Worm juice anyone?

by Michael Gormly
A neglected corner of Woolloomooloo is now converting locals’ kitchen waste into ‘worm juice’, a highly concentrated plant fertiliser.

The vacant, tree-filled block of land at the intersection of Cathedral and Dowling Streets is also a community garden bringing together 50 locals to grow things on the Housing NSW site.

Carl Kneipp, founder of Greening Woolloomooloo Inc, saw the potential several years ago and has been battling different bureaucracies to get access to and use of the mesh-fenced land.

While official roadblocks remain, says Mr Kneipp, the group has won a grant from Landcare Australia and support from Lord Mayor Clover Moore and other councillors in her party. And the Mounted Police Unit in Redfern regularly delivers used straw enriched with horse manure.

First on the shopping list is five tonnes of soil as most of the site is concreted and the soil of poor quality. Two large piles of rubbish including rocks, broken glass and used syringes testify to former neglect and await removal.

That’s one of the roadblocks ‘ none of the local bureaucracies want to know about the rubbish. Each says it’s someone else’s problem.

But the project is growing, with a selection of plants thriving in recycled pots and tyres. Next on the list is a vegetable garden which has the potential to grow a lot of food, says Mr Kneipp.

The worm farms produce about two litres of juice per week, which is a lot ‘ the black liquid needs to be watered down to the colour of weak tea before use. Locals who donate kitchen waste can take it away for free. The farms accept virtually everything except citrus peel, onions and meat. Even worms have their preferences it seems.

The gardens are open every Sunday from 3pm. All are welcome and the group can be contacted on 0408 792 238 or by email at greeningwoolloomooloo@yahoo.com.au