DERRY — Young gardeners at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Derry got a lesson last week on how red worms wiggle while they work to help the Earth.
Derry resident Tom Minnon visited the club and brought along his red worms to teach the children about composting.
His visit was part of the club's junior gardening project, led by Derry Garden Club volunteers.
A youth garden is created every season at the club.
Minnon is an expert on green living and taking care of the planet.
His 2,400-square-foot Datillo Road home is its own lesson in energy-savings efficiency and has been featured on the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's annual Green Buildings Open House tour.
Minnon, the former head of Derry's energy/environmental group , showcases his home's green technology, from solar heating and other interior upgrades, to composting, energy efficient lawn mowers and secure habitats for the area's wildlife.
His foray into worm composting was a wriggly hit with the club's children.
"Worms don't bite," Minnon pointed out as he carefully lifted off the top layer of his compact "Worm Factory" to show the squiggly visitors.
About 20 children pushed in, surrounding the box full of the red worms.
Minnon said the worms were doing good things for the Earth by eating table scraps and then creating rich compost material to help gardens grow.
When Minnon received his worm factory, he said approximately 500 worms were included, some very young, some a bit older.
The babies were difficult to see in the dark dirt, but some children were able to find the tiny specks of red and pick them up.
Some said they wished they had their own worm farm.
"Do we need a worm sitter when we go on vacation?" one boy asked Minnon.
The answer was no, they would be fine for a few days.
Riley Cox, 7, asked to smell a worm.
She got a fresh whiff of dirt, but that was about it.
Ryan Sullivan, 6, said it felt funny to hold a worm.
"It feels like it's wiggling on me," he said.
Minnon said the worms are doing the Earth proud with their composting powers.
"I also compost my yard, my grass clippings, trimmings, things that don't go in with the worms," he said.
Autumn Rose Olson, 9, watched over a worm crawling on her hand.
"He's chubby," she said.
Ally Abrams, 9, said she was learning a lot.
"I love worms," she said. "They are just really fun to watch. When it's raining out, we pick them up." Derry Garden Club member Blanche Garone helps lead the junior gardening program at the Boys and Girls Club. She said Minnon's worm presentation was important as the children get ready for the spring garden season.
"It's so important to have information once they get outside," she said.
Other topics for future garden events include recycling and soil studies.
The Boys and Girls Club has had its youth garden for several years under the garden club's watchful eye.
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