Worm Farming: The Story of 377 Worm Farm

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At 12 years old, I was the oldest of 6 siblings and quickly learned that finances were not readily available for a young boy's wants; such as fishing, camping, and skateboarding. For fishing, I could always borrow my dad's gear, and a creek was close by. Camping was a bit more demanding. I ended up selling Christmas cards through mail order until I sold enough to purchase a sleeping bag from their gift catalog. What else did I need? I had a pole, a float, hooks, and some worms. I could then lay under the stars until morning when the fish would bite best. Skateboarding, however, was tougher—back in the day, there were no ready-made skateboards. We would take an old pair of metal skates, pull them apart, and nail them to a cut piece of 2x4 board, holding on as best we could. I soon realized I had more fun fishing and camping, putting skateboarding on the back burner. I continued my side hustles with climbing trees for mistletoe, tying them in bunches with red ribbon, and selling for 25 cents. I mowed lawns with a push rotary mower for $2 a yard, which included mowing, raking, and edging both front and back yards. I was living the dream! I took my newfound riches to purchase my own rod, reel, and fishing tackle, feeling incredibly proud. But I soon learned that all that work for $2 a lawn was overrated. It dawned on me that I had a secret: I had a spot for red wiggler bait. I figured if I prized them for fishing, others would want those same worms too. I gathered as many glass jars as I could from neighbors, filled them with dirt, and put 15 to 20 worms inside. Using a cardboard box as my table, I set up on the corner near my house with a simple sign—'WORMS 25 cents.' This venture quickly turned into a full-time Saturday job. What took me all day to earn $2, I could easily make $3 in about an hour and a half. Now I was truly living the dream. On some Saturday mornings, if I wasn’t on the corner early enough, I had regular customers come to the house asking for worms. I loved it—helping others while gaining funds to enhance my fishing experiences. However, as usual, all good things come to an end. My family relocated, and life got in the way of a young boy's dreams. As the years flew by and my experiences grew, I often reflected on the happiness and pleasures I had from gathering and selling worms. Now much older and retired from the daily grind, I still think back to those days. My interest has come full circle, leading to my '377 Worm Farm' project. With the internet at my fingertips, I’ve realized that my dreams resonate with many others. I continue to dig deeper, finding others willing to help me recapture those childhood feelings. YouTube has become my new source for insights into the history of worm farming and finding products related to my secret worm bed. One does not have to reinvent the wheel but should surround themselves with like-minded individuals willing to share their knowledge within the Worming Community. I’d like to thank MemesWorms.com, 'Join the Squad,' for reigniting my childhood memories. I cannot do justice to the many others who have contributed to my worm farm story. I am truly living the dream once again. Keep doing what you're doing, keep having what you got. Want something different? Do something different. My mission is to help those I can, find answers for those I cannot, all while working within a verified Worming Community.