Worm composting

[cedar]

Does anyone have a worm bin?  Ever wanted to try it out?

We have a nice worm composting set up for a school with multiple layers of bins. I'll be gone part of the summer and would l love to let someone have the worms for the summer.  If you enjoy having worms eat your vegetable scraps, we can share the worms at the end of the summer. 

It is very easy to care for worms, you just need to feed them vegetable scraps, keep them damp by misting, and keep them covered with newspaper. A couple of minutes every couple days would keep them happy.

[cookiesforthree]

I am interested in starting worm composting.  Does anyone worm compost and have any worms they'd like to sell me??

PM me.

Jen (cookiesforthree)

[Chuck]

Bob C has Head lice, that won't work, right?

[Nolena]

Ignore him. It's the medication.

You can get them mail ordered from a lot of companies (Just Google red worms.) , or buy them at the minimart as bait. Same worms.

There used to be a big worm farm out past Barstow. (Yes, the corrals are quite low to the ground.)

[Wrightwood]

cedar maybe you start teaching the students how Earth Worm Charming   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjRxUVLxdYI

[cedar]

cedar maybe you start teaching the students how Earth Worm Charming   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjRxUVLxdYI

Great idea! Now if I could just find a grassy field...

[Laughlinguy]

Once upon an ignorant time, I thought that if I bought/brought(I can never figure out the difference between the two) some potting soil...where was I?...

Oh, yes...I was thinking that if someone sold me some potting soil, I would then be able to also buy (at the local bait shop) earthworms.

With the intention of taking said earthworms, and creating a colony of the previously aforementioned earthworms, with which I would then go fishing. Fantasizing in my fevered brain, the joys of dangling a gilded hook (or, a least, a silvered one) in the dark deep waters of what I like to refer to as "The Mighty Colorado River"

 It did NOT work out.

 I was left with a fetid, festering cesspool, the likes of which, mortal man will hopefully never be asked to deal with again.

Which leads me to this question;

How do you grow worms?

(Thanks to Douglas Adams, "The Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy")

P.S. I miss you Doug...Signed, Zaphod Beeblebrox

[cookiesforthree]

Not sure how to raise earthworms.  But in my reading, it's best to raise redworms as they like the moisture in the compost bin.  I also read that redworms are great for fishing as they live longer on the hook, underwater, than earthworms, therefore more chances of attracting a fish.

There is info. on this site about raising redworms at
www.unclejimswormfarm.com

[lagomorphmom]

Not sure how to raise earthworms. 

If you'd like a wonderful reference, Garden Web has a vermiculture forum. I thought about raising them myself and asked a few questions and they were very helpful. There is also a reference for how to make a slick bin box for them that will maintain the right moisture for you. Here's the link (they also have great rose forums, btw):

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/verm/

[lagomorphmom]

You know, I don't see the plans but I have some that someone sent me. I asked for a small one, so it's 18-20gal size and she also has another one for a trash can size bin. Lemme email her again, her instructions are copyrighted but maybe I can post it on the forum if we credit her and give contact info...

[cookiesforthree]

These are the plans I am going to follow.  However, I won't be keeping them under my kitchen sink.

http://smallnotebook.org/tutorials/the-apartment-compost-bin/

[lagomorphmom]

That looks like a nice system - I just love those Sterlite bins!

Fyi, one problem I remember from the forum is the worms escaping out the air holes - I don't remember if it was because of too many, too wet, or too high bedding.... I don't have an 'ewww' factor for worms (in fact I usually pick them off the driveway when it rains and put them back) but that would be some mess to clean up. If I have time, I'll try to review the forum to see if I can find out.

[lagomorphmom]

Ok, before I panic anyone, here's a link about escapees, I imagine there may be more reasons, but interesting about the barometer change...

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/verm/msg1022071229933.html?6

[lagomorphmom]

I'm starting to be concerned I'm having way too much fun... Here's a thread I found on the worm forum. If you decide to go bigger, this is a flow through method so you don't have to dump your bin, sort the worms and castings, etc. when it's done...

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/verm/msg1022071229933.html?6

[cedar]

Fyi, one problem I remember from the forum is the worms escaping out the air holes -

We have the can-o-worms system http://www.magicworms.com/canoworms.htm, but looks like they don't make that style anymore. Zero problem with escapes with this system. Pricey, but works well. We have had ours for at least 10 years.  We will have another summer worm babysitting 'opportunity' next summer, if anyone wants to put that on their calendar.

The new replacement is http://magicworms.com/4trWormFactory.htm.