Behind the Books

  “In nature nothing exists alone.” — Rachel Carson, Silent Spring (1962) What happens inside a worm bin, and where does all that food come from? Marl and the Worm Bin is an original picture book from the Monarch Tales series, following two young worms, Marl and Squish, as they explore their home and set out to discover where the food in their worm bin comes from. Their search leads them through the strange and fascinating world of vermicomposting, where everyday food scraps become part of something entirely new. Written and illustrated by Jacqueline Cooper , Marl and the Worm Bin combines storytelling with an introduction to worms, composting, decomposition, and the role worm bins can play in reducing food waste. The book uses mixed-media clay illustrations to bring Marl, Squish, and their worm bin world to life. What Is Vermicomposting? Vermicomposting is composting with worms. Inside a worm bin, composting worms help break down food scraps and other organic material, eventual...

“Worms have played a more important part in the history of the world than most persons would at first suppose.” — Charles Darwin The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms (1881) A banana peel,  a handful of shredded paper, and a box full of worms may not look like the beginning of something useful. Inside a worm bin, however, they become part of a busy little recycling system. Vermicomposting is a way of using worms and other tiny organisms to break down food scraps and turn them into rich, dark compost. It requires very little space, can be done indoors, and gives some kitchen scraps somewhere useful to go instead of sending them straight to the garbage. What Is Vermicomposting? The word vermicomposting comes from vermis , the Latin word for worm. Unlike a traditional outdoor compost pile, a worm bin does not need to become hot to break down the pile. Instead, composting worms live among damp bedding and help process the organic material added to their home. The...