San Lorenzo Business to Share the Wealth of Worms

Not many people find much value in a bunch of worms.

However, for San Lorenzo resident and vermiculturist Bob Swan, worms aren't only his passion but also his business.

In April 2010, Swan launched Rainbow Worms, an online company based out of his home providing people nationwide with worm composting kits, castings, tea brewers and many other worm-related products.

Of course, he offers an assortment of worms — from European Night Crawlers to Red Wigglers and everything inbetween. All are used to benefit the environment.

"I think [worm composting] is the safest, most environmentally-friendly thing you an do," Swan said.

Rose Marie Burroughs of Organic Valley Farms, a national co-op of family farmers of organic agriculture, shares the same enthusiasm for worms as Swan.

She has provided him with a $2,500 grant from the co-op's Farmer Advocating for Organics (FAFO) fund, a program that offers funding for projects aimed at furthering organic education, organic farming, product research and organic advocacy.

"Our goal is to offer worm composting bins to applicants that are interested in education," Burroughs said.

The $2,500 grant will fund close to 20 worm composting kits ranging from $40 to $170 according to Swan. Though the two are working together to provide the kits to any eligible educational groups nationwide, Swan said he strongly encourages local groups to apply. Eligible applicants include public and private schools, members of Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H organizations.

"A lot of schools have their own garden so this will help them be self-sufficient," Swan said. "We're big on reducing your carbon footprint."

Burroughs said the composting kits can show students, gardening groups and even the general community how health and education "starts in the soil" and expands to a wide range of subjects: gardening, nutrition, biology, recycling and how to handle trash and food scraps.

"It's an ongoing program in that worms will continue to grow and multiply...so that other people can take [the worms and what they've learned] to their individual homes and gardens," Burroughs said.

Burroughs said there is no deadline to apply for one of the worm composting kits.

"We are here to continue it as funds are available," she said.

Digging Into the History of Rainbow Worms

Swan is best known as a project manager for Contra Costa Electric by day and worm wrangler by night.

He said his then-4-year-old daughter Elizabeth was the main inspiration for starting Rainbow Worms.

"She was interested in anything that crawls," Swan said.

He also credits his two large dogs who have left him more suprises than he could handle.

Thanks to the help of the wiggly little workers, Swan proudly admits to composting 40 pounds of dog droppings each month.

"Worms do so many things it's not even funny," he said. "I've learned a lot about them in the past two years."

To apply for one of the worm composting kits, click here or visit http://shop.rainbowworms.com/OrganicValleyGrant. You can also e-mail sales@RainbowWorms.com with any questions to see if you qualify for the grant.