Be good to your worms and your worms will be good to you!

VERMICULTURE BOX:
Ok, so I hope I haven't made enemies of all of your mothers!  I know a couple weren't exactly thrilled about having a box of worms in the house.  But I really hope that you'll take good care of your worms!!!  The benefits of good worm compost are fantastic.  Please, please read the papers I gave you about how to care for them.  It really doesn't take much work, but if you do it right they won't smell, attract fruit flies or be an inconvenience.  In return, you'll end up with beautiful "black gold" compost for your soil.  If you're wanting to actually make a box that will accommodate all the scraps from your family, check this out: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/easywormbin.htm  There may be lots of places to get redworms, but I bought ours for today at Yelm Worm Farm.  Who knew there was such a place?  Here's their website: http://www.yelmworms.com/

I know today's lecture and discussion wasn't the most exciting in the world.  But good, healthy soil is really the basis for success in your gardens!!!  And here's the song to prove it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlwQgyxhe4c

RESEARCH HARVEST DINNER:
Ok, here's the big project you need to get to work on.  You each signed up for a dish to bring, but now's the time for research.  Please get started on this now and don't procrastinate.  It's going to take some time.

Taking on the responsibility of providing food for our families is a principle of freedom.  As we become more inspired to produce our own food, we gain more ability to provide for ourselves and free us from dependency on others.  This is a huge part of freedom!  Understanding where our food comes from, gives a glimpse of the process of food production and distribution.  And you might be even more inspired to grow your own, if you learn about some lesser-known processes for making "picture perfect" food found in the grocery store.

Right now the date for our dinner is a bit up in the air.  Scheduling it is a bit more difficult than I thought.  I told you it would be January, but it may end up being in December.  So don't wait to start, thinking you'll have Christmas Break to work on it... you might not.  I'm planning to nail down the date this week.

Be creative in your detective skills!  You may need to ask the produce department manager.  Use the Internet.  Make some phone calls.  Visit a local farm to get some of your produce.  You are trying to find the source for each of the ingredients in the dish you make and bring, and if possible the methods used to grow it.  It might have traveled a long way, changing hands quite a few times.  Maybe it was grown/raised locally.  Were the apples waxed to give them a shine?  Do the dairy cows spend their lives in a barn, or do they get to graze?  Your eggs might have made a very short trip from your backyard to the kitchen.  I'm joining in the process, so I'll let you know what I learn about our turkey.  Maybe in the process, we'll all make some great connections to journal about.  (hint, hint)

Oh, and did you notice that I got the blog post written the day after class?  Go me!