Vermicomposters Unite! Official Worm Farmers Thread

SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
RedCarpetMatches said:
So I set up my 18g sterile container with drain holes and side and top air holes. Fun stuff. My bedding consists of equal parts of shredded newspaper, rinsed coco, rinsed shredded leaves, and Happy frog soil conditioner (has a little guano). On one side I made a long trench and separated mushy apples, coffee grounds, ground up roasted egg shells, and banana peels. The moist bedding is 4 inches high. I added 2 tbsp dolomite lime for steady PH, 1 tbsp crab shell meal, potash, 1 tbsp neem cake, and 1 tbs each of alfalfa and kelp. I ground everything (including egg shells) with a mortar and pestle. After adding 2000 red wiggler tomorrow, I'll cover with moist leaves and cardboard. Anything else I should add...can't really subtract? I don't want to kill 40$ worth of worm so any advice will be cherished forever ;)
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Best ingredient (in my opinion): A handful of healthy soil from outdoors. Actual soil, not some potting mix. This will introduce a vast array of diverse microorganisms as well as beneficial mites, springtails, etc, etc.. It also provides grit for the worm's gizzards.

Use common sense on this one; you want soil that is currently growing healthy, disease/pest-free plants (native or garden), and hasn't had any chemicals applied.

Compost is a great idea, too, but I'd highly recommend the soil.
 
RedCarpetMatches

RedCarpetMatches

Well-Known Member
The pile of leaves has been there for about a year. Of course I scooped all the bottom goodness. Felt like a sandy loam...gritty too da nitty. Also, wouldn't the ground up amendments and eggshells be some good grit for the gizzards.
 
YesMamNoSir

YesMamNoSir

Active Member
Hello! I started my first worm bin today and I think I may have messed up already....I found the perfect plastic bin it was 2x5 8 inches deep. I tore up some cardboard (did not shred) ad layered it on the bottom to help retain moisture.then put some organic spent mushroom compost then a layer of shredded newspaper then on top of that I mixed composted manure and peat. Thisis where I think I fucked up will the composted manure bake them???? Then input some pureed pumpkin and egg shellsin thecorner drilled holes all over..did i fuck up or not is it fixable please help....thanks!!""
 
Rrog

Rrog

Well-Known Member
If it's composted, then it won't bake. I have to say I feel a little creepy replying to that avatar...
 
snowdog203

snowdog203

Well-Known Member
I bought a worm tower off Craigslist a couple years ago, the woman who sold it to me was just too squeamish about worms. She said all the worms were dead but there were a few and I added a pint from the Bait shop. Red Wigglers. The bin is thriving with the minimal amount of effort, and I never looked back. I looked up what I could feed them or not, no stinky veggies like broccoli etc, and adding grit for worm heath in the way of pulverized egg shells with my whirly grinder. I collect mostly espresso used grinds and pulverized eggshells with very few veggies mixed in. The worms are great, though right now the fungus gnat has taken over my house. I mistakenly fed the house plants my vermicompost tea and have spread the gnat population to all my potted plants. I do make tea regularly in a 5 gallon bucket with a very small aquarium air pump and a heater with some unsulphered molasses, I use 2 cups of vermicompost a quarter cup of molasses and about 24 to 36 hours of bubbling. The heater is set to I think 68F, I just use it cause I have it and I think it accelerates things. Anyway thought I'd share. Love my worms, and am glad I have them. Years ago (decades) I read about a guy who was recycling apt. building veggie waste in dressers with screens for the bottoms of the drawers and have been meaning to get around to it, glad I have. Funny never hear about the dresser method of creating a worm bin. Though I'd share.....Namiste
 
Rrog

Rrog

Well-Known Member
Thanks for sharing that! You can make worm bins from anything! I grew great mounds of them in fabric pots (Geopots).
 
foreverflyhi

foreverflyhi

Well-Known Member
Forgive my lack of terminology,
what is the black gooey stuff called that collects in the bottom of the bin?
I use mine about once a month in a larger batch of tea ill occasionally brew. Any reccomendation on dosage?
 
hyroot

hyroot

Well-Known Member
basically worm tea or wet castings. strength depends on what you feed the worms.. I would just mix it in with the castings and let it dry some..
 
Rising Moon

Rising Moon

Well-Known Member
Dropping in on my thread, glad to see its still up top and running along...

Keep it going folks, keep your worms happy...

Peace,

Rising Moon
 
crispypb840

crispypb840

Active Member
I heard of using what they feed baby cattle. Like a formula or something. First you starve them for a little while. Then feed formula on the top layer. They come up to eat it then poo it out really quick. Once that is done you feed them in the corner and they all move from the castings so you can skim the top layer to harvest.
 
yeah B U B B A

yeah B U B B A

Well-Known Member
hi im doing organic as well.. my question is: would it be alright to to add worms directly to my soil and if so what is the best worms to use.?
 
NickNasty

NickNasty

Well-Known Member
Sure all my pots have worms in them it is inevitable if you are using fresh castings. If I were just to use them in my pot I would probably get European Nightcrawlers as they are bigger, tend to go deeper, are more heat tolerant and still do a good job composting. But this is just my best guess I have both red wigglers and euro's in my pots.
 
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