vermiposting pics

[smom1976]

a little peat moss.. a little dirt... some munchies to much on and ready for worms...

and they are covered so shaded if you will by the boards.. I have some plywood then the 3 boards over the ply.

 

[injunjoe]

Quote:
I bought Night Crawlers the other day but I read that they don't take to well to
vermicompost, Reg. earthworms are what they say to use.

 

[seismic wonder2]

With the holes for drainage, you might end up with a few crawlers anyway. They will come up from the ground (in small numbers) through the holes. They won't stay long though. They don't like compost type things. They DO like leaf piles that are decomposing....go figure.

earthworms are the way to go. Mine will eat ANYTHING from coffee filters to newspaper and of course, they LOVE mellon rinds. Don't let them get too wet though, they'll bail out.

 

[WisconsinChick]

I would suggest this. http://www.unclejimswormfarm.com/index.php?show_aux_page=8

 

[injunjoe]

Quote:
I think that is a good link

I was checking out uncle Jim's yesterday

Must add I am on to new fetish, worms, larva, and such!

 

[eggzettera]

First off you want red wrigglers, earthworms/nightcrawlers are not the same. They tunnel & they tunnel deep & like seismic said they will not stay long if they do infiltrate. Here is something I saved that I have posted over @ Easy Garden.....Oh yeh, I am kinda concerned about the lack of ventilation, you may wanna keep an eye out....


My worm bin is just a rubber maid bin with holes drilled into the sides for ventilation, I just used the largest drill bit I had. Err on the side of too many, the worms if they are happy will not try to escape (they do not like light). If they do try to escape your bin has some kind of problem......

Some people make a worm bin out of 2 – 5 gallon pails that can fit into each other. Drill holes in sides again, so that when they are nested the align up. The top bucket also gets holes drilled into the bottom so the leachate can drain into the bottom one. You still need the lid.


The bottom layer I just have non-biodegradable packing peanuts (the biodegradable dissolve in water) round 3-4 inches worth. This is the area where the leachate will collect – do NOT mistake this for TEA – tea is different. Then you add the layer of bedding = shredded paper soaked in water then “squeezed dry – or just spray with water for the same “dampened” affect. Then you just start tossing in.

Bedding is where they will ALL congregate if they do not like if they do not like their environment. Its natural to see some there but just some – not all.

You would want to set this up a week or 2 before you get your worms. Remember that they do not eat what you throw in there – they eat what grows on what you throw in. So if you throw in an apple and you see them on the apple they are not eating apple but what is growing on it.

Worm Favorites include: Banana (whole or just the peel) & cornmeal – from what I have observed I think the cornmeal is some kind of aphrodisiac – don’t ask.....OK fine...usually they mate “normally” but I have witnessed what can only be explained as an orgy & I truly do attribute this to the cornmeal. I got them before I got chickens and was obsessed with them. I tackle life one obsession @ a time. If you fish you can make a small bin and feed them predominately garlic & you will have some killer garlic verm’s.

Dislikes: Same as chickens – citrus & salt

Then throw in the worms and put on the lid. Its very easy to over feed to begin with – wait till they move into the “newest” area before you add more. Your population has not established itself yet. When you do go to add more do the same thing – bedding & ?.....you know whatever, you will find yourself slowing adding more and more @ a faster rate as your population increases.

A healthy bin should smell kind earthy.

Some people make a worm bin out of 2 – 5 gallon pails that can fit into each other. Drill holes in sides again, so that when they are nested the align up. The top bucket also gets holes drilled into the bottom so the leachate can drain into the bottom one. You still need the lid.

Problems:

Bin smells funny – either its too wet or overstocked with food. If too wet then add in dry shredded paper to absorb. If overstocked – then remove extra food preferably anything with no mold on it yet and add more “bedding”.

Fruit Fly Infestation: Is very common, too avoid I freeze any & all uncooked veggies & fruits first then throw in the bin, I think this also helps speed up the decomposition process.
If you get an infestation in your bin, put Apple Cider Vinegar in a saucer & put in the bin – they will be drawn to it & then drown.

HTH
N

 

[injunjoe]

Eggzettera; Thank you, I love this input.

Learning is living!

 

[smom1976]

about the lack of ventalation..

Is it becasue it is buried? Here in fl if it was not buried it would easily get over 85 and stay there.. ..

would holes in the side work?

I drilled 3/4 in holes using a paddle bit are those two big? They are on the bottom not the sides..

I did not add any paper to my bin, just a mixture of peat and top soil.

I did get the bins done before adding worms, they are not added yet.

Food plan.. taking what ever the chickens done finish off.. corn cobs, bones, roots from the weeds, poo.. and tossing it into the bins.. good? Bad? and other table scraps that I know the chickens done eat fast enough before the flies get to it.. ie. Mac and cheese..

these are just the first bins we are planning many more. I am hoping to sell the worms at bait stores.. Is this profitable? is anyone actually doing this and making anything?

Planning to sell tomato plants next year too.. Just starting with tomatos advertizing on craigs list and hoping for a little extra cash.

 

[Scrambled Egg]

I love the boxes in the ground idea! I have a worm bin, it's 4 trays stacked on top of each other with a lid, the trays have seive like holes in the bottoms. It's a real pain to get it all apart and feed the worms...I used it for months last year and got tired of it and fed all the worms to my chickens. I used red wigglers, they are recommended as the best "compost" worms. The bred pretty well and I had piles of them. Earth worms are bigger and fatter but as someone mentioned earlier in your thread..they might leave. Good luck!! Great chicken treats and a good "green" thing to do too!

 

[eggzettera]

I think drilling holes in the side would help especially if you leave some space between the container and the soil. Burying it like that will keep them cool like you planned so that part is great just make sure it can "breath" you don't want an anaerobic situation....The holes in the bottom sound fine......

I would not put bones in give those to your chickens. The worms love corn on the cob, all of that sounds fine but take it easy on the chicken poo, you could very easily overwhelm them with bad ph level.

Just feed slowly to start like I said gradually the population will be able to accommodate more.....

Paper is bedding material I suggest you add some.....like I said this is where they will migrate to in "harsh" conditions & them migrating there will let you know before anything tragic occurs......