It is difficult to find livestock, that can be kept in the city. Goats are definitely out. Chickens or rabbits would be fine; but no rooster. For someone who travels, daily care becomes impossible. For someone who really misses having livestock there has to be something. Bees would be nice and they would complement the garden. They pollinate; but they don’t make manure. The final choice is earthworms.
Earthworm dodo (castings) is some of the best stuff on earth. Earthworms only need to be fed once a week. The only real concern in our area would be freezing. The earthworm “farm” can be placed in the greenhouse in the winter. That takes care of that. Having studied the subject extensively on the internet and in gardening books, the “farm” design decided on will be a 18” square plywood box with a screen bottom and a plywood cover. It will be filled with peat moss and loamy dirt. Earthworms don’t like sand.
The earthworms will come from Renfrow’s Hardware Store. They will be fed grass clippings and cornmeal. The castings will go into the garden. The excess earthworms will go into the compost bins and the raised garden beds. Of course I will take them out occasionally and play with them in the yard. I may even take one or two of my favorites for a walk. I don’t think my wife will let them sleep inside on cold nights but we will see. I’m glad we own our home. At least I won’t have to pay a pet fee.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
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