Wonder Worman to the Rescue

Why throw away kitchen scraps when there are worms ready and willing to make those scraps into great garden compost? Composter extraordinaire Laurie Perez will lead two sessions in June on transforming kitchen waste into a valuable soil amendment for houseplants and garden beds. These programs are part of Deschutes Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, the theme of which encourages people to dig in and discover what’s beneath the surface. The presentations are free and open to the public.

Perez is known to many people by her alter ego: a vermiculture superhero who goes by the name of Wonder Worman. In her programs, Perez will discuss the benefits of composting with red wigglers and share some easy steps to get anyone started. “Red Wigglers are the hardiest worms. They have an insatiable appetite for food we humans typically call garbage and they possess an amazing reproductive capacity,” says Perez.

Laurie Perez founded her Wonder Worman (www.wonderworman.com) business in Bend in 2007 as a way of helping people compost their food scraps. Through her business she provides education and sells worms and bins to help people start their own backyard composting system.

For more information about this or other library programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats, seating or auxiliary aides) should contact Tina at 541-312-1034.

The Deschutes Public Library, located in the high desert of Central Oregon, was ranked as the 5th Best Non-Profit to work for in Oregon in 2009. The Library serves more than 160,000 Deschutes County residents through libraries in Bend, La Pine, Redmond, Sisters, and Sunriver. Outreach services to senior centers, day care providers, and homebound residents are an integral part of the Library. The Library’s website provides access to hundreds of resources, magazine articles, downloadable books, and more from the comfort of home and work. And, the Library offers free and dynamic cultural programming for all ages to enrich our daily experience and encourage all residents to Know More.