Worm Composting in a Nutshell
by
A few questions arose about the logistics of my worm bin. I am nothing if not a sharer. So here’s what I’ve learned so far.
Your standard leaf compost pile is good. But for ubanites that don’t have enough “brown” items, primarily dead leaves, then your pile will be too “green” and not compost so easily. Instead, it can get moldy or attract roaches, rats and the like. Ewww.
So, for those that don’t have a lot of leaf-raking going on, the worm bin is more ideal. That ratio of brown:green goes down. The red wigglers EAT that green a lot faster than the leaf-pile can break it down without the brown leaves.
Companies sell both indoor and outdoor worm bins. Some are small enough to fit in the cabinet under your kitchen sink. Having storage issues already, we opted for outside. Just find a place that is shady.
Now, worm population. I honestly don’t know how many worms I started with. More than five, less than 5,000. Probably around 250. As they find a comfy home with good food, they will reproduce. But not beyond what the food supply is to feed them all. So there will not ever be an issue of overcrowding.
When the bin gets full enough of castings, my bin also came with a grate with handles. I’ll place the grate on top of the worm pile; place fresh food on it; wait. The worms will rise to the new food. After 24 hours or so, I’ll pick up the grate (with all my worms in the new food on top of it) by the handles, place it aside, dump the rich castings wherever I want it, then return the worms back to the bottom of the bin and start over.
I can place in the bin raw veggies and fruit, and their peelings, coffee grinds and filters, tea bags, grass clippings, egg shells, newspaper, etc. (I wonder if they’ll eat nutshells… probably so, I’d guess.) I CANNOT put in it cooked food, meat, oils, cat litter, dirty diapers, etc.
You do need to take care to “bury” the new items a few inches into the bedding, and to monitor that you aren’t over- or underfeeding them. How will I know if I am doing that? Primarily by smell. It should NOT smell bad or attract flies. If it is smelly, I have too much food in it and the worms can’t eat it fast enough. Slow down and put the scraps in the freezer to let the worms catch up. Not sure yet about underfeeding them. Can’t see that happening.
And if I go on vacation? No worm-sitter needed. They can eat what’s in the bin then survive on their castings for a few days too. So, I can go at least a week with no worries.
Lots of this information I got online or from Grant at the Laughing Buddha Nursery. Though not (yet) an expert, I am happy to take other questions you may have.
So far, it’s a breeze. And it feels so good to take that food to the worms and not the trash can.
And there’s the names! So far (from Twitter), there’s Daisy, Mr. and Mrs. Wigglesworth, Slimy Squigglesbury, III, Esq., and Huey P. Worm. Aren’t those great?! There’s also Joshua, Nolaiscrazy, and Rene. NOT my faves. But. I still need at least another 245 names. Anyone want to name their own worm? Leave a comment and consider it done!
This is all very interesting–honest!
How about Ed? I’ve always felt that was a good name.
Ed’s last blog post..Not Gonna Happen!
Can’t believe you gave me crap about using cloth diapers, because gross, but you are willing to do all this? Eek!! I say we are lucky to be able to pick and choose the green we do. I was going to ask why you didn’t just do this with a regular ole garbage can, but it seems there is more involved. Worms, another reason I am an inside girl.
SoMo’s last blog post..Push Presents
Just checking in to make sure that “Huey” is thriving and eating like a hurricane !
oxox
I saw those worms, they’re very tiny now. Hopefully, with careful worm husbandry, one day I’ll be able to come and snag some proper fish bait in the form of big ole worms. Maybe not anyone with a name, though.
Pontchartrain Pete’s last blog post..Bud’s Broiler on City Park
Worm names? I must not be creative enough this morning, because nothing is really popping in my head.
saintseester’s last blog post..Little Boys
I love that you’ve been posting about this. We are hoping to compost in our backyard as well very soon. This is all great info, and thank you for the link.
As for names. I see you already have a Huey. Perhaps you need a Dewey and Louie, too!
Momisodes’s last blog post..You see fruit. I see fruitcake.
Fascinating! I want to do this! I wonder if freezing winters means I have to bring them inside? Don’t like that idea much…
maknj’s last blog post..My King Cake Story
Squirmy McSquirmison. Because there’s a Scottish worm in there, surely.
Pepe, just because.
And George W. Bush (the W stands for worm). He’s the worm even the other worms can’t stand to be around. He’ll probably have grand plans to invade a worm bin across town.
Sharon’s last blog post..Willful disobedience
Congrats on your organic gardening methods. I haven’t looked at a worm for many years (not since I was a kid and used to dig them out of the yard), but as I recall they all look alike. How do you know who’s whom?
Here are my contributions to the name pool: Squirmola (or Squirmolo, if male; Vermiforma (Vermiformus, if male); Slimegoddess (or Slimegod, if male); SquiggleSphinx (unisex).
Sphinx Ink’s last blog post..Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover…Mea Culpa
[...] Link to Full Story provided by WormFarmingProfits.info. [...]
the thought of having to remember to make sure the worms have food if by some really weird chance i was gone for more than a week or so just completely blows my mind.
#bloghopping
ender’s last blog post..Fisher Price Pueblo
Joe. There must be a worm named Joe.
leendaluu’s last blog post..