news + press
Chicago Tribune: Urban Worm Girls preach what they practice
November 16, 2011
Stephanie Davies and Amber Gribben have been teaching people in the Chicago area how to use worms to establish in-home composting systems, a practice known as vermiculture, since Urban Worm Girl was founded in 2008. The company sells worms for composting through urbanwormgirl.com and at markets and workshops. Read more...
WGN Radio 720 Interview with Urban Worm Girl
November 5, 2011
WGN Weekend reporter Bill Moller interviews Stephanie Davies from Urban Worm Girl, as she explans all of the wonderful benefits of vermicomposting, and introduces Bill to some very hungry worms. Listen here...
Medill Reports: Composting isn’t just garbage, it’s cool
October 20, 2011
The gals of Urban Worm Girl, a composting company whose mission is to educate people about compositing with worms, also known as vermiculture, have a couple of options for Chicago residents who aren’t equipped with the space for traditional, outdoor composting. Read more...
Brookfield Suburban Life: Urban Worm Girl, Environmental superhero
August 10, 2011
It started as a labor of love and took off from there. That’s how Amber Gribben describes her avocation that turned into a career in vermiculture and her transformation into “The Urban Worm Girl.” Read more...
Mindful Metropolis: Book Review of “Composting Inside & Out”
August 1, 2011
An easy-to-read blend of composting facts, anecdotes and do-it-yourself guides, the book walks the reader through the benefits of reducing our waste and various ways to do it. Written with teh beginner and seasoned composter in mind. Read the full review...
Performance Without Pain: Book Review of “Composting Inside & Out”
July 25, 2011
From cover to cover, Stephanie makes it absolutely clear that there is a method of composting that will suit anyone in any living arrangement—including a high-rise apartment in downtown New York! Simply put, composting is essential to healing our soil—the most basic nutrient of our planet and we need everyone to join in. Read the full review...
Medill Reports: Worms move indoors, fabulous compost follows
May 19, 2011
Reporter Sarah Beth Moore from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism meets the red wiggler worms and the Urban Worm Girl at a recent event at Chicago's Women and Children First Bookstore. Read on and learn how the worms have become household friends for a number of Chicagoland families and gardeners. Read more...
TreeHugger Interview at the Chicago Green Festival 2011
May 14, 2011
Green Activist and Hip Hop Caucus founder, Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr., interviews Urban Worm Girl, Saturday May 14th at the Chicago Green Festival.
Green Manufacturer: Under Cover: What to do with food, paper waste?
April 12, 2011
Manufacturers striving for zero-landfill status whose cafeteria and office waste disposal is a can of worms may find the solution—in a bin of worms. An innovative Chicago start-up company called Urban Worm Girl™ offers three sizes of bins, including a commercial-size compost bin, which has a daily consumption capacity of 10 to 20 pounds. A large-capacity bin has a daily processing capacity of 75 to 150 lbs. of waste, Davies and Gribben said. The bin is made in the U.S. and contains postconsumer recycled plastic. Read more...
Worms In The Kitchen: Office Composting at Mightybytes
March 18, 2011
Tim Frick and his crew at local Chicago business Mightybytes welcomed 1,000 new colleagues to their office this week with the addition of a worm compost bin provided by Urban Worm Girl. Read more about the bin set up and Mightbytes' commitment to being a three-star Eco-Andersonville certified business on their blog. Or take a look at the slideshow of the worm bin set up. Thanks again Mightybytes and good luck with your new friends!
Chicago Tribune: Green Fair offers tips to tread lightly, leave a small footprint
September 14, 2010
Her name is Amber Gribben, but she is also known as "Amber the Urban Worm Girl." Gribben, an expert at using worms to create nutrient-rich soil, will join about a dozen others to offer environmentally friendly tips next Saturday at the Mt. Prospect Public Library's first "Green Fair." Read more...
Daily Candy: Learn to Compost like a Pro
July 21, 2010
In your vaguely hippie heart, you know composting is the right thing to do. But you live in a city after all, not a commune. Let compost connoisseur Urban Worm Girl transform any fifteen-inch pocket of space (indoors or out) into a silent garbage disposal. Read more...
Chicago Examiner: Composting made easy with help from Urban Worm Girl
July 21, 2010
Starting a compost pile is kind of like exercising. It's a daunting task that seems like it will take a lot of effort, even though you know the benefits are rewarding. Similarly, once you get into a routine, the once-intimidating task is easy as lacing up your running shoes. Fortunately, for Chicagoans who have been considering starting a compost pile, Urban Worm Girl is here to give that little push for returning your garbage back to the earth. Read more...
Chicago Tribune: Dirt’s Good for Kids
March 24, 2010
Dirt's Good for Kids: Playing in, and even eating, dirt helps develop immune system, report says. Read more...
Urban Worm Girl Featured in Fooditude Video
March 9, 2010
Learn more about how foods affect young people and how to keep healthy eating a part of everyone's life with this educational series of videos from our friends at Fooditude.
Chicago Parent: It’s a worm’s world
March 20, 2009
What would you say if I told you that you could turn your child's interest in dirt and worms into a family-friendly project that benefits the environment? Although the idea of using worms to eat your garbage and turn it into compost might make you a bit squeamish, your kids will find it utterly fascinating. Read more...
Live Green with ABC7 News Chicago
February 27, 2009
Woman shares worm wisdom on ABC7 Chicago's Live Green segment.
Chicago Tribune: Fete fertilizer with a worm party
February 22, 2009
Last Sunday I arrived at a lovely River Forest home to attend a party for its newest occupants: 1,000 red worms. Friends and neighbors of Mary Susan Chen gathered to snack on macaroons, sip green tea and watch their pal get set up with her new three-tiered worm bin. It would be in her utility room and naturally transform her kitchen scraps into rich, beautiful, black fertilizer -- also known as worm poop. Read more...
New York Times: Urban Composting: A New Can of Worms
February 18, 2009
On a recent Saturday afternoon, Stephanie Stern and her husband poured 1,000 wriggling red worms from a brown bag into a plastic bin outside their bathroom, looked down and hoped for the best. Read more...
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