Wiggle Worm
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A Fertile Cocoon
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Newbie with Question - 2005/11/27 11:58
Hello! I'm new to the forum, but I've raised earthworms on and off for 30 years. It was a shock when I realized that! My question is this: Is there any reason to bring in new worms to my bin to vary the "genetic pool"? Is there any danger of inbreeding problems? I have a Worm Factory bin, and what I call a "worm annex" (a 18 gallon tub) for the extra stuff that takes longer to break down. Thanks in advance for your replies!
Frances
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Kuznles
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/01 00:37
If you have been dealing with the same worms for 30 years with no problems I think you have already aswered your question. I have only been raising worms commercially for 6 years and as a hobby for a year or 2 before that and have never had any problems with in breeding.
KuznLes
Kountrykuznworms.com |
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redhen
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/01 09:04
Thought I would send you this link about this subject at GardenWeb.com I think Kelly Slocum is knowledgeable and balanced in her posts. I wish she would register here but for those of you who do not know her posts, try going to Garden Web and type in "Kelly Slocum posts" in the search and you will find some very interesting. stuff.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/verm/msg111522147253.html
Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
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Wiggle Worm
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A Fertile Cocoon
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/01 21:03
Susan, thank you so much for the link! I really was curious!
Frances
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Maureen
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/01 23:14
Hi Frances,
I'm totally impressed that you have been raising worms for 30 years! Did you start with the red wigglers? What part of the country are you in? Are your worms inside or outside? I'm a newbie too as far as the raising of the worms but I was wondering how many times you've had to take worms out for new homes as don't they get procreate so much that they'd get too crowded?
Glad to have you on the forum!
Maureen
And up from the ground came a bigger bunch of plants, cuz worms were under there, Eisenia Fetidas, Redworms, Brewing Tea, chemical free, BLACK GOLD |
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redhen
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/02 08:20
Just an FYI Maureen..A worm bin will not get overcrowded, as the population self limits itself, meaning, it grows to the size of the space and to the food available.
Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
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Maureen
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/02 15:54
I see...
But, if the worms are happy and their population is growing to the size and food allotted, if they are
given more room, or new homes and more food, they will need to be rehoused right?
If they are not given more room, are they just not procreating?
Zorba printed a correction to WD#29 that had a little ruler showing that if one starts with 100# of worms, they could be doubled and split every 3 months.
He wrote that by the 2nd year, 1/2 the stock could be sold every 3 months. That does sound like a lot of work, and muscle as that's 800# of worms to be sold starting with month 13.
In your experience Suzie RedHen, what's been your rule
of thumb?
Thank you in advance for your response!
Maureen GreenChick
And up from the ground came a bigger bunch of plants, cuz worms were under there, Eisenia Fetidas, Redworms, Brewing Tea, chemical free, BLACK GOLD |
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Wiggle Worm
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A Fertile Cocoon
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/02 16:03
Hello, Les: Thanks for responding! I think I wasn't clear about my "worm history". I've raised worms on and off for 30 years, meaning there were some times when I didn't have any worms. The batch I have right now I've had at least 6 years, maybe longer. It's a small closed system, nothing commercial. I wasn't worried, since I have plenty of worms and they look healthy. I was just curious. I was glad to see from Susan's link that someone else had asked the same question. I do think, though, that I'd like to get some worms from another grower or the bait shop just for the fun of mixing things up a bit.
Frances
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Wiggle Worm
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/02 16:21
Hi, Maureen: I live in California, I've always used red wigglers, and they've never overrun my bins (see Susan's comment). My bins are outside under an awning, and I've never had a problem with freezing temperatures. I'm using a "Worm Factory" that someone gave me years ago. I've given lots of worms to friends to start their bins, some stay in the castings that go in my garden, and otherwise they're just very well behaved! Sometimes I give them too much to eat, the bin gets indigestion, and so I back off feeding them for a while. I have a "worm annex", a 18 - 24 gallon plastic tub to take the overflow. Between the bins and the tub, I take care of all of my kitchen scraps and part of my garden waste. I have a Liquidambar tree that provides leaves for bedding. I save the leaves in plastic bags and they last until the next fall. I hope you enjoy your worms as much as I have enjoyed mine!
Frances
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redhen
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/02 16:44
(Suzie RedHen..Maureen GreenChick.. Thanks for the smile!)Maureen..If you would want to grow your worm population, you would have to either add more space, or make a new bin and divide your population. I have done this way too may times, and that is why I have 16 plastic bins now. The last bins I have built are 4'X4', in contact with the ground, made out of stacked cinderblocks. That gives me 16 sq ft of surface area. Just for a rule of thumb think of 1lb of worms per square foot. Seems the reproduction does slow (to stop) when a bin reaches capacity. If you have ever had a goldfish, you know that a goldfish will grow to the size of it's container. (Get a bigger bowl..get a bigger fish). My rubbermaid, 10 gallon totes rock and roll with 2 lbs of worms. They do okay with 3 lbs but start to not process as well with more. As the worms are surface feeders, I think, the more space for worms to belly up to the bar the better.
Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
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Kuznles
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/05 01:25
Yep, Susan is correct, but I think she means 1 pound of worms for each square foot of surface area. I use 2X4 bins above ground and double and sometimes triple stacked, I try not to let the bins have more than 6 pounds of worms before splitting them. Sometimes in the early spring they will have 8 to 10 pounds if I run out of space, but when the spring sales pick up it takes care of that problem. I am running 90 bins now, and that will be my limit. I am working 6 days a week most of the time to keep up with the rebedding, paper shredding and maintenance. I am also 68 years old so I don't want my bus. to get any bigger.
KuznLes
Kountrykuznworms.com |
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redhen
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/05 07:56
Thanks Les..That is what I meant to say. Gosh Les..I got worn out just thinking about keeping up with that many bins When I had made 15, I decided on the 2- 16 sq ft cinderblock bins. I can put anything in them. They do not need to be monitored, (nearly), at all. I will just keep pulling from those bins and add to my plastic bins as they are sold. I may end up with a few more plastic bins, when spring gets here...but 90..I bow down to your energy!
Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth. |
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Kuznles
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/06 01:21
I have my bins in green houses Susan, that way I can work on them rain or shine. I can sort 4 bins per day without working too hard and if needs be, I have done 8. I usualy spend about 1/2 day per week just shredding things for bedding. I dump all my bins and rebed the worms every 60 days during spring and summer, but have just finished doing the bins and will not do them again until late Feb or early March. They are not that active during the winter so 3 months is not to long.
I am afraid that having them outdoors as you do would be more shoveling than I do now. But then, maybe the bedding would not have to be redone as often, I don't know. This is just the way I have been doing it and it has worked out well for me.
KuznLes
Kountrykuznworms.com |
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Maureen
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/06 17:39
Thanks for all the info, ya'll. Since I just have a single COW, I'll need to save your details for when I can get into it more. I'll need a lot of help...
A greenhouse sounds ideal. Awnings in California sound great too.
It seems that it's the process more than the results that have to be enjoyed...
I kind of prefer to engage with four legged creatures
more than the wigglies, although they are so innocent and vulnerable!
Maureen 
And up from the ground came a bigger bunch of plants, cuz worms were under there, Eisenia Fetidas, Redworms, Brewing Tea, chemical free, BLACK GOLD |
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Kuznles
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2005/12/08 00:38
Just enjoy them Maureen and lots of luck to you. The only problem with 4 legged critters is that you can't neglect them for a week, with worms, you can.
KuznLes
Kountrykuznworms.com |
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wellsworms
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2006/03/01 16:31
i'm finding it very hard to just let them be any hints
FEED IT TO THE WORMS
WELLS,vermont
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redhen
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Re:Newbie with Question - 2006/03/01 17:47
I know many will tell you to leave them alone..(many of them have been vermicomposting for some time now). As you are new to this, I think looking in your bin and poking around is a good thing. It's fun and you get to observe your bin and your worms. I think observation is what it's all about, if you want to learn and be successful.
Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth. |
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