I grew up in northern Iowa. At the end of my sixth-grade year in school, we moved about 40 miles further north (about 25 miles south of the Minnesota border) and into a Norwegian community. If you are Norwegian, please take no offense if I have just a little fun at the expense of Norvegians (did you catch the "v"). You're probably used to hearing the many Sven and Ole jokes. ;-)
Anyway, I'm wondering if the term Vermicomposting might be a Norvegian word? Ve must explore this a bit further. In the vernacular of Sven and Ole, verms would stand for werms (worms).
As my high school Algebra I teacher would say, "If (this + this = this) and (that + that = that), then 'Aha!' this equals that!
So, if you already know that vermicomposting is composting with worms, and verms = worms, then it stands to reason that vermicomposting must be a Norwegian term! :-)
What was all that about? Well, I thought perhaps I'd just completed some sort of life circle.
I moved away from that Norwegian community long ago, but I've just moved a community into my home... and it seems to be Norwegian!
Check it out! (click on this photo to enlarge slightly)
I've been wanting to do this for years! I'd hoped to try it in my second-grade classroom, but I stopped teaching two years ago, and that was a goal I never accomplished. But after reading about this all last Winter, and ordering a book by the late Mary Appelhof, I became re-inspired!
I have had a compost pile in my yard for about 20 years, but it's not active during the Winter, of course. These little fellows are red wiggler worms. They would never live through our winter weather. But they're perfect for indoor composting.
At least, I'm giving it a try. I hope to have great results. If so, I'll post on the subject again sometime. :-)
The following post is the subject of the second "Summer 2008 Inspiration" muse. You can find the directions in the sidebar at right. Would you like to give someone credit? :-)
(I couldn't limit myself to naming ONE gardener or garden blogger!
So this is how I resolved my "problem.")
Here is my Summer 2008 Inspiration - November Post
(tuberoses from Mom)
There are a number of local gardeners and gardening friends that I can thank for inspiration this summer: A few neighbors, my "LLGC" - a little garden club contrived of friends from school,
Dorothy, a super-gardener friend who began a local community Garden Tour a number of years ago, some terrific greenhouse/nurseries, and my parents and my Aunt MEA who always give me wonderful items from their gardens (i.e., wild ginger, hostas, tuberoses, etc.! :-)
I visit, and try as best I can, to follow some favorite (You!) garden bloggers who have given me MUCH to think about, many ideas to dream about and many plants and bulbs for my "wish lists." By mid- to late-Winter, I'd already placed a couple of orders for Spring planting, and by mid- summer I'd already placed a couple of orders for Fall bulb planting. (!)
Below is what I was inspired to plant, and you'll recognize yourself here if you find something listed that you've posted and/or raved about!! Thank you so much, and we'll see what happens during Spring 2009! ;-)(Follow the links for added information about my plantings)
Spring 2008:
(Tricyrtis hirta)
Tricyrtis!* It really increased my Toad Lily population when I added: 'Seiryu,' 'Gilt Edge,' 'Shining Light,' 'Blue Wonder,' 'Tricyrtis Hirta,' (I'd also ordered 'Amethystina' but the nursery was out of stock so they substituted the ill-fated 'Matzukaze,' as you can see here.)
Helleborus: I added 'Brushstrokes'to my woodland corner. (This is now my second variety.)
(this photo was taken last week - forgive the snakey-looking water tube)
Corydalis: 'Berry Exciting' is growing in the flower bed right in front of the house. It did very well this year, and I have high hopes for next Spring!
Tiaralla: I added 'Pink Skyrocket' due to the exclamations of a certain female garden blogger! :-)
('Adonis Blue' Buddelia davidii adokeep)
Buddleia: I'd wanted to purchase a butterfly bush for a looooong time! Since we'd cut a couple of trees in the front yard, I'd determined there was enough sunshine to "get by." So, I planted 'Adonis Blue' in the Front Corner garden! :-)
Mukdenia: ? Did anyone recommend this? I planted 'Crimson Fans' and hope it does well!!!
Fall 2008 Again, I thank, thank you for your posts and recommendations!
(Looking towards Spring 2009, these are a couple of Spring 2008 photos!)
Ligularia: Reading raves, recommendations, and reviews, I found a nest for Ligularia 'Britt Marie Crawford.' And if mine does half as well as described in the link I provided, I'll be happy!!
Snowdrops: 'Galanthus woronowii' - I provide this link because this particular gardener not only gives a lot of information about the species, but also about its growth habit!
Fritillaria: 'lutea Maxima' and 'rubra Maxima' - I've planted some of these large, supposedly mole-diverting bulbs before, but I'm going to do it again - Thanks to some of you! :-)
---- and fritillaria 'meleagris' :-) Just because I really want to see what they look like!
Grape Hyacinth: Azure, Pink, and Valerie Finnis
Hydrangea: Yes, you read it here! Please don't take this personally, but I've tended to avoid hydrangeas, due to the fact that "everyone" grows the pink/blue variety. But there are others out there... thanks to some of you who have posted, etc! So, I found a nice fall sale on a couple of small plants (hopefully they grow!)
---- I planted 'Quickfire' and paniculata 'Pinky Winky.'
Allium: 'Hair' appealed to me, so I planted it between my asters and monarda! ;-)
Tulips: Yes, I'm going to try a couple... 'Menton' (Someone I know is smiling), and 'Peony Blue Spectacle.' I've threatened to cover the areas with wire mesh, but I'm getting lazy.
I planted no daffodils this year. I'm amazed at myself. I did plant quite a few last Fall... we'll check around this coming Spring for "holes."
*FYI: The first winter after we moved here, I pored over shade gardening articles and books. My favorite little book is "Taylor's 50 Best Perennials for Shade," produced by Storey Communications, Inc., VT. copyright 1999 by Houghton Mifflin Co. This book was very eye-opening as to the numbers of species of plants that thrive in shade!
Have A Wonderful time planning your "wish list" and garden details for next Spring! :-) SG
I made this recipe a couple of times last week. I took one to Church and I kept one at home and ate nearly the whole thing myself, I guess! ha. It works for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner and I think you'll like it, too. :-)
I made one last night for the freezer, and tonight I've just made two recipes, divided into three pans (one 8 x 11 1/2" and two 9x9").
Here's the recipe: (My alterations are in parentheses and cooking hints will be within the instructions.)
German Apple Cake
2 eggs 1 cup oil (1/2 cup oil plus 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt) 1 tsp. vanilla 2 cups flour 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. baking soda 2 cups sugar (1 1/3 cup sugar) 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 4 cups sliced apples
In a 4-cup glass measuring cup, measure the oil, yogurt, eggs, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly. In a large bowl, measure the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and sugar; mix. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ones. The batter will be rather thick. Peel, core and slice your apples about 1/4" thick. (I have a little "peeler, slicer, corer" machine that leaves you with your apple shape that is sliced. I cut the sliced apple into thirds.)
The recipe calls for a well-greased, 9x13" pan. I use a well-greased, 8x11 1/2" pan, as it makes it "cakier." Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes (50 does it for me).
It is so moist! You may sprinkle the top of the cake with cinnamon/sugar mixture (as though you were making cinnamon toast) very lightly. This is certainly not necessary.
