Episodes in the Childrens Garden 2010/02/25

Kids and Worms

It sounded so mature: “Wait for me Dad, I’m really interested in those worms,” Emma scolded as I carried the pound of worms to the basement without her.

She passed me on the stairs to the basement and scurried to where we were setting up our worm farm, a vermicomposting (worm composting) unit.

As a gardener, I’m glad that Emma doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty.

Mixing soil into the worm bedding? No problem.

Adding water to make a sloppy, brown mess? Even better.

At two years old, Quinn is the opposite. He’s quick to protest when he has dirty hands. But we called him to the basement anyways, hoping he’d take an interest.

The kids poured the worms from their temporary home in an old juice carton into the composter. Plop: out came a writhing mass of slimy worms.

The kids were pretty excited to see the worms, though I doubt the feeling was mutual. A couple worms, I expect, finished the day with bruising...

Quinn gave a few tentative pokes at the worms, which were quickly making their escape into the bedding.

And after each poke, he’d study his hands and then wipe them on his shirt.

But finally, the moment came: he mustered up his courage and help up a worm for me to photograph.

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