SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknifers rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty this past Saturday morning for Ecology North's worm composting workshop, where participants learned how to turn table scraps into fertilizer.

Claire Singer, an environmental educator for Ecology North, shows people how to create their own worm compost at Northern United Place on Saturday morning. - Adrian Lysenko/NNSL photo

The workshop took place at Northern United Place, one of a number of Earth Week events.

Claire Singer, environmental educator at Ecology North, taught the workshop.

Singer bought half a pound of worms from Edmonton for the workshop, and has been colonizing them since. She said worms don't usually thrive around the city because we're in Canadian Shield country where there is not much soil.

They can, however, be kept in a compost, says Singer.

During the workshop, Singer took participants through instructions on how to create an ecosystem for the creepy crawlers, maintenance and how to eventually use the rich soil they provide.

"I once had a leek growing (in the worm compost)" said Singer.

"We transplanted it to a garden and it was really tasty."

Building a worm compost is not as difficult as some may think. The only items needed are a container - any type of large container will do as long as it isn't transparent - bedding made from shredded newspaper and, of course, worms.

She said if people tend to their compost right they should end up with healthy soil.

"Worms eat half their weight in a day," said Singer. "If you eat healthy, then the worms eat healthy."

She said a worm compost is a great opportunity to teach youth about how an ecosystem works and how to divert waste. One of the benefits to composting with worms is the container can be placed indoors so composting can be done year round.

"I live in an apartment so I don't have the space to have a compost," said Singer, adding she keeps her worm compost in her bedroom.

"I kind of grew up around worms, Singer added. "It's a very effective way for people to lower their impact (on the environment)," said Jamie Jacobs, the co-ordinator for Earth Week.

"Composting is a very hands-on way to get people engaged."

After the workshop people didn't go home empty-handed. Everyone left with some wriggling worms to start their own compost.