What Is Worm Composting & How Does A Worm Farm Work? What Can A Worm Farm Do For You? Is A Worm Bin Easy To Maintain?
- Date: 2010-10-11 - Word Count: 783
Share This!
Worms are nature's absolute best recyclers. They have the astonishing ability to eat food scraps and create excellent natural compost. You should not use just any old worms in a worm farm. You need worms that are real food munchers. Red wigglers, which are sometimes just called red worms, are the most voracious eaters of the earthworm family. They regularly devour half their own weight in organic matter per day, leaving behind rich fertile compost. Pale red and tiny, the threadlike infant worms grow from 1/8 inch up to 4 inches long when mature.
Red wigglers are available to purchase from garden-supply catalogs, websites such as this one Worm Composters and through ads in gardening magazines. They are sold either by the amount of worms or by weight. Costs normally vary from around $20 to $40 per pound, which is normally about one thousand worms. We advise beginning with two pounds of worms for a 2 or 3 person home. Worms will multiply quickly once comfortable in a worm farm.
These red wigglers are happy so long as they have a dark cozy place with plenty of food, moisture, oxygen and a tolerable temperature. You do not need to worry about them escaping from their worm bin as long as you provide the best conditions for them to live happily.
Worm bins are commercially available, but are somestimes fairly expensive - from $50 to $100+, compared to DIY worm bins. We started out with a thirty gallon plastic comtainer with a tight top. However, I found that the container was way too high, with a lot of wasted space. The top ten were used by the worms only to lay their eggs. I have since tried many smaller containers and DIY wooden bins, but now use a Worm Factory(r) as it has so many advantages over DIY worm farms
Worms are photophobic - they hide from both sunshine and electric. Use a dark colored bin, or cover it with a dark covering. If you have your worm bin in the garden in hotter weather make sure it stays sheltered from direct sunlight. The worms will be happy when the temperature is between fifty & seventy degrees f.
A little moisture helps worms to wriggle. Add just enough water to a bedding mixture (such as {shredded newspaper|peat moss) to make it as wet enough to stay together when squeezed, but not to drip. A worm bin needs to have drainage holes on the bottom and air holes above the level of the bedding . To create the right environment for your worms line your wormbin with biodegradable bedding. You can use peat moss, sawdust, dried grass clippings, aged manure, shredded cardboard, newspaper, paper grocery bags and most types of shredded leaves. It's not a good idea to use heavily colored or glossy paper for bedding, since it may have inks or other substances that are toxic to worms in it.
Food scraps should be buried in the bedding to prevent any smell. When using paper items for bedding soak it in water and then shred it. Also, paper products in the bedding may soak up moisture, so look in the farm regularly. If the bedding becomes too dry spray or sprinkle with water to spread the moisture evenly.
Feed your worms a nutritious diet. While I attempted to maintain a regular feeding schedule, when I started worm composting, I have since discovered that red wiggler worms are very adaptable, and will eat whatever is available, whenever it is available. Try starting out with about a cup of food scraps every other day. Notice how quickly they eat it, and change their feeding routine accordingly.
Good food for red wigglers: fruits, vegetables, bread, grains, cereal, pasta, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, shredded leaves, peat moss, shredded newspaper, shredded cardboard, human & animal hair, dry grass clippings, wood shavings, sawdust.
Bad food for red wigglers: meat, animal bones, eggs, dairy products, peanut butter, oak leaves, glossy paper, pine needles, tree bark, fresh grass clippings.
Cutting up scraps quickens composting - worms will eat food scraps of any size, but chopping it up cuts down on digestion time.
Within about 60 days the contents of the worm farm will turn into nutrient rich earthy- smelling compost; finished compost has the color and consistency of crumbly chocolate cake. Containing nitrogen, phosphorus and many other nutrients and trace minerals, worm compost is a wonderful organic fertilizer. It can be used as a potting medium or top dressing for houseplants. Each time plants are watered, fresh plant food is delivered to the roots without any danger of overfertilizing or burning. In the garden use worm compost in planting holes and as a top dressing for flower beds. Diluted with water it also makes the best liquid fertilizer.
Red wigglers are available to purchase from garden-supply catalogs, websites such as this one Worm Composters and through ads in gardening magazines. They are sold either by the amount of worms or by weight. Costs normally vary from around $20 to $40 per pound, which is normally about one thousand worms. We advise beginning with two pounds of worms for a 2 or 3 person home. Worms will multiply quickly once comfortable in a worm farm.
These red wigglers are happy so long as they have a dark cozy place with plenty of food, moisture, oxygen and a tolerable temperature. You do not need to worry about them escaping from their worm bin as long as you provide the best conditions for them to live happily.
Worm bins are commercially available, but are somestimes fairly expensive - from $50 to $100+, compared to DIY worm bins. We started out with a thirty gallon plastic comtainer with a tight top. However, I found that the container was way too high, with a lot of wasted space. The top ten were used by the worms only to lay their eggs. I have since tried many smaller containers and DIY wooden bins, but now use a Worm Factory(r) as it has so many advantages over DIY worm farms
Worms are photophobic - they hide from both sunshine and electric. Use a dark colored bin, or cover it with a dark covering. If you have your worm bin in the garden in hotter weather make sure it stays sheltered from direct sunlight. The worms will be happy when the temperature is between fifty & seventy degrees f.
A little moisture helps worms to wriggle. Add just enough water to a bedding mixture (such as {shredded newspaper|peat moss) to make it as wet enough to stay together when squeezed, but not to drip. A worm bin needs to have drainage holes on the bottom and air holes above the level of the bedding . To create the right environment for your worms line your wormbin with biodegradable bedding. You can use peat moss, sawdust, dried grass clippings, aged manure, shredded cardboard, newspaper, paper grocery bags and most types of shredded leaves. It's not a good idea to use heavily colored or glossy paper for bedding, since it may have inks or other substances that are toxic to worms in it.
Food scraps should be buried in the bedding to prevent any smell. When using paper items for bedding soak it in water and then shred it. Also, paper products in the bedding may soak up moisture, so look in the farm regularly. If the bedding becomes too dry spray or sprinkle with water to spread the moisture evenly.
Feed your worms a nutritious diet. While I attempted to maintain a regular feeding schedule, when I started worm composting, I have since discovered that red wiggler worms are very adaptable, and will eat whatever is available, whenever it is available. Try starting out with about a cup of food scraps every other day. Notice how quickly they eat it, and change their feeding routine accordingly.
Good food for red wigglers: fruits, vegetables, bread, grains, cereal, pasta, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, shredded leaves, peat moss, shredded newspaper, shredded cardboard, human & animal hair, dry grass clippings, wood shavings, sawdust.
Bad food for red wigglers: meat, animal bones, eggs, dairy products, peanut butter, oak leaves, glossy paper, pine needles, tree bark, fresh grass clippings.
Cutting up scraps quickens composting - worms will eat food scraps of any size, but chopping it up cuts down on digestion time.
Within about 60 days the contents of the worm farm will turn into nutrient rich earthy- smelling compost; finished compost has the color and consistency of crumbly chocolate cake. Containing nitrogen, phosphorus and many other nutrients and trace minerals, worm compost is a wonderful organic fertilizer. It can be used as a potting medium or top dressing for houseplants. Each time plants are watered, fresh plant food is delivered to the roots without any danger of overfertilizing or burning. In the garden use worm compost in planting holes and as a top dressing for flower beds. Diluted with water it also makes the best liquid fertilizer.
Related Tags: worm farm, red wigglers, worm bin, worm composting, worm factory
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Lawn Mowers Electric Vs Petrol - Which Is Better?
When searching for the perfect lawn mower, many homeowners find themselves wondering which kind is b - Popular Types Of Mattresses
It is needless to describe the utility of mattresses for having a sound night's sleep; bed mattresse - Furniture Sofa Legs - Making The Old Sofa New Again
Home decorators get excited when confronted with an old sofa with a lot of potential. For those who - Finding The Right Granite For Your Home
The massive amount of options that are available can make choosing the right granite countertop for - The Truth About Black Mold Toxicity
The term "toxic mold" is not accurate. While certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce t - Bunk Beds For Older Individuals - Are They Genuinely Worthwhile Acquiring?
Typically people think it a little random when adults get to sleep in loft beds. Nonetheless, in the - Kitchen Countertop Ideas: Ceramic And Granite
Ceramic tiles for kitchen countertops have become a must have in home buyers' kitchens.Whether you p - Why Front Door Security Is Important
It is an important aspect to realize the fact that even by having a fully fledged home security syst - Use Fire Seals On Fire Doors And Save Lives
Basically, a fire door is designed to save lives. This is the reason why there is such a big require - The Importance Of Front Door Security
The importance of your home's security hinges upon your door's quality and the lock system. For that
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Learn About The Basics of Basement Dehumidifier
Ever wonder how people keep their basement dry? Let me tell you a little secret. With proper air con - Cable Lock Foundation Repair
Foundation repairs are the most expensive, and sometimes the hardest type of damage to detect. This - What's Covering Your Windows?
At one time, curtain rods were used for only one purpose – hanging curtains. Today they are mu - Wooden Railings and Their Many Uses
Wooden railings remain one of the most common types of railings throughout the country. They not onl - Feng Shui To Greater Luck In This New Year
There are at least six ways to learn Feng Shui Luck. First you must learn and understand the very b - Adding A Pleasant Marble Coffee Table To Your Home
Usually, the couch or entertainment center get most of the attention in one's house, but there is no - Scroll Saw Basics
Scroll Saw Basics by Lee Bowman If you are wanting to try your hand at scroll work, a - How To Clean Wood Furniture
A room full of beautiful wood furniture brings warmth and elegance to any room, however, it's inevit - Welding And Metalwork: Strength And Function, Part 2
Metalwork is the art of making various objects out of metal. Most metalworkers are also called machi - The Bahamas Hurricane Shutter
Every year, hurricanes are formed in the ocean and wreak havoc when reaching land. This usually occu