Saturday, February 25, 2012

"Worms, The Champion Composter"

  I had been wanting to investigate more on "worm composting". So as I was looking around one of the blogs I follow posted about a project they did! A Flock in the City has a great post on creating a worm compost bin. But what is "Worm composting"? Worm composting is using worms to recycle food scraps and other organic material into a valuable soil amendment called vermicompost, or worm compost. Worms eat food scraps, which become compost as they pass through the worm's body. Compost exits the worm through its' tail end. This compost can then be used to grow plants. To understand why vermicompost is good for plants, remember that the worms are eating nutrient-rich fruit and vegetable scraps, and turning them into nutrient-rich compost. So I'm thinking its worm poop, right? lol
  To get started you need worms, a container and "bedding." I have learned something interesting about worms. Growing up on the farm I always thought, "A worm is a worm is a worm" boy was I wrong, all worms aren't created equal. Don't try using your garden-variety night crawlers. They need to worm their way through dirt to eat and survive and they don't dine on organic waste. So what kind of warms do you need, for this you need red worms -- Eisenia foetida (also known as red wigglers) or Lumbricus rubellus (manure worm). I hope I spelled those right, lol!
   How many red worms does a person needs when starting? Some experts recommend a one-to-one ratio -- one pound of worms for one pound of garbage. But others recommended two pounds per pound of garbage, so I guess somewhere in between will do. The other thing you have to keep in mind is that worms multiply like rabbits, so they say! (Or maybe it's more like rabbits multiply like worms!) Anyway, if you give them adequate food and a good home they can double their populations every 90 days. So, you may want to start out slow and with fewer worms than you think you'll need and the resulting worm population explosion will take care of the rest. I found that to be really interesting!
   I guess the only real important thing left is, what about the environment? Ideally your worm compost bin should be in an environment where the temperature ranges between 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and red worms generally prefer temperatures in the 55 to 77 degree range. (Unlike backyard composting with bacteria who like it hotter than heck, worms are more like us.) Many people use a corner of their kitchen, or, if they have a worm bin outside and live in a place where it does get chilly in the winter, they move it inside for the cold months. So after you build your bin CLICK HERE! or buy a kit, you should be able to start pouring scraps in and before you know it have great "worm compost for you garden or house plants.
  Here are some good sites I found that you may want to look at as well. Most of this information came off them but they do have more for you!




"I do think we have a responsibility to care for the environment – we ought to care for every resource God has provided for us."  John MacArthur

I am linked to"

http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/
http://whitewolfsummitfarmgirl.blogspot.com/

36 comments:

  1. I've never done the worms but my Mom did. The castings made the best flower fertilizer for her!

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    1. I never have either and will have to do mine in my shed so. I will see how it goes!

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  2. I made an attempt with fishing worms. Gave them a little lettuce, and promptly killed them...

    I'm pretty sure it was the fact they were fishing red worms though. When we try this again (and we will because we love to fish), we will probably buy the worms online.

    Love the Warning you added to your blog! ;-)
    Have a blessed Saturday!

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    1. I am gonna try to use the Warning area for different daily or weekly notes for everyone! But from time to time I will remind everyone of Jethro! lol

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  3. I love having worms in my basement. Leftovers never get wasted at our homestead. Depending on what the food is the cats get first choice, then the chickens, then the worms and lastly the outdoor compost bin. This morning the outdoor bin got the grapefruit rinds but the worms got the banana peels. When it warms up, I always add a big heaping of worms to my outdoor bin that is dedicated to breaking down the chicken manure. I like to keep the chicken waste separate so the ecoli doesn't contaminate any of my veg and the worms do a great job on it.

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    1. I am gonna try it. We will see what happens, That is a great idea about keeping the scraps separated!

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  4. Vermicomposting is something I've always had in the back of my mind to try.

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    1. I'm gonna move it to the front of mine very soon! LOL

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  5. I have read a lot about it, but even found more new info here. Thanks!

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    1. I read a lot on it yesterday, I think I was on every site out there, well maybe not all but a but a bunch! lol

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  6. Nice blog!

    I'd like to try the whole vermiculture thing, but we have sooooo many nightcrawlers in our yard and garden. When I step out to pen my dogs at night, it's always fun to see how fast they can disappear into the ground. I saw one a couple of nights ago after a 70-degree day. They are huge!

    I see that you are from West Virginia, so I'm thinking that makes you a mountaineer too. :) I love mountains!

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    1. Having that many night crawlers in your yard means it is a very healthy lawn. Yes I am from the Mountains of West Virginia. I take by your post you are from here and maybe live elsewhere?

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  7. Great, now I have to worry whether the right worms have crawled into my outside compost....it's does do great in our very long, cold, snow-covered winters. Every spring there is enough compost to amend all of the flower beds and a bit left over for the beans and tomatoes. What a wonderful site of info you have here. I'll be back as I'm visiting from my sister Mel's at UpNorthWithMel.
    Also, like Indio says, separate the chicken poo from the rest. Mom has done this for eons.
    BlessYourHeart

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    1. Hello there, it is so nice to meet you. There is nothing better for your beds then good ol compost. Check out the post on here "Back to Eden"' very good movie!

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  8. I am hoping to have a go at making a DIY wormery this year.
    I get loads of the correct worms when I collect rotted horse manure so I'm figuring I may as well have a go!
    I put chicken manure straight onto the garden. I know you're not supposed to but I just keep it well away from my flower stems and it's worked so far.

    Linda
    http://coachhousecraftingonabudget.blogspot.com/

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    1. You will have to give us an update on your wormery, when you get yours started!

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  9. thanks for this information!! I love when I go to my compost and see all of those worms!! Now I really can't wait for spring!!

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    1. They are like a little workhorse aren't they? We are just a few weeks away here from getting thing moving!

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  10. I've never even tried composting in my life, but I have heard of this. What happens to the worms when you're actually ready to use the compost in your garden? Greetings from the ocean shores of California, Heather :)

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    1. Must people try to use the manure worms so some of the worms can go straight to the garden or regular compost bin. But of you would keep most of them for the next batch.

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  11. Yep, I did this a few decades ago...
    maybe for a couple of years.
    We kept them in our cellar;
    it's cooler there all year round than the house.
    They seemed to like it :)

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  12. Thanks for sharing the info about worm composting!

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  13. Absolutely try this! It is fantastic, and they are "easy keepers". My batch have been going only a month or so, but are doing well. I plan to expand the idea a bit when it warms up. I I definitely think this is a "must" for homesteaders who want to help the soil they work.

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    1. You will have to let us know how everything goes!

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  14. Happy Monday Clint!
    Great post. I have a friend that does this professionally. He raises worms and sells them and/or their castings to large organic farms in the Central Valley of California. What I like about worm castings is that there is much less odor than composted steer manure or blood meal and just as many nutrients.

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    1. Happy Monday to you Heidi as well! I have an idea for a post for you Heidi, maybe you could get him to do an interview from his point of view? It might be interesting and maybe he could teach us more!

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  15. I'll share this on my website Facebook page. Great post, and it looks like fun too.

    By the way, I love the new look of your website - the colors and fonts! Keep up the great work.

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  16. We installed "worm tubes" in our garden last year and we add our kitchen scraps directly into them. They are working great, but I have no idea if we got the right worms--we "rescued" them from the bait shop!

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    1. Hello! "Worm Tubes" I will have to check that out. As fare as for the right worms, the only thing that I have been noticing about worms as I read is this. Night Crawlers will work in a bin but the love to dig, so it kinda doesn't allow them to fill that urge!

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  17. Excellent post! I love my worm compost bins. No more turning compost by hand for me! I also like the compost tea I harvest every week. Nutrient rich but so safe for my plants.

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    1. Hi Betty, because of my warped humor I have to ask. Do you like one or two lumps of sugar with your tea? No I know what you mean.

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  18. Oh, no sugar for my "tea," Clint. But lemon is always welcome. ;)

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  19. How do you make compost tea ? I have heard about it before but don't have a clue how to make it.
    Thanks.

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    1. I take compost or horse manure, whatever you have and put it in cheese cloth, tie it up and through it in the bucket of water and let it work like tea!

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