Joy and Earthworms

Ah, The joys of composting.  Who would have thought such a simple process in nature would feel so rewarding?  Now that we’re almost settled in the “new” old house, plans for a vegetable garden are underway and the first step for a healthy garden, based on extensive google-ing, is to start composting. I have always felt in tune with anything earthy and natural, even for a city bred girl like me who shrieks at bugs and creepy crawlies.  My fear of attacking earthworms jumping up from the freshly turned soil might be amusingly irrational but it’s there, in the back of my fantastic, paranoid mind every time I’m out in the garden. Mom and Dad are avid gardeners but unfortunately, my childhood experience with anything lush and green are of skin allergies, mosquito bites, wasp stings, and rashes from the infamous spiny tropical caterpillar we call “Higad.”  My friend calls this worm “the itchy kind” or aptly named Tussock Moth Caterpillar.  “Tussock” even sounds like “Tusok” which means “to pierce” in Filipino! Fast-forward to adulthood and easily accessible bug spray, I’m hoping my love for nature and interest in sustainability will help overcome my fears.  I even dug up soil for the compost the other day and after minimal shrieking, was able to say hello to our resident earthworm, our future composting assistant.