. This week the presentation was about “Winter Gardening” and what crops grow best in cool weather.
We enjoy gardening and we are fortunate to live in a climate where we can garden all year. Soon, we will be pulling out our spring and summer crops and putting in our fall and winter ones. The winter crops for this year will be lettuce, beets, carrots, broccoli, and peas.
We plan on using our “bean teepee” for the peas. In this photo you can see our girls surrounded by pole beans that they planted from seeds. They help me plant most of the garden and everything is planted from seeds except for our tomato plants. The girls love seeing the plants grow and harvesting the vegetables!
For more information about the Contra Costa Times community garden go to www.contracostatimes.com/home-garden.
Monster Worms Visits the United Airlines’ Training Center
Monday, August 24th, 2009
United Airlines trains and reevaluates its pilots at its training center in Denver, CO. A representative from Monster Worms was invited to spend three days at its facility recently. There are several large intimidating looking brick buildings that are all interconnected. Inside the middle of this is a very pleasant and relaxing courtyard, including a fountain.
Inside of the buildings, pilots are being trained in classrooms and simulators. They are taught a variety of things including airplane systems and emergency procedures by a well trained and responsible staff.
The simulators are quite impressive. On the outside, they look like a big box supported up in the air by hydraulic jacks. On the inside, they look just exactly like the real cockpit of an airplane…..except for the instructor’s station.
Watching these simulators in action is very entertaining. They move up and down, side to side, and 
bank left and right very rapidly to simulate different flying conditions. You can even hear loud booms and other noises that simulate an unusual condition. If you ever get the chance to fly one of these simulators…do it. It’s a blast!
Garin Elementary Hosts Monster Worms
Friday, August 21st, 2009Dave was invited to educate some 1st Graders in Mrs. Amaro’s and Ms. Newton’s classes at Garin Elementary School in Brentwood, CA the other day about raising and using red worms for composting. He showed them some of our Red wigglers, European nightcrawlers and African nightcrawlers. The kids were shown how red composting worms can turn fruit and vegetable scraps into nutrient rich worm castings. 
Dave brought along one of our totes, made out of recycled plastic, to show the kids. Inside of it were the three types of red worms, moist bedding material for the redworms (we use moist shredded newspaper) and some vegetable scraps. The kids enjoyed looking inside the tote.
Most of the kids enjoyed holding the worms. A few were squeamish, but overcame their fears with a little help from their friends. Hopefully these kids will tell their parents about the benefits of composting….with or without worms.
Syracuse NY Welcomes Monster Worms
Thursday, August 6th, 2009
Monster Worms was welcomed by the Syracuse airport the other day. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and there was a nice breeze. Funny, but every time I come 
here, it is nice but when I’m gone, I hear that it is always raining or snowing.
It sure is nice and green though. Lots of trees and flowers and grass. We even got to see a baby bird in the bushes.
This is my old stomping grounds……well actually north of Syracuse. A long time ago, I sold Canadian Nightcrawlers for 3 cents a piece. My Dad and I would take a flashlight out at night, after we watered the yard, and collect them. What fun we had! I think that maybe I’ll show the girls how to do it.
Monster Worms Visits the White House!
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009Today is President Obama’s birthday! He is 48. I decided to go to the White House to see if there was a big celebration. Here is a 
bunch of people celebrating and singing happy birthday to him!
I was hoping that I would see the First Family so that I could give them one of our Monster Worm flyers. If I didn’t see them, I figured that I would just toss a few over the fence. It wouldn’t be littering 
because if no one saw the flyer, it would biodegrade. But I knew that if someone saw it, they would definitely pick it up and take it personally to the First Lady. I know how much she enjoys gardening and because vermicomposting with red worms is environmentally friendly, it would fit in perfectly with her plans.
Well, I didn’t get the chance to see the First Family, but I did get to see their garden. It looks really nice. Lots of bushy plants. From my vantage point, it was hard to tell what they were.
I did hand our flyer to someone that I’m sure will give it to Michelle. I even gave him one of my business cards. I am looking forward to her call.
“Our Garden” update #2
Friday, July 31st, 2009Every Friday Dave goes to Walnut Creek, CA to help with the Contra Costa Times community garden. He is recognized now as “The Worm Guy” and quite often spends time answering questions about red worms and vermiculture. This week he also brought along about 15 pounds of worm castings to be used on the garden. A few Master Gardeners very happily took the castings and top dressed plants with them.
This week the discussion was about having plants and flowers in your garden that attract beneficial insects and pollinators. We have been doing this in our own garden for quite some time. Not only does it look pretty, but it works! It was mentioned that Heirloom flowers and plants do a better job of attracting these insects. I hadn’t heard that before and I plan to find out more about it. If you have any information on that I would love to learn about it. You can comment here or you can email me at info@MonsterWorms.com. I love to learn!!
To learn more about the community garden go to www.contracostatimes.com/home-garden.
“Our Garden” update #1
Friday, June 19th, 2009Dave went to Walnut Creek this morning to see how the Contra Costa Times’ “Our Garden” was doing. He met up with Master Gardener Bethallyn Black. He said that the plants that were given a dose of our worm castings already looked greener and healthier. To see the online article about Dave speaking at “Our Garden” go to: http://www.contracostatimes.com/homeandgarden/ci_12638447. Be advised….their website is very slowwww and quite often the link that I provided will go to a registration page. Just back click and try again.
Dave at the CC Times “Our Garden”
Saturday, June 13th, 2009The Contra Costa Times together with Master Gardener Bethallyn Black have created a community garden in Walnut Creek, CA. Food grown in this garden will be donated to the Solano County food bank. Each Friday for the past month gardeners get together to learn and shares ideas about gardening. This week the topic of discussion was composting with worms! That’s right up our alley!! Dave represented Monster Worms and shared his knowledge of vermiculture and vermicomposting. He showed everyone how to make a simple worm bin made out of a plastic tote and he also demonstrated how to use a Gusanito Worm Farm Bin. We have three types of worms in our Gusanito Worm Farm Bin. Everyone got to see cocoons, babies, juveniles and adults of the red wiggler (Eisenia fetida), the European Nightcrawler (Eisenia hortensis), and the African Nightcrawler (Eudrilus Eugeniae). He also brought along worm castings to show and to donate to the garden.
