CAMDEN — Jock Robie will lead a Worm Bin Workshop on Thursday, May 30, from 6 - 8 p.m., at Merryspring Nature Center.

At this free two-hour hands-on workshop, Jock Robie will explain about the benefits of vermicomposting and how it differs from regular composting. He will show pictures of plants grown with and without worm castings and then go into the reasons why plants grown with worm castings do so well. 

Other topics Robie will cover include what to consider before you start, what you need to know about worms so that they will thrive in the worm bin, common problems and how to avoid them or if necessary, how to remediate.

Robie will bring and set up 5 worm bins as part of his demonstration. Five registrants chosen by lottery may take the bins home, and all attendees will gain enough knowledge to purchase, build and setup their own worm bins. Robie is willing to keep in contact with attendees and send them links to his videos and documents by email for references, according to Merryspring, in a news release.

In three to four months, Robie will schedule a harvest session for those five to bring their worm bins back to Merryspring for their first harvest. Robie brings six sets of harvest equipment for them to use and coach them through their first harvest, helping them become self-reliant. Merryspring also provides one set of harvesting equipment for free to those who would like to borrow it as the worm bins have to be harvested regularly 3 to 4 times a year.

This program is generously co-sponsored by Camden Riverhouse Hotel and is free to all. To sign up, please contact Merryspring at 236-2239 or email info@merryspring.org.

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program, please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.