Some of the volunteers who helped plant 2000 trees on April 30 along the walking trail south of the Linc. Call 905-549-0900 to help at future plantings.

Hamilton has 2000 more trees in the ground thanks to the efforts of councillor Dave Braden and about 30 volunteers, including several city staff. Braden organized the massive planting along the recreational trail on the south side of the Lincoln Alexander Parkway between Upper Sherman and Upper Ottawa. Environment Hamilton recruited the volunteers and the city provided several truckloads of mulch and half a dozen forestry staff.

The work kicks off the “Trees Across Hamilton” project organized by Braden and ward one councillor Brian McHattie. Contact us for details of the plantings around the city on May 7, 14 and 29.

CONDO LIVING: WORMS IN MY APARTMENT

My condo apartment building doesn’t have a composting program so I keep a rubbermaid container under the counter in my laundry room as a home for my vermicomposting red wiggler worms. I’m very happy to have a way of turning all this vegetable matter into a wonderful compost which I can add to my indoor plants and outside gardens.

I bought my worms from Green Venture. I took with me a yogurt tub with some soil in it. I’d already prepared their new home in advance: I got a large Rubbermaid container and lined it with a six-inch layer of moistened shredded newspaper. The tub needs a lid, because worms don’t like light, but to let them breathe I poked some holes in the lid.

On my kitchen counter I keep a plastic container for all my peelings, fruit cores, wilted lettuce, celery ends etc. Once a week I dig a hole or two in different parts of the composter and dump in my kitchen waste. At first, the worms munched up at least a litre of vegetable matter each week, but by now they have multiplied, so they can eat about double that amount!

The red wigglers are very small slender worms – and if you need to move them, they’re quite easy to pick up (though I realize not everyone wants to do this!) They’re easy to have and the tub doesn’t smell other than the smell of newspaper and soil.

When I go on vacation I just leave them alone. They survive quite nicely without food or attention for a month or two if necessary; they just don’t grow as fast without food.

Red wigglers will also demolish lint from the clothes dryer if you’re not lucky enough to have an outdoor clothes line.

So don’t be squeemish! Make red wigglers your garbage mates!

by Carol Desoer