Donation Given a Worm Welcome

Susan Tamulevich is about to receive help mentoring youths at the Orange County Probation Department’s Youth Guidance Center from 10,000 creepy, squirming friends.

Tamulevich, founder of the Guiding Angels outreach organization, has arranged for a donation of 10,000 worms and composting material to teach the youths about gardening.

Friday, the youths had an introduction to composting, setting up an 8-foot-long compost box and examining handfuls of worms.

The worms to be used in the program will be delivered next week, said Laguna Niguel resident Philip Goodman, who will donate the worms and supplies valued at $2,000.

Juveniles convicted of both felony and misdemeanor offenses are sent to the Guidance Center in Santa Ana, where officials try to prepare them for entry into the work force with classroom and hands-on experience in different professions.

Six juveniles were chosen to operate the compost heap because of their interest in the project.

“It just seemed like a lot of fun,” said Rosalinda, of Santa Ana, whose last name cannot be used because she is a minor. “It’s something new to explore instead of just raking [leaves]. And it’s something that has life to it.”

In the composting process, worms eat their way through a pile of mulched leaves and twigs, to which food scraps are occasionally added.

After about five months, the 4- by 8-foot box will be almost full of worm droppings that will be used as fertilizer at the Guidance Center.

The worms will continue to multiply, as will the number of compost boxes. Guidance Center officials said that once they have about eight boxes of worms, they may return the surplus to Goodman, who owns the Organic Wave Industries composting business in Long Beach.