How to vermicompost or make a worm bin.
So, I have had a few people ask about the vermicomposting, or worm composting. This is something we did in my classroom years ago, as composting is part of NCs standard course of study. If you want to build one, here are some basic steps. I learned from Susan, who visited my class years ago and who graciously had us over to her house to build ours yesterday. If you are in the Raleigh, NC area, I advise you to contact her at redhen@nc.rr.com
So, you need:
- newspaper (shredded into 1/2 inch strips… moisten with a spray bottle so they are good and damp).
- 2- 10 gallon solid tubs (you don’t want clear… the light should not go through)
- organic food scraps (peelings, rotting veggies/fruits, coffee grinds, etc)
- Drill
- a brick, piece of styrafoam, tupperware container, or something that can help leave a gap between the two containers
- Worms (We got ours from Susan, but there are sites online where you can find them. Just search: red worms)
Drill holes in the bottom of one of the containers. We drilled about 20-30 holes.
Then drill holes along the top of the same container about 2 inches apart. This creates circulation for air for the worms.
Put the brick or whatever you are using for a spacer, in the bottom of the undrilled bin. Then nest the other in it. This creates a place to catch any moisture that drips from your bin or worms that are on the move (this happens at the beginning sometimes because they are frightened and fleeing).
Layer the drilled bin with about an inch of moist newspaper.
Put the worms, and whatever dirt they have in shipping, on top of the newspaper.
Then, place about an inch of your organic food scraps on 1/2 of the area. This will leave the other half to use the next time. If you put too much, it will not get eaten quick enough.
Cover the entire area with about 1-2 more inches of moist newspaper.
Then, leave the bin in a well lit area for 24/7. They need to get acclimated. The light detours them from wanting to escape. You can keep it in your house. It will not smell. You can put the lid on top to keep animals/kids out. I have left ours open for the moment to keep the light on them.
After a week or so you should see the pile of refuge starting to go down. Once it looks like it is being sufficiently eaten, you can put food on the other half. Do not use meats, cheeses, milk products, etc. Only plant material (fruits, veggies, etc). Don’t let the newspaper get too dry. Though the food should keep it fairly moist, it can sometimes get dry. I use a spray bottle to keep things moist and the worms happy.
Another tip: The worms need to stay between 65-80 degrees. Don’t let the bin be in the direct sun… it will kill them. If the temperature gets below 65 they will stop moving around and eating. I plan on putting our bin in the bathroom closet during the winter (though dh doesn’t know that yet! ;)).
Hope this gives you enough information!!!! Let me or Susan know if you have other questions. Good luck!!!!!
Mama, I feel yucky.
Kids woke with temps of about 101. Both were fairly lathargic. So, I finally gave them a little tylenol. They both perked up pretty quickly. We spent the day morning drinking my juice/salt/water mixture, watching Barney (yes, though this would be my last choice, they ARE sick…), changing nasty sick poo diapers, getting lots of snuggles, and reading books.
I let them stay in their jammies. I figured they would be much more comfortable… and I would love to be able to stay in mine while sick. So, we put on some clean ones and they have been comfortable all morning.
I myself DID shower. I thought about staying in my night gown all day. But since R was due to come around noon (yes, she was coming since she is also sick), I decided a shower was a necessity.
So, I have graced the day in very SEXY mommy attire. I have on an oversized t-shirt… decorated with some juice, maybe a bit of snot, and some tylenol (gotta give hugs when needed). I have on some baggy, but extremely comfortable capris. Glasses and frizzy hair in pig tails complete the look. Maybe I should submit my picture for “best dressed”! lol
Anyway, the kids are doing OK. Their temp has stayed around 100 or below since the 1 dose of tylenol around 7:30. I have been loading them up on liquids, soft foods, emergen-c, and rest. Hopefully, they will be ready to get back to the park soon.
Our new pets, worms!!!!
Today we went with some friends to build a worm bin. Jaime and Bailey gave me this for my birthday present. The kids loved it!
They had purchased a tupperware container. With Susan (the worm lady)’s help, we drilled holes in the container. Then we lined it with wet newspaper strips. Next, we put the worms in. Finally, we covered it with more wet newspaper strips.
When I got home, we put the bin in the kitchen, so it could get light for 24 hours. Then we gave it some of our compost scraps. It was a blast!
If you are in the Triangle area interested in building one, getting worms, or getting meal worms, contact redhen@nc.rr.com
Susan was awesome!!!!!!
Cool alternate for the summer splash pool
Thursday was sunny and hot. Like most summer days here in NC. We are down to one vehicle, currently. So, I needed to find a fun activity for the kids. We play in the little plastic pool and our little splash yard most days. They were a little bored with that. Seems you get a few days of fun play, then they want something new.
So, I got out a bunch of cups and poured the freezer full of ice in the cooler. I dumped a bunch in the pool and had them catch the cubes. Then, I opened the cooler and let them take turns getting cup fulls. They poured them from one cup to another, ate ice, put ice down the slide, etc. They had a blast, for HOURS!!!!!! I will definitely keep this in mind for a “hot day” activity!!!!!
Beads and bottles- working on fine motor skills
This is an easy one. You could use small cereal pieces if you don’t trust your kids with beads. However, since I was right there, I felt fine with it. I just gave each child a small bowl of beads and an empty/clean bottle. I asked them to put the beads in the bottle. When we were done, we added glitter and some water. It made a fascinating piece for them!
Stringing cheerios
This is an alternative to stringing beads. Pipe cleaners make a more stable instrument that is easier to grasp. Cheerios can be eaten like a candy necklace after stringing!
On the way to being potty trained!!!!!
So, the Wondertwins are 27 months. A little early for potty training, for the average here in the USA. However, one of the many advantages of cloth diapering is that kids potty train on average of 1-2 years before others! We have had the potty chairs out for awhile now. Then last week my friend, who has 2 1/2 year old twins, said she was ready to start training. So, we decided to jump on the band wagon.
Zane started by going pee in the potty several times on Monday. So, I sent him and DH to the store to get some “Spiderman” underwear. Right after they left, Bree started crying that she wanted princess panties.
So, on Tuesday we went back to the store to purchase more for both… and they have been in panties/underwear since! We are still doing diapers at nap and bed, but the rest of the day, we are out of diapers.
They have been doing pretty good. Bree is best at pooping in the potty, but doesn’t really care to pee in it much. Zane can pee in the potty just about any time he is asked to sit down. Yesterday he just had 1 pee and 2 poop accidents… he isn’t much for pooping in the potty yet.
My opinion… if you want to potty train, SKIP the pull ups!!!! They are just diapers you can pull up and down! They still don’t really feel the pee. Why am I starting my kids so early? They were cloth diapered. They are use to feeling that wet warm feeling and know what it means. Disposables wick away the moisture… So, kids don’t really feel it.
While we won’t be fully potty trained for a bit, the kids are doing AWESOME!!!!! We are giving chocolate graham bears from Whole Foods as a treat (though DH found them last night and took care of about 3/4 of the bag 
). They are excited an have been making it to the potty more than not. We also have a little b’jorn potty that we move around. So, the potty is always really nearby, making less chance for accidents!
It certainly isn’t SIMPLE with twins, but it is going much easier than I thought. Anyway, wish us LUCK!!!!!
Wordless Wednesday
This is one picture from many… They were taken by Sarah Null www.sarahnullphotography.com
She is amazing!!!!!
Working on threes
Today we worked on the number 3. I gave them some cut outs. We picked out 3 of different kinds (B did 3 giraffes, 3 lions, 3 stars, and 3 monkeys). I put glue on the backs and let them put them on construction paper. Then I asked them to find a group (the monkeys). Next, I guided their hand to count them, “One, two, three”. Finally, I asked them to count them.
When we were finished with our activity, they helped find a place to hang the pictures (at eye level). They were so excited to see their animals over and over and count them!
Toddler learning activities
For those of you that don’t know, I am a former teacher. I now stay at home with my twins, while keeping another child, Ms. R.
Since my kids don’t attend a preschool or daycare, I try to create my own daily lessons. I decided I would start posting some of the activities we do. That way, you can apply some of your own… or, I can give you some ideas if you are doing your own home school lessons.
Our most recent work has been centered around Easter. The first, was coloring Easter Eggs with a 1 year old and twin 2 year olds. I dyed them, using the simple tablets and vinegar dissolved in water. When they dried, I put the kids in their high chairs. I gave them small circular stickers and crayons. They went to town and had a blast!!!!
