Mary Appelhof purchased an old mimeograph machine from the Democratic Party in the early 1970s.[15] She used it to produce a brochure, "Basement Worm Bins Produce Potting Soil and Reduce Garbage."[15] By 1976 her publishing interests were firm, and she founded Flower Press. She later explained her thoughts on self-publishing her bestseller, Worms Eat My Garbage.[16]