HOW TO BUILD A WORMERY
HOW TO BUILD A WORMERY This project will show you how worms turn plant waste into soil, introduce them to 'recycling' and 'useful waste', and encourage you to look closely at worms and other garden wildlife.
How long will it take This project will take around half of an hour to set up and several weeks of observation.
What you will need a large, clean, glass jar moist soil sand earthworms old leaves vegetable peelings, tea leaves, overripe grapes
Step-by-step guide 1 you need to fully cover your work surface with newspaper. Then you will need to wash your large jar carefully so that it doesn't smash.
2 put a layer of sand at the bottom of the jar, about 1cm (0.4in) deep. 3 Add a thick layer of soil, then add another thin layer of sand, then another thick layer of soil. Ensure there is about 5cm (2in) of space at the top.
4 Now for the fun part! You need to go and find some worms. Before you put them in your jar, ensure to have a good look at them. Can you tell which end is which? How? Can you guess how a worm moves? Can you see the hairs on the worms skin? 5 Then quickly but carefully you need to put the worms in their jar, then add some old leaves, vegetable peelings, tea leaves and overripe fruit if you have any.
6 Then you need to put the lid on - with a couple of holes in the top - place black paper around the jar and put it into a cool, dark cupboard. Leave it for about a couple of weeks and then observe what the worms are doing. 7 What has happened to the vegetable peelings? 8 What patterns have the worms made in the earth?
How long will it take This project will take around half of an hour to set up and several weeks of observation.
What you will need a large, clean, glass jar moist soil sand earthworms old leaves vegetable peelings, tea leaves, overripe grapes
Step-by-step guide 1 you need to fully cover your work surface with newspaper. Then you will need to wash your large jar carefully so that it doesn't smash.
2 put a layer of sand at the bottom of the jar, about 1cm (0.4in) deep. 3 Add a thick layer of soil, then add another thin layer of sand, then another thick layer of soil. Ensure there is about 5cm (2in) of space at the top.
4 Now for the fun part! You need to go and find some worms. Before you put them in your jar, ensure to have a good look at them. Can you tell which end is which? How? Can you guess how a worm moves? Can you see the hairs on the worms skin? 5 Then quickly but carefully you need to put the worms in their jar, then add some old leaves, vegetable peelings, tea leaves and overripe fruit if you have any.
6 Then you need to put the lid on - with a couple of holes in the top - place black paper around the jar and put it into a cool, dark cupboard. Leave it for about a couple of weeks and then observe what the worms are doing. 7 What has happened to the vegetable peelings? 8 What patterns have the worms made in the earth?
