EARTHWORM RECIPES

EARTHWORM RECIPES

Written by James D. Merrick, July 15, 2021

Have you ever thought about using earthworms for food? Well, we did, about a hundred of us. No, we weren’t desperate for food, or stranded on a desert island. But we were living on an island. Hang in here with me and I tell you how it all happened.

I was a school teacher working for the Department of Defense on a navy base in Puerto Rico, teaching seventh grade. I had about a hundred science students. One day, an article about using earthworms for food appeared in my mail box. Like all teachers who use controversy to spark discussion in a classroom, I read the article to my students.

Of course, the inevitable question popped up, “Can we do it?” My response was, “Let’s find out.” Now this next action wasn’t easy for me. In fact, I was prepared to take a hit from the principal when I went to ask him for permission. Imagine how you would feel as a parent if someone wanted to feed your child worms.

I entered his office with hat in hands, so to speak, and outlined the proposal. His face froze. He paled. Silence overcame him as he slumped back in his chair and stared at me. It seemed as though the precursor to vomit caught in his throat. “Why on earth would anyone want to do that?” he asked. “Several students want to," I replied. He uttered two garbled words: “Do it.” then added a final judgement, “but be sure to get the parents’ permission before you do anything.”

What was the plan?

The plan was to use the earthworms in two phases. During the first phase a small group of students would work after school to culture worms in the classroom and produce taste-tested recipes, then self-publish a recipe booklet.

The second phase was to create an after-school taste-testing activity. This phase required two groups of students, Experimental and Control, to prepare and taste cookies with and without earthworm “bits.” Taste preferences would then be tallied to determine if earthworm bits could be used as substitutes for nuts in the recipe.

The bakeoff was to be filmed by the naval station T.V. crew and shown on the nightly military news broadcast.

How did parent’s respond?

Almost overnight, the kids who wanted to participate in the first phase brought back their signed permission slips. You might get a kick out of a couple of the responses:

1. Mr. Merrick, Jackie has my permission to eat whatever you are preparing in class. Mrs. Jerald Kennedy

2. To Whom It May Concern, Jeffery has my permission to stay after school in Mr. Merrick’s class to eat earthworms. Thank you. Sue D. Thompson

Where did the worms come from?

Students were so excited about the project that even before I had all of the needed parental approvals, I ordered the earthworms. I figured that if I didn’t receive enough support, the students could still raise the worms in the classroom and later release them into the school garden. So, I ordered ten thousand worms from a biological supply company. While we waited for permission slips and worms to arrive, students read articles about culturing and using worms for food.

What happened during the first phase?

Phase One

After the worms arrived, the students who formed the Phase One group worked after school to culture worms and to create and taste-test several recipes which they published in booklet form and sold locally under the title, “Your Very Own Earthworm Recipe Book.”

Those who purchased the recipe booklets read how to prepare Critter Fritters, Worm a la King, Pâté Olé, Ritz Blitz, and Waffworms. Here’s one of the recipes:

Pâté Olé

1. Dissolve 1 t of gelatin in ½ C of water.

2. Bring to a boil.

3. Add ½ can condensed tomato soup, 1 T Worcestershire sauce,

½ t salt.

4. Mix well.

5. Add ½ C prepared worms blended with ½ cup water, 1 bouillon

cube and 1 T finely chopped parsley.

6. Fold ingredients together and refrigerate for one hour or until

chilled.

7. Spread on Ritz crackers and serve.

The first-phase story was published by Mother Earth News in August of 1977. It attracted widespread attention. Letters of support were received from across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Here’s a response from Alamogordo, New Mexico:

Dear Earthworm Kids,

Hi! Congratulations on your new book. Your picture in Mother Earth looks like you are all terrific cooks. I sure would like 2 copies of your new book. Also, how about special autographed copies by all of y’all. Enclosed you will find a check for $10.00. Use the extra for getting more worms for more experimenting with new recipes. Good luck and have a super nice Christmas.

Love, Marie

What happened in the second phase?

Phase Two

In preparation for phase two, one hundred worms were fed on cornmeal to “flush” them. They were then euthanized by freezing. On the day of the cooking event they were diced and used by student volunteers in a cookie recipe.

On the chosen day, the Experimental and Control groups met after school in the science room. There were twelve participants. TV and radio crews were standing by. The two groups stood at long tables ready to bake cookies in toaster ovens.

The Experimental group made and sampled cookies with earthworms. The Control group made and sampled cookies with chopped walnuts. After baking, the groups sampled each other’s cookies and discussed the tastes. In the end, the participants were unable to agree on a clear-cut preference. Personally, I didn’t like the way the bits of earthworm stuck to my teeth.

That night, the activity appeared on naval station television.

Despite the fact that a preference was not demonstrated, the project illustrated science in a way that was remembered. Parents were involved in an activity that provided a topic of interest with their children, and if memories of the project shared with me years later by participants (who were then adults) is an indicator of learning, then “Project Earthworm” succeeded as an effective tool of education.