Vermicomposters Unite! Official Worm Farmers Thread

[hempstead]

I think the concern would be a parasites ability to be passed to the vermicompost and infect whatever you are amending

This is the aspect I have not heard portrayed as a risk. Again, not saying that you can't have some issue, but it seems might rare if it happens

The goodness of the red wiggler in from a compost is unquestionably worth any extremely remote risk. You're more likely to get infected through some other host such as a beetle or bird dropping

As a feeder species, BSFL are not known to be intermediate hosts of parasitic worms that infect poultry, while redworms are host to many.[16]
Key phrase is "As a feeder species".
This is referring to eating the actual worm itself and not for a soil amendment. Many people raise worms and other insects to feed their chickens. It will not hurt you or your plants unless you are eating the worms raw.

 

[hempstead]

Does anyone throw worms in a used pot of soil? I read that if you throw a few in with the old rootball and let it sit a bit while keeping it moist then you can reuse it in a month or so. Sannie has said that even without the worms that you can replant in a pot for a second grow. He also said you should keep the old rootball in because not only will it break down and help feed the new plant but the mature mycor fungi will survive and attach to the new roots.

 

[Rrog]

I think I agree with all of that. Leaving the root ball alone and replanting immediately means you have an active microbial universe ready to plug into your new plant. No wait time.

Microbes quickly break down any dead vegetation from the old plant and store it for later use

How cool is that

 

[hempstead]

I just killed a male Soliloqueen and threw some worms in the pot. I will be throwing a Shit seedling in it soon to see how it does.

 

[Javadog]

Great idea. Thanks for sharing!

 

[calliandra]

Soo, the white [possibly oversized black soldier fly] larvae had disappeared the next day (almost more annoyingly than their ever having appeared! )and I was beginning to think things are settling in the bin....I even saw a baby wiggler and took it as a sign to feed for the first time in 2 weeks.

When I went to do that though, I realized the bin contents (mainly just castings at the mo) have warmed up again Not steaming, but hand warm

It's happening in this flowthrough worm bin system:

I took it over 2 weeks ago from a friend after it had gone badly anaerobic and her worms were dying in masses.
It was way too wet and the stench of rot was unbearable (she was only adding fruit & veggies, hardly any bedding) - so much so, that I gave up on the upper tray immediately and dumped it out into the garden, leaving me with the contents of the lower tray, pretty much composted, but also gone steamy hot (I thought it was because of the runoff from above).

I divided that up between 2 trays, which I lined and covered with dry leaves, and the bin cooled down & the worms stopped dying.

The only thing I did before today was sprinkle the top tray with some neem meal yesterday because a bunch of fungus gnats had appeared.
Could it be that the whole bin is warming up again just because of that??

I decided to feed anyways, in the bottom -better smelling- tray where ALL the (surviving 20-30) worms are. I spread mush of previously frozen lettuce, kale, pears, and almond skins pancake style onto a spot, having filtered out some of the juice, as not to add too much water to the bin:


Then I covered everything up with cardboard scraps and put this tray on top.


The trays are so shallow you can't really layer much... just a bit in the topmost one...
So I'm getting the feeling I should actually dump the second tray out, as there are no worms in there and keeps leaning more towards the stinky side & "generating" bugs and stuff lol.

Is this sensible or am I thinking in way the wrong direction?
Cheers!

 

[goodjoint]

Very nice thread!
Do you guys ever add pumice or any aeration to your bins?

 

[Rrog]

Yep!

 

[hyroot]

I was told about another place to get worms from and worm castings and compost. Recommended by Coots. It's better than worm power and uncle jims and build a soil

http://www.northwestredworms.com

 

[Oregon Gardener]

Hey everyone!

I thought the Organic section could use a dedicated thread about all things WORMS!


Post your questions, techniques, photos or comments related to Vermicomposting.


Ive had my bin going for about 4 years, and feed my worms an assortment of food scraps, selected herbs (nettle, clover, alfalfa, kelp, yarrow, comfrey)
rock dusts, coco and home made leaf mold/composts.

I will also be building a new bin from smart pots (thanks Rrog) and will post some photos when its built.

(My latest batch of Recycled soil after worms have done their thing..)

View attachment 2588083

Thanks for the thread. I'm doing worm farms in bags for my outdoor. I use to use boxes until I learned this trick.I use chicken wire, landscape fabric, and some plastic zip ties. However I had not really done any reading about worm farms other than the fact they were expensive. Anyway, I'll be checking this out. I post my indoor in the 600w Club, but I'll be posting my outdoor on another thread. Anyway, thanks again O.G.

 

[240sxing]

Worms are expensive ? Right now is the time to buy think I paid 40$ shipped for 2000 last year.

 

[Oregon Gardener]

Worms are expensive ? Right now is the time to buy think I paid 40$ shipped for 2000 last year.

It wasn't the price worms that scared me off, it was the kits. I glanced over some of the sites that came up on Google and then wandered out in the yard and did my own thing. Apparently, I'm using the wrong worms and definitely not feeding them correctly. I'm going to do some research before I ask a bunch of stupid questions. I think that the poster The Cheapsta and I must be related. We kinda think alike. My 600w Club indoor posts make it look like I have a lot invested, but almost everything is second hand or rebuilt. I do have 4 new ballasts but that's because the price for digital plummeted. Even my outdoor from this year that I posted cost less than $1000. ( I have a dump truck) Oh yea, where did you get your worms?

 

[240sxing]

I purchased mine from Uncle jims, also I use 18 gallon totes drilled holes in upper and lid sections. But yeah the kits can be expensive.

 

[Oregon Gardener]

Excellent! However I do have certain concerns. I once got 1500 ladybugs, and I'm telling you, that's a lota names

 

[Oregon Gardener]

Does anyone throw worms in a used pot of soil? I read that if you throw a few in with the old rootball and let it sit a bit while keeping it moist then you can reuse it in a month or so. Sannie has said that even without the worms that you can replant in a pot for a second grow. He also said you should keep the old rootball in because not only will it break down and help feed the new plant but the mature mycor fungi will survive and attach to the new roots.

yes.

 

[240sxing]

Excellent! However I do have certain concerns. I once got 1500 ladybugs, and I'm telling you, that's a lota names

Funny rofl , my daughter likes to name them she makes it through about ten before she is bored.

 

[calliandra]

Sooo... I was studying the texture of the worm compost in my bin today and ---
Oh! it's a worm bin safari!

I got excited to think I may actually be learning to recognize some of the bin inhabitants -
here's a pic with my guesses:


Is this correct?
Oh and those little white roundish thingies just labelled with "???"... the photo's fuzzy on them sorry, but they're all over the bin lid too.

Also, how far "done" are these castings?
They are smelling like a forest floor with mushrooms
Could I use a handful to make some compost tea already?

Thanks!!

 

[DonBrennon]

I been watching my worm bin too Calli, got plenty of worm cocoons in there so thought I'd try and film some hatching.........no joy there yet, but still real interesting whats running about in your worm bin. Not sure how good the picture will be for ya's all, but check out the tiny worm wriggling about on the top left worm egg (look real close), must be a nematode or a baby pot worm, it's definitely invisible to the naked eye.

holy shite, it's hard work getting a vid on here, pmsl, never uploaded to the tube before

 

[calliandra]

I been watching my worm bin too Calli, got plenty of worm cocoons in there so thought I'd try and film some hatching.........no joy there yet, but still real interesting whats running about in your worm bin. Not sure how good the picture will be for ya's all, but check out the tiny worm wriggling about on the top left worm egg (look real close), must be a nematode or a baby pot worm, it's definitely invisible to the naked eye.

holy shite, it's hard work getting a vid on here, pmsl, never uploaded to the tube before

OMG but was well worth the effort -- thanks so much, a really special view there with all the mites running around!
Yeah I see what you mean, I tried to find out what the size of baby potworms is but google failed, so - wildly guessing! - I lean towards nematode
Was also real funny how the one predator mite took a stab at it then ran away LOL

 

[DonBrennon]

I'm falling on the side of nematode too, just took a very close up shot of the surface of the worm egg, (the microscope says 400x, I'm dubious about this), but the frame/picture size here must be approx 0.5mm-1mm across, meaning the worms/nematode must be minute.