Worm Digest - Re:Darn Worms! Suicidal!

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1) General Earthworm Discussion Forum

babalubird

User

A Hatchling Earthworm

Posts: 17

Darn Worms! Suicidal! - 2008/05/29 14:44 OK, today for first time, I see evidence the little guys may not all be happy with their home I've provided. It's two tubs 18" X 36" or so, width and length, about 14" material accumulated now in bottom, leaving a way high wall for them to have to scale. Probably close to two feet. I have alumium screen wire tops that I twist and squeeze around the tops to try to make them secure as possible.

The tubs are slightly tilted, maybe 10 degrees or less, so that the valuable "worm tea" drains out a one-inch hole at the end of each tub. Those drain holes are also covered with aluminum screen wire as well as a ring stuffed full of river rock above that to maximize drainage.

We are beginning our very hot weather here now, yet the tubs, sitting in heavy shade all day, seem to stay very cool. Fluffing the bedding today, I was amazed at how cool the soil felt through my platex gloves.

Nevertheless, for the first time, I saw a number of dead worms, drowned in the worm tea catcher. How in the world they got out, I can't imagine! Since I got them about two weeks ago, we had our first rain storm. I had put the plastic tops to the tubs over the screen, a brick between the two to keep them from closing up the tubs completely. I think they reflected enough rain. Is this the "rain" migration some of you mention? Gee! How do you keep them from getting out?

Connie

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redhen

User

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 684

Re:Darn Worms! Suicidal! - 2008/05/29 16:46 If the conditions are correct the worms do not leave. They will only crawl when something is wrong.
How much food, how many worms,and what is the moisture like?
That drainage in the bottom should not be very much at all. (It is not "tea" just drainage.) Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.

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Marshall

User

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 138

Re:Darn Worms! Suicidal! - 2008/06/01 19:21 redhen wrote:

That drainage in the bottom should not be very much at all. (It is not "tea" just drainage.)

Hello Susan

I was watching a gardening type program yesterday where they included a worm bin in a garden makeover. They showed the leachant coming out of the spigot and called it "valuable worm tea"

We are up against worm bin manufacturers, who would appear to be the experts, giving people this wrong information.

Marshall Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill

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Paratrooper

User

A Mature Breeder Earthworm

Posts: 77

Re:Darn Worms! Suicidal! - 2008/06/02 01:13 It looks like it's time for me to add to the confusion . When The Garden Guy on Channel 3 gave his "worm pitch" he included a little tid bit that I have seen before . He showed a tub that had dark liquid in it from which he extracted a bunch of vermicompost encased in an old stocking that had been sitting for (IIRC) 24 hours . He called this liquid "worm tea" and extolled it's virtues for helping plants and veggies . I have heard/seen this with various kinds of manure and I think it's like a ladder . This example is probably worthwhile when held up for comparison with plain old water but is nothing like the mix from the aerator in a bucket with some additives . One is easy and is "kinda" good and the second albeit a bit more time consuming yields far greater rewards .My own professional opinion is an unqualified I DUNNO . Tom
Kingman Arizona

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avidwormer
User

A Juvenile Earthworm

Posts: 38

Re:Darn Worms! Suicidal! - 2008/06/02 17:27 I'm really glad I read this thread. I've been selling Worm Factory bins and have advertised that the spigot allows for the collection of "worm tea." That's why I love this forum. I've been misinforming people and I wouldn't have known it, if I hadn't read this thread.

Can anyone recommend a link for good instructions for making the "actual" worm tea (a.k.a. with the bubbler etc.)?

I'm guessing that any kind of stream from the spigot should indicate too much water is being added to the bin? Is that correct? Avidwormer

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gnosnhoj

User

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 544

Re:Darn Worms! Suicidal! - 2008/06/02 18:45 avidwormer wrote:
Can anyone recommend a link for good instructions for making the "actual" worm tea (a.k.a. with the bubbler etc.)?
Try this'un:
http://www.deuleysown.com/how%20to%20make%20compost%20teamaker/how%20to%20make%20your%20own% 20teamaker.htm
I use a loose quart of vc to 4g de-chlorinated (bubbled for a couple hours) tap water and add ~2oz of unsulfered molasses.

I'm guessing that any kind of stream from the spigot should indicate too much water is being added to the bin? Is that correct?
'zakly.

Post edited by: gnosnhoj, at: 2008/06/02 18:51 Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY

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avidwormer
User

A Juvenile Earthworm

Posts: 38

Re:Darn Worms! Suicidal! - 2008/06/02 20:43 Thanks Gary. I'll start setting up tomorrow. Avidwormer

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