Worms or No Worms that is the question.

Now most of you who have read and or seen my You Tube videos know I have raised worms for composting. Unfortunately over the last year they have been dying off little by little. I have found myself in a spot where I need to ask do I replace the worms I have lost of just do with out? So I had to do some investigating as to why the worms dyed. The only thing that I can come up with for any kind of good or descant answer is that the tap water that I have here is bad for the worms. So If I am to get more worms I will need to filter the water. I also think that there might be some rodents eating some of the worms but I believe that the rodents are doing minimal damage. Now for the big point is the cost of replacement, worms are going for about $90.00 for 5 pounds that comes out to just about $18.00 per pound. If they live than all will be good, if they dye off than not so much.
I am thinking that I will be buying more worms in March or April as it worms up out side and the worms have a better chance of making it. I will keep you posted on how that is going and were I am in the process.
The benefits of using worms for composting far out weights not having and using the casting in the garden. I have used the castings to make a tea out of and used it as a spray on plants as an insecticide (I have seen it kill gnats and hard shelled insects) I use it as a liquid fertilizer and the castings as a soil amendment. I also use the worms to compost my trash. Such as coffee, coffee filters, tea and tea bags, vegetable waste, all kinds of paper products, I even will at times get manure and throw it in as a little treat for the worms. So there is some of the things I have been thinking of, I will be blogging more on worms and how to raise them, and some of the down falls.
If you are in the same situation as I am or if you have been thinking about getting in to worms stay posted for a lot of great information on worms.



Till Next Time

Happy Worming

Worm Bin Outdoors

I installed another compost box in the garden. It is 4' x 2' x 2' made of ¾” untreated plywood.
I buried the box 2' deep, by burring the box it will insulate it so the worms don't freeze in the winter or get to hot in the summer. Using worms in your compost bin will help speed up the compost process and you don't have to turn the bin every other day or so. Worms will eat ½ there weight every 24 hours and will double there numbers every 60 to 90 days. Worms will eat old bread, vegetable scraps, manure, paper, grass clippings and leafs. Don't feed your worms any meat, fats or pet faeces. Composting with worms can cut your wast to the street down up to 95% a week and you will have the best soil amendment on your block. Just add your compost to your garden and soon you will have the best garden around. You can see the video on the worm box on you tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtFYwxSOeLM

Till Next time.



Happy Gardening / Composting