debbiebofjc
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A Fertile Cocoon
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I'm a Newbie, do I need to stir up my bin? - 2006/03/03 17:23
Hello, I'm Debbie in Missouri, USA.
I've had my worm bin for less than a year (I don't remember when I started it).
It is a plastic bin, about 18"x24".
My question is, is it necessary or advisable to stir the bin? I'm afraid of disturbing the worms, especially if there are "babies" down in the bottom.
I let mine get to dry lately and most of the worms seem to be hanging out near the bottom. I saw some little tiny ones (they are redworms from the bait shop). I'm not sure I have enough worms in there. It is taking them a long time to process stuff, so maybe I need more worms? They appear to be reproducing (like I said, I saw tiny ones). I sprayed water on it today when I saw that it was a little dry on top. My bedding is mostly newspaper, but I just added some old dry brown leaves from the yard this afternoon (and I intend to spray some more water in there shortly.)
I normally keep a layer of uncut newspaper on top of the bedding to help hold in moisture.
I found some little plants growing in there today. I'm not sure what my 6 year old son gave them that would've sprouted.
Thanks!
Debbie
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redhen
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:I'm a Newbie, do I need to stir up my bin? - 2006/03/03 21:36
Hi Debbie.. It is not necessary to stir yor bin. The worms will do all that for you. I am thinking, if you got your worms from the bait store, you did not get very many.
The "baby worms" you are seeing..Are they white thread-like little worms?
If the system is very dry the worms will go to the wetter bottom.
Let us know what you are seeing and we will try to help.
Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth. |
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debbiebofjc
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A Fertile Cocoon
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Re:I'm a Newbie, do I need to stir up my bin? - 2006/03/06 09:04
Thanks!
The "baby" worms were mostly brown, but some had some white on one end (maybe they are adolescents?).
You are right, I don't have very many worms in there.
Do you think I should get more? or just let them reproduce on their own? I haven't been adding much food, since there are so few to eat it.
I added a bucket of dry brown leaves and sprayed a bunch of water on them to moisten them.
Before that, the bedding was only about 6" deep, but now it is closer to 1' or more I think.
Bottom line is, I still see live worms in there so I must be doing ok. I just need to remember to check them more often so they don't get too dry.
Debbie B
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redhen
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:I'm a Newbie, do I need to stir up my bin? - 2006/03/06 11:10
Debbie..I would only get more worms, if you wanted to speed things up. If you have the time, they will reproduce and fill that bin nicely.
You might find some kind of damp, breathable fabric to cover your bedding, that will keep the moisture in.
Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth. |
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debbiebofjc
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A Fertile Cocoon
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Re:I'm a Newbie, do I need to stir up my bin? - 2006/03/06 11:22
I keep a section of intact newspaper laid over the top (and replace it when it gets too mushy). Is that good enough?
Probably I'll just add a few more worms at a time, and just let them reproduce themselves. I don't really have a need to speed it up at this point.
If my husband takes the kids fishing, I tell him to get redworms from the bait shop so I can put the leftovers in my bin (if they are still alive!).
Thanks for your help!
Debbie
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gnosnhoj
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:I'm a Newbie, do I need to stir up my bin? - 2006/03/07 21:32
Hi, Debbie -
I keep a section of intact newspaper laid over the top (and replace it when it gets too mushy).
I'd just leave that paper there...it's turning into wormie-chow as it breaks down  . If ya want a more solid cover, just add another couple sheets on top.
Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY |
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Judy
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:I'm a Newbie, do I need to stir up my bin? - 2006/03/09 00:09
Debbie, I am worming in Missouri too. My small bins are in the basement.
When my worm beds seem to be getting to dry, I do a couple of things. If it's pretty serious, I dip some of the shredded newspaper I keep on the top into a little cup of water, then put it back onto the bin and let the water run down through.
Sometimes I just dip my fingers into the water and sort of sprinkle it over the shredded paper.
I keep the tops of my bins open with a 'lid' of newspaper. This way the worms can come and go for air and I don't have to have many holes in the bins. When I had redworms, they did well with pocket feeding. Now, I have Euros and they really have thrived with feeding on top of a layer of bedding.
This month makes 5 years of worming for me. Lots of kitchen waste, newspaper and junk mail under the bridge!
When Life Gives You Scraps, Make A Quilt. |
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wormnwomn
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A Fertile Cocoon
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Re:I'm a Newbie, do I need to stir up my bin? - 2006/03/12 18:21
Hi, I'm new here and I hope I'm not going to step on any toes but I have noticed many posts in the worm forums I have read that advise not to turn the worm bin. I have been worm farming for eight years in commercial and in home size bins and I believe that it is absolutely essential that you turn your worm bins if you want to have a healthy worm bin. Yes, the worms crawl in and the worms crawl out, but as they do so they are breaking down a coarse material into a much finer material and that material settles and forces out air on the bottom. By turning your bins you accomplish many things. First, you don't have to guess what is going on in your worm bin. You can see and smell for yourself if the environment is healthy for your worms. Second, you are getting air down into the depths of your worm bin where it is needed both for the worms and for the material that you will later harvest to use on your plants and garden. And third, you help maintain an even moisture level in the top layers of your bin as you turn the drier material into the wetter.
Do not mix the top layers into the bottom layer of your worm bin. When you turn your bin you want to remove the top layer. Get your hands into the bottom layer and turn it to get air down there, (rubber gloves work good for this). While you're in there check how it smells and how wet it is staying. Then put the top layer back on, add your feed, add fresh bedding (I like to top with a thick layer of shredded newspaper, it acts like a blanket and I can just pull it back and be able to see what's going on, it's also easy to keep moist) Try this and see if your worms aren't happy.
Happy worming,
Christy
www.motherearthsfarm.com
Where good things come from for the body and soil.
Christy
www.motherearthsfarm.com
Where good things come from for the body and soil. |
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