With Earth Day coming up in a few weeks, I thought it was only fair to cook up a family classic: dirt pudding with real worms and dirt!

This recipe has been in my family for generations and kept morale up during even the darkest of times. It was first created by my great great aunt, Genieve, during the Great Depression. Although the dish comes from tough times, it is so delicious that we’ve been making it every Earth Day for almost a century.

The origin of your dirt is the most important factor that affects the quality of the end product.

Dirt from your backyard will be useless as it likely has weeds and is too brittle. Similarly, avoid collecting dirt from any places that could be contaminated, whether that’s runoff from a farm or exhaust from a car. 

I’ve found the best dirt comes from a creek or stream, especially after a day of rain. However, you have to be careful not to collect any mud. There’s a very fine line between soft, pliable dirt and no-good mud.  

Another reason why I suggest gathering ingredients after heavy rainfall is to make finding worms easier. Worms are most active when the ground is moist and shortly after nightfall. Get a clear plastic cup, fill it halfway with loose, moist dirt, and gently poke around for worms.

Once you find one, ensure to handle the worm with care. There is no reason to stress out the worm aside from the natural stress it may endure from being placed in a new environment. The ethics of worm harvesting is a deeply contested subject among fishers, gardeners and animal activists. 

To make worm harvesting more sustainable, I would advise making a worm farm.  

To start, use a 5-15 gallon container with small holes poked through the bottom for drainage. I’ve found that an old cooler works best. Next, fill the first layer with one inch of biodegradable material, such as newspaper scraps or cardboard. For the next few layers, alternate between food scraps and loosely scattered leaves or paper. Not only is a worm farm good for recipes, it will produce nutrient-rich compost for all of your gardening needs.

Finally, I find that crushed oreos complement the flavor of dirt, but this is up to personal preference.

Now that you have all your ingredients, it’s time to assemble.

First, put your cup of worms in the freezer for 30 minutes to humanely prepare them. Once 30 minutes have passed, let the worms rest for five minutes to ensure they’ve passed on. If any movement occurs, put the worms back for ten more minutes until movement stops. 

After that, chop each worm into half-inch sections. 

Then, grab a ceramic bowl and fill it with moist dirt. If your dirt has dried, wet it for no more than two seconds under a faucet. After, add the worms to the dirt and mix it up with a spoon. Once thoroughly mixed, crush up oreos in a plastic bag and sprinkle generously on top.

And voila! You have the secret to a delicious Earth Day dessert that your friends and family will love.