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pure silk gold and silver hearts spun by silkworms are very special gifts of  love.

Remembering the days when raising silkworms were part of a child's life I obtained some eggs.  The young worms were in time for my visit to my daughter and her family in Windhoek, Namibia. Under  the impression that the grandchildren would be delighted I  took some silkworms with me.  The kids were not impressed and unfortunately they could not experience the worms growing up and spinning hearts as I overlooked the fact that it is very difficult to get mulberry leaves in Windhoek.  In the USA food for the silkworms can be bought, but not in Namibia or South Africa.   

If mulberry leaves are not available then beet or salad leaves can be used.  The catch is the little worms must be started on the alternative food directly after they hatch out, they can not change over later.  If the newly hatched silkworms are fed betroth leaves they will spin a pink silk.   If they are fed oak leaves they will spin a coarse silk. The diet on which the little silkworms started can not change at any time.  I do not know of other leaves they could eat, but you can try.

More information on silkworms and making the hearts click here

No worms, pupa or moths have been harmed or killed to make the hearts.

For more detail in raising the worms see my web site

I ended up enjoying the worms and the memories.  The gold and silver pure silk hearts that the silkworms spun for me will go as gifts to those I love.