They are protecting and replenishing the earth's soil naturally. Solid waste goes into the worms' front ends. Out of their backsides, so to speak, come castings. The castings in turn, become valuable, natural fertilizers that improve topsoil and reduce the need for landfills.
People can see it all.
The site is celebrating an open house Saturday at 1 p.m. on Ringling Lake Road at the site of three old settling tanks. Wilhelm, of Grapevine, makes a living writing grants for environmental projects, but has also been lecturing on the value of worms for several years. He also owns a worm farm. Wilhelm recently, in fact, learned that he has been named recipient of the 1998 EPA's Region 6 Administrators Environmental Excellence Award for environmental education. Hardin and Wilhelm first teamed up in a effort to improve the area around Ringling Lake.