Uncle Jim's Worm Farm!

PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
I just have to recommend Uncle Jim's Worm Farm to anyone looking to buy live worms. They were great. My first order was delayed due to my crappy USPS service and they died in transit. I let Uncle Jim know and they sent me a new package via FedEx with everything I originally ordered. Now I have an extra t-shirt and extra coco coir.

Uncle Jim's Worm Farm

Over 40 years of Red Wigglers Worm Composting experience. We sell live red wiggler worms, worm composting bins and other vermicomposting supplies.
unclejimswormfarm.com unclejimswormfarm.com
IMG_3824.JPG
IMG_3827.JPG
 
Kushash

Kushash

Well-Known Member
PadawanWarrior said:
I just have to recommend Uncle Jim's Worm Farm to anyone looking to buy live worms. They were great. My first order was delayed due to my crappy USPS service and they died in transit. I let Uncle Jim know and they sent me a new package via FedEx with everything I originally ordered. Now I have an extra t-shirt and extra coco coir.

Uncle Jim's Worm Farm

Over 40 years of Red Wigglers Worm Composting experience. We sell live red wiggler worms, worm composting bins and other vermicomposting supplies.
unclejimswormfarm.com unclejimswormfarm.com
View attachment 4435648
View attachment 4435649
Click to expand...
The offspring of the pound of red wigglers I got from Uncle Jim's in Oct 2018 are still going strong in my worm factory 360 14 months later.
worms - Copy.JPG
 
Kushash

Kushash

Well-Known Member
I'd like to add that I always had issues with fungus gnats in the past and always had to do something to keep them under control.
With fresh EWC I believe I now have a healthy population of Hypoaspis miles mites in my bin and I still have occasional fungus gnats being caught by my sticky traps but I no longer do anything to control them. They are no longer an issue.
 
PagingMrHerman

PagingMrHerman

Well-Known Member
Kushash said:
I'd like to add that I always had issues with fungus gnats in the past and always had to do something to keep them under control.
With fresh EWC I believe I now have a healthy population of Hypoaspis miles mites in my bin and I still have occasional fungus gnats being caught by my sticky traps but I no longer do anything to control them. They are no longer an issue.
Click to expand...
Did the mites hitchhike with the worms or did you add them? My uncle Jim’s came with pot worms so I figure it’s plausible.
 
PagingMrHerman

PagingMrHerman

Well-Known Member
Kushash said:
Good question! IDK.
I did not add them on purpose but may have added them unknowingly when I added some amended soil to the bin that had bagged EWC in the mix or they may have come with the worms.
Click to expand...
At some point I should probably magnify my castings. See what’s crawling around besides the wigglers. Weird statement but I’ve grown attached to my little buddies. :D
 
Kushash

Kushash

Well-Known Member
PagingMrHerman said:
At some point I should probably magnify my castings. See what’s crawling around besides the wigglers. Weird statement but I’ve grown attached to my little buddies. :D
Click to expand...
I have found these inexpensive plastic coin holders found at coin collector stores or online very handy to capture small insects to then view under a magnifying glass or a digital microscope.
coin holder.png

Here are my favorite pics of a lacewing larvae that I captured in my yard on a red apple shrub.
After the picture I put it back where I found it.
Catch and release.
Pics taken with a $40 digital microscope, a very handy tool.
S20190522_0001.jpgS20190522_0004.jpg
 
PagingMrHerman

PagingMrHerman

Well-Known Member
Kushash said:
I have found these inexpensive plastic coin holders found at coin collector stores or online very handy to capture small insects to then view under a magnifying glass or a digital microscope.


Excellent! Have all the gadgets and happy to have any excuse to use them. Got them for trics but haven’t needed them in a while. I go by looks of the ladies. I know I’m superficial...lol.
Click to expand...
 
TerrapinBlazin

TerrapinBlazin

Well-Known Member
I’ve been interested in throwing some worms into my soil compost bin, but I’ve been hesitant. I’m really worried about introducing pathogens if I get worms into the mix. It has nothing to do with the worms, but rather with stowaway organisms. Centipedes, beetles, mites — all those invertebrates with lots of legs that I don’t want anywhere near my plants. I already have enough trouble battling the caterpillars outdoors. I really don’t want to have to battle indoor pests, although every grower out here tells me it’s just a matter of time before I go to war with the russet mites. To consider myself lucky that I haven’t had them yet, but to be prepared for when they inevitably move in.

I refuse to use pesticides and for my outdoor plants I just thoroughly hunt for caterpillars and manually remove them. The only thing I’m comfortable using against bugs is cedar oil.
 
TerrapinBlazin

TerrapinBlazin

Well-Known Member
indianajones said:
My worms from uncle Jim also came with predatory hypoaspis mites. Win win.
Click to expand...
I don’t know about those, but I want to get really well versed in biological pest control before next year’s outdoor growing season. Do they eat spider/russet mites?

I’m 100% committed to not using any pesticides or sulfur burners no matter what. This might make things more difficult when I get a pest problem, but no amount of convenience is worth making myself or someone else sick. A bunch of dispensaries here in town use full on chemical pesticides. I won’t even use neem oil because I’m convinced that it causes that weird hyperemesis thing where you puke nonstop and can only relieve the symptoms with scalding hot baths. Fuck that.
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
TerrapinBlazin said:
I don’t know about those, but I want to get really well versed in biological pest control before next year’s outdoor growing season. Do they eat spider/russet mites?

I’m 100% committed to not using any pesticides or sulfur burners no matter what. This might make things more difficult when I get a pest problem, but no amount of convenience is worth making myself or someone else sick. A bunch of dispensaries here in town use full on chemical pesticides. I won’t even use neem oil because I’m convinced that it causes that weird hyperemesis thing where you puke nonstop and can only relieve the symptoms with scalding hot baths. Fuck that.
Click to expand...
Ya hypoaspis miles eat spider mites, but if I ever get russet mites I'm going to order some of these guys.
www.arbico-organics.com

Neoseiulus (= Amblyseius) californicus

Now Available in Sachets w/hooks, on sticks and more! Ships via Overnight methods only. Ships Monday-Thursday. See shipping info for details or call us at 1-800-827-2847 for specific details. For delivery only. Not available in store. Neoseiulus (= Amblyseius ) californicus is...
www.arbico-organics.com
 
TerrapinBlazin

TerrapinBlazin

Well-Known Member
PadawanWarrior said:
Ya hypoaspis miles eat spider mites, but if I ever get russet mites I'm going to order some of these guys.
www.arbico-organics.com

Neoseiulus (= Amblyseius) californicus

Now Available in Sachets w/hooks, on sticks and more! Ships via Overnight methods only. Ships Monday-Thursday. See shipping info for details or call us at 1-800-827-2847 for specific details. For delivery only. Not available in store. Neoseiulus (= Amblyseius ) californicus is...
www.arbico-organics.com
Click to expand...
Hell yeah. Apparently russet mites are the big pest in my part of the country. They’re also apparently harder to spot than spider mites. I don’t have any experience with them yet but I know it’s just a matter of time. When it does happen I’m gonna be ready. It’s just like I used to tell novice mushroom cultivators that hadn’t yet lost a crop to some sort of mold. Be glad you haven’t had to deal with it yet, but be ready for when you do.
 
setitandforgetit

setitandforgetit

Active Member
Kushash said:
I have found these inexpensive plastic coin holders found at coin collector stores or online very handy to capture small insects to then view under a magnifying glass or a digital microscope.
View attachment 4435943

Here are my favorite pics of a lacewing larvae that I captured in my yard on a red apple shrub.
After the picture I put it back where I found it.
Catch and release.
Pics taken with a $40 digital microscope, a very handy tool.
View attachment 4435944View attachment 4435945
Click to expand...
brewing some polyjuice potion? :p
 
manfredo

manfredo

Well-Known Member
I hope you have better luck than I did...I bought 2 bags of worms from Uncle Jim, and the only thing that lasted was the bags they came in...Mine all died within a few weeks! Now i just buy worm castings. But it absolutely could have been all ME!! Good luck, worm castings are expensive!! And funny, they are a LOT more expensive now that weed is legal to grow many places...The sellers are all taking advantage of us, but I guess it's good old supply and demand!
 
Kushash

Kushash

Well-Known Member
manfredo said:
I hope you have better luck than I did...I bought 2 bags of worms from Uncle Jim, and the only thing that lasted was the bags they came in...Mine all died within a few weeks! Now i just buy worm castings. But it absolutely could have been all ME!! Good luck, worm castings are expensive!! And funny, they are a LOT more expensive now that weed is legal to grow many places...The sellers are all taking advantage of us, but I guess it's good old supply and demand!
Click to expand...
Buying casting is expensive and the quality is not as good as the castings from a home bin.
If you feel like giving details we should be able to guess what went wrong.
To wet or to dry?
To hot or to cold?
Not fed in two weeks should not kill them.
Overfeeding or feeding the wrong food I doubt would kill them.
The home they were put in not being viable IDK (pics of the bin).

It would be worth trying again, once you get it dialed in it becomes very easy to maintain.
 
manfredo

manfredo

Well-Known Member
All I remember is I had them in a bin in my basement bathroom, and put the bin in the bath tub....Worms were everywhere in the bathroom trying to escape. I have no idea what I did wrong...Probably too wet! But honestly, after that, I'll just buy the worm castings! Just bought 2 bags for like $75 for a batch of super soil.

My granddad raised them in his basement when I was a kid for fishing...I remember he fed then corn meal, coffee grounds, etc...i thought it would be a fun hobby, but I guess i have enough fun hobbies already! But more power too you if you can raise them...It is like gold to plants!! Best of luck!!!
 
Kushash

Kushash

Well-Known Member
manfredo said:
All I remember is I had them in a bin in my basement bathroom, and put the bin in the bath tub....Worms were everywhere in the bathroom trying to escape. I have no idea what I did wrong...Probably too wet! But honestly, after that, I'll just buy the worm castings! Just bought 2 bags for like $75 for a batch of super soil.

My granddad raised them in his basement when I was a kid for fishing...I remember he fed then corn meal, coffee grounds, etc...i thought it would be a fun hobby, but I guess i have enough fun hobbies already! But more power too you if you can raise them...It is like gold to plants!! Best of luck!!!
Click to expand...
Thanks, you too!
Yeah, probably to wet or maybe not enough bedding to move around in, I like adding soil as a part of the bedding and giving them a fair amount of bedding even having it were they could move to different levels of dampness from very moist to an upper drier layer. If you ever try again I would bet the bedding preparation is the area to study.
Happy Growing!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top