This month some April showers are in the forecast which is a perfect opportunity to make a worm farm! Thank you to Barbie from Leaping Lizard Rescue for this fun idea.

First, get a large, wide-mouthed jar (a large mayonnaise jar works great) and fill it with various layers such as garden soil, peat, grass clippings, sand, small pebbles, and a thin layer of raw oatmeal. Water thoroughly. Make sure to make the layers distinct. Find some earthworms (after rain many will come to the surface, or you may need to dig for some), and scatter the worms on the soil’s surface in the jar. Cover the worms with some moist dead leaves and cover the jar with a light-proof cloth or paper bag, and place in a cool place. Do not screw the jar’s top back on. The worms cannot get out, and they need the oxygen. Check the worms after about a week and watch how the layers shift as the worms tunnel through the soil. If you keep the worms longer than a week, make sure to water the soil occasionally, although not too much or else the worms can drown. Look for mounds of rippled soil on the surface. These are castings, made when earthworms eat the soil and eliminate it. When you are done watching the worms, make sure to return them to the garden!