Worm Links

Mary Appelhof (Worms Eat My Garbage: How to Set Up and Maintain a Worm Composting System) – A source of inspiration for vermicomposters. Mary passed away in 2005. She is the author of Worms Eat My Garbage, Worms Eat Our Garbage: Classroom Activities for a Better Environment, and The Worm Café.

Worm Digest (www.wormdigest.org) – You can get a sense of the popularity of vermicomposting by lurking in the forum. It is also a great place to pick up tips.

State of Maine (Worm Composting Fact Sheet) – Maine has produced a fact sheet on worm composting (this is an Adobe Acrobat PDF file).

Deuley's Own - Organic Matters (Deuley's Compost Tea Maker) – Bruce Deuley is an excellent source of information on organic gardening and methods. His site also has pod casts that are entertaining and informative.

Recommended Reading

Worms Eat my Garbage by Mary Appelhof (Worms Eat My Garbage: How to Set Up and Maintain a Worm Composting System) – In my mind, the definitive primer on vermiculture.

Tiny Game Hunting by Hilary Dole Klein and Adrian M. Wenner (Tiny Game Hunting: Environmentally Healthy Ways to Trap and Kill the Pests in Your House and Garden New Edition) – A great read and full of useful information on alternatives to pesticides and lethal traps for pests of all sizes. I have the old edition. I checked this book out from the library so much that I decided I needed it. It was out of press, and I couldn't locate a copy. I wrote Adrian Wenner to explain my dilemma, and he mailed me his copy. Very cool.

Great Garden Companions by Sally Jean Cunningham (Great Garden Companions: A Companion-Planting System for a Beautiful, Chemical-Free Vegetable Garden ) – I love this book. Her intensive and companion planting techniques work so well that I found myself quoting her often: "Sally says...".

The Organic Lawn Care Manual by Paul Tukey (The Organic Lawn Care Manual: A Natural, Low-Maintenance System for a Beautiful, Safe Lawn )- A Maine author and editor of my favorite gardening magazine (People Places and Plants), Paul describes in plain English how to break the synthetic chemical addition for our lawns and gardens. In the book, Paul explains how organic methods can be used to work with nature (rather than against it) to create a beautiful, healthy low-input lawn. Paul's book also has some fantastic photos of brewing up some compost tea! (The Organic Lawn Care Manual) (Related resources: Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District & Safe Lawns)

How to Grow Vegetables and Fruits by the Organic Method edited by J.I. Rodale (Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Green Resource for Every Gardener ) – My faded light-green hardbound copy from 1961 is worn, stained, and well-loved. I refer to it regularly. I have the newer encyclopedia, but I really love the old version for the stories from gardeners about their experience with organic methods described in the text.

ANY BOOK by Michael Pollan –Pollan's writing is infomrative and pleasurable. Second Nature, Botany of Desire, and Omnivore's Dilemma provides an interesting perspective on our relationship with other living things in the garden and larger natural world. His insightful observations about nature and biology will ring true for many organic gardeners.

Sudoku for the Spirit by Heather Peters & Kelly Manahan and illustrated by Alberta Follansbee (Sudoku for the Spirit ) – An excellent book on sudoku. If you're curious about sudoku, this is the book for you. Also makes a great gift (Sudoku for the Spirit).

Charity

WormMainea is committed to charitable giving in the commuity. We donate at least 10% of our time and/or sales to local community education, sustainability programs, or to combat hunger. Some of our favorite charities are as follows:

Project G.R.A.C.E. Project G.R.A.C.E. is a non-denominational organization that mobilizes our town (Scarborough, Maine) to help people who are in need. Project G.R.A.C.E. orchestrates the exchange of resources from those that have and are willing to share, to those who need and are willing to receive. Because of the dedication of dozens of volunteers, and the continuous generosity of many, the organization has become a vibrant part of our community, with the potential of doing even more in the future.

Scarborough Land Conservation Trust SLCT was originally founded in 1977 to protect Scarborough's rich natural areas in addition to coastal assets, its mission continues to be the acquisition, preservation, and management of unique land within Scarborough for the benefit and enjoyment of the public. The Scarborough Land Conservation Trust currently protects more than 1000 acres, most of which is open (or soon will be) to public passive recreation. The Scarborough Land Conservation Trust educates people about land conservation and works with anyone wishing to protect land.

Friends of the World Food Program Friends of WFP is a U.S.-based, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that focuses on building support in the United States for the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and other hunger relief operations. Friends of WFP unites organizations and individuals committed to solving world hunger. Our education, advocacy and fundraising efforts in the United States support WFP’s life-saving global food assistance and development programs. WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, working to put hunger at the center of the international agenda and promoting policies, strategies and operations that directly benefit the poor and hungry. This charity spends only 5% on administration and fundraising.

Other Links

Maine Businesses For Social Responsibility (MEBSR) –WormMainea is proud to be a member of Maine Businesses For Social Responsibility (MEBSR). MEBSR is a diverse community of Maine business people who believe in the unparalleled power of business as an agent of positive social change. Our mission is to educate, advocate for, and encourage profitable and sustainable businesses in Maine. MEBSR will take a leadership role in defining, demonstrating, and recognizing innovative socially responsible business practices, and will work toward public policies that support such practices.

MOFGA (www.mofga.org) - MOFGA is the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. MOFGA hosts the common ground fair and is a source of inspiration for organic gardening. I will be at the Common Ground Country Fair this year. If you are curious or have questions about vermicomposting, stop by. I will have a worm bin you can see and I will have worm bins for sale.

Rodale Institute (Rodale Institute) –Rodale Institute provides information for all things related to organic farming and sustainable living. This is also a tip of the hat to Sir Albert Howard , Lady Eve Balfour,and JI Rodale.

Recycling Information (1-800-Recycling.com) –This site provides infomraiton about how and where to recycle near you.

Summerwind Farm Sporthorses (Summerwind Farm) –Summerwind Farm sells foals obtained from Premarin mares. Visit the site to see the beautiful horses they have available. Horse manure is a wonderful resource for an outdoor worm bin!