Do not use BREAD Worms and Bread Products

We have found that bread kills worms. What seems to happen is that the yeast is still alive no matter how old the bread. The yeast seems to really love being inside the worms. The yeast multiplies inside the worm. We have pictures of worms that have bubbles pop out the side of their skins. These bubbles literally explodes.

Going on vacation. How will my worm bin do?

Q: Hello, I am considering on buying composter, and have a question. If I would leave on vacation for a week or two, will I be able to leave enough food for worms, or they have to be fed more frequently?
A: Your worms will do fine for a month or more unless it is very hot and the bin could get too dry. Do not overfeed. The worms will re-eat what they already ate to get more nutrients.

We have been very busy. And not had time to post on the blog. Especially, since our regular blog poster is no longer working here.
We will work hard to post new information.
Thanks Mr Wormswrangler

Why worms clump together in the corner

I forgot to ask you about the worms congregating in the corners. Why are they doing this?

Thanks,

Loy

---
Hi Loy,


Because they can, lol ! ;-)

You made me laugh, your curiosity is very funny. When you find out why they hang out like that, you too will laugh. When I meet new people in my life and they ask me what I do for a living, they all drop their mouth. I am a worm grower in high heels and mini skirts. I have 16 worm farms in my back yard. Some are 3 trays high, others, 8 trays high.

The behavior of red worms is different than earth worm. Earth worms are loners whereas Red Worms migrate together. The way worms reproduce is via a ring that appears when the red worm is an adult. Worms are neither female or male. They lay on top of each other, over each other's ring and exchange a liquid that will become worm cocoons eventually. The ring is called a clitellum.

So now you understand why red worms clump together. It is their way to reproduce. An adult worm will lay worm cocoons every 2 weeks. They are several worms in each cocoons. When the cocoon hatch, it takes around 2 months for a baby worms to reach adulthood.

Come visit our website and post a comment on my blogs. I will also post your question and my answer on our website, so your question will answer other worm growers' curiosity.

WormsWrangler.com

---Loy's reply :

This whole worm thing has me fascinated. I work in a corporate environment. Very uptight and boring. Was never into "green" or anything that went along with it. Then I started watching my kids and what my generation (I'm 45) was leaving for them. I wanted to make a small difference.Then I started heard about CSA's and eating produce grown locally, then heard about farm shares then smelled some worm tea and that was it...my attitudes have changed about life and how we live it and love it.

Loy

When to harvest worm casting

August 27th, 2008

Hi Wormswrangler,

When I add more food to the top tray, the juices drip through to the next trays, making them pretty moist. How do I prevent this from happening, so that the bottom trays are not so moist, or is this supposed to happen? I can add paper, but then that means that the worms just keep composting in that tray, and don't move up to the next level, so I never get a chance to empty out the bottom trays.

Also since there is supposed to be a thin cloth layer in the bottom tray, once that is emptied, I am assuming I have to empty one of the other trays into that bottom tray, so that the worms don't fall through the holes into the liquid tray. Or do you have any other suggestions on how to do this?

And lastly the only things that seem to take an age for them to digest is eggshells. Should I wait until those are all processed before removing the compost?

Many thanks for you help, am really enjoying composting all my leftovers, just wish they would eat faster!!

Thanks
Judy

---------------------------

Hi Judy,

First, let's talk about the weed barrier cloth. The weed barrier should be in between your Liquid Collection Tray and your first tray, i.e. the weed barrier is not in the bottom tray, but on top of the Liquid Collection Tray and under the bottom tray. Now we suggest to everyone to also put a weed barrier between the roof and the top tray. This way the worms are trapped. It can be anything beside a weed barrier cloth. Some have even used old window screen. I tried that too and it works. Anything that can allow the moisture to drip through.

When you see that your worms have migrated away from a tray is when the casting is ready. Your casting might be too moist for you. If so, here is an option to harvest dry worm casting from your worm farm. If you want real dry worm casting, take your bottom tray when the food is all composted and put it on top of the top tray that is filled so it touches the bedding of the top tray. Make sure there is food in the trays below. The top tray will eventually dry out as the worms will no longer find food in it. Worms go up and down. If the food is abundant in your second or third tray, the worms will finish composting the top tray (your 4th tray for example) and will migrate down when all the compost is complete. The moisture in the top tray will evaporate and drip down.

If it gets very hot, the worms will seek the wettest part of your farm. Use tons of coconut coir. It absorb moisture and worms love it. Coconut coir is food. Five bricks of coconut coir will last you over a year. $ 11.95 + shipping.

As for egg shells, in your case, you may want to only feed a certain tray of egg shells. Egg shells give grit to the worms so they can break down the food as they compost. Worms also love to lay their cocoons in eggs shells.

Judy, Thank You for composting with worms. There are millions of us internationally who care so much about the planet we live on, we are pitching as a collective army, an army of worms and humans joining hands.

Go Judy Go !

www.wormswrangler.com

How many worms do I start with

A: There is no absolute answer to how many worms your should start with. The worm bin will hold up to 10 lbs of worms. The starting quantity depends on whether you want to jump start right into composting materials. Or to spend the first few months growing worms. The less worms you start with, the less material that you can compost. On the flipside, the more worms you have (meaning a full house) the less multiplying the worms will do. Quite a dynamic equation.

Plastic vs wood worm bins.

Q: Noticed someone selling cedar wood worm composters on ebay...they said plastic is not good?
A: Yes, I am aware of the cedar bins. Most is just a sales pitch. Plastic is plastic. Wood is wood. Plastic does not break down or hold bad bacteria like wood does. Both work well. Our plastic bin is easier to move and handle because it is lighter. Some wood might breath more than plastic (that is a plus and minus?). I can assure you that we have sold many thousands worldwide for every one of the wood bins sold.