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I tried to reply to the existing thread but for some reason my message wouldn't appear.
I think your worms stories and experiments are totally facinating. Never boring. I hope you keep experimenting and keep reporting your findings to the rest of us.
I have pill bugs in one of my compost bins and I am surprised what a good job they are doing. I am trying to attract worms to the bin but so far only pill bugs.
MarshallAge and treachery will always overcome youth and skill
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glowery
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 127
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/12 00:55Thanks Marshall I dumped those light grayish worms since I didn't know what they were and did not know if they would live in captivity. I just put them back where they were.
If it dries up more this weekend, since we have had quite a bit more rain, I will check the manure piles again, closer to the top of the pile, and see what I can find.
I have my ENCs but I wouldn't mind starting some red worms also.
GlendaGlenda
I always wanted to be somebody; I guess I should have been more specific.
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Marshall
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 138
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/12 08:47I am trying to attract some native worms to my garden by laying kitchen scraps under the mulch. I did it once before but it took ages. It's been dry here for years and we are still on water restrictions so I can't get it as damp as I would like.Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill
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glowery
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 127
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/12 09:07Marshall I would send you some of our rain right now if I could I would like to see a little sun for a few days.
Where I live in South Central Missouri with the under-abundance of topsoil and the over-abundance of spacers (rocks ) it has been said we are always just 2 weeks away from a drought at any given time.
A while back I read an article about "Lasagna Gardening", In this article it said to wet a place on the ground where you wanted to plant, lay several sheets of newpaper on top of each other(at least 6)where you wet the round. Now wet this newpaper, and keep it damp. This is supposed to kill out the grass under the paper and as the paper decomposes and softens you should be able to just dig a hole through this and plant what ever you want to plant and the paper surrounding the plant acts as mulch to prevent weeds.(I use shredded paper in my veggie containers for mulch)
Well I was thinking, knowing how worms love newspaper, maybe this might be a faster way to bring up worms as it is damp and dark under the paper at all times and the paper will aid in keeping the ground underneath damp, so in the long run you may use less water.
Just a thought,
GlendaGlenda
I always wanted to be somebody; I guess I should have been more specific.
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CarolV
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 44
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/12 09:34Here in east Ks, putting anything flat on the ground and keeping it moist will bring the big night crawlers up. They love cardboard, but rocks, wood, anything will work. After a summer, a discarded box will be partially eaten and worms will be in any area that has layers of the box touching. Just have to keep them wet. The same for piles of leaves that are left alone.
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Marshall
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 138
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/12 09:40Glenda,
Topsoil here varies from place to place. In the wheat fields strong hot winds sometimes blow the topsoil into the sky then off to the cities. Yet parts of Tasmania have topsoil three feet deep.
Thanks for the tip on Lasagna gardening. It's probably a sound method but my garden is already mulched to about 8 inches. I have mostly native plants, and they survive very well with little water but that's a little too dry for worms at the moment.
I don't use that glossy junk mail type paper for the worms but I suppose it's ok for compost bins.
Regards, MarshallAge and treachery will always overcome youth and skill
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glowery
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 127
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/12 10:02I don't use the glossy stuff either with the worms. I have read here on the forum that that the glossy stuff takes quite a while to break down.
glendaGlenda
I always wanted to be somebody; I guess I should have been more specific.
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Marshall
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 138
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/12 19:45CarolIV,
You are lucky having soil and worms at call. We have been in drought for so long that the moisture and worms are down deep. I am trying to populate a small area.
Will save the glossy paper for the recyclers I think.
MarshallAge and treachery will always overcome youth and skill
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CarolV
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 44
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/13 02:20Marshall,
I also know what no rain is like. We either have to much or not enough rain. It can get really dry for long lengths of time here.
Maybe you can put some plastic over your worm bin out side. Over just the organic stuff you put on the ground or over the whole bin. If over the whole bin, punch enough holes in it for some air exchange, but that will still help keep moisture on your organic material, and will conserve water. I have found worms under and in plastic bags that are on the ground for any length of time also. (the house in town had a wind funnel that blew all kind of stuff into my back yard) Yuk!
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Marshall
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 138
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/13 10:36Carol,
I might do as you say. I can dig over an area a few feet square and put some food down. This is only to attract a few local worms, not my composting ones. I keep those inside.
I am going to approach a fruit and vegie shop soon and see if I can get some left over produce. I haven't got enough composting worms to eat much but I can use the excess on the local worms. (when and if)
Regards, MarshallAge and treachery will always overcome youth and skill
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CarolV
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 44
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/13 12:28While you are out looking for worm goodies, try a coffee shop for coffee grounds. Have a small bucket with you so if they are willing to save them you will have something to leave for them to put them in. With a little more luck, they might add the veggie scrapes if they serve food also.
A friend sometimes finds a store that will let her have old produce. Her dtr gets first pick for her ducks and anything that is left goes to my worms. It works. My largest bin still has a bunch of worms hanging out at the last "dump" site.
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WormMainea
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 149
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/13 19:11Carol's right, a local grocery is a great place to get old fruit and veggies. You'll likely find that your five gallon bucket will be quickly filled for free while you shop.WormMainea.com
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Marshall
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 138
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/13 20:11Thankyou both,
I have a coffee shop already. It is a health food shop that serves organic coffee (nothing too good for my herd)it's only a small shop but I get a couple of kilos every two weeks. That's a lot more than I can use at the moment and have been adding it to my compost bins.
I have set up a crock like gnosnhoj and going to try his method instead of freeze and chop. I have an area under the house where a bit of smell isn't going to matter a lot.
I am still wondering to what numbers my worms will reach, and wondering also how much they will eat. They are settling in well and have been eating like mad.
All the best, MarshallAge and treachery will always overcome youth and skill
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Marshall
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 138
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/15 03:42I got a couple of boxes of scraps from a fruit & vegetable shop. A lot of lettuce leaves and cauliflower leaves.
I went to a couple of supermarkets as well. Bi Lo has a policy of not giving away scraps because of the risk of being sued if the scraps are eaten and someone gets sick.
Foodland Supermarket leaves the scraps in boxes at the back of the shop for people to help themselves. Apparently you have to be quick though because the demand for scraps is greater than I imagined.
I am surprised at this. I imagined tons of greens going into landfill.
MarshallAge and treachery will always overcome youth and skill
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glowery
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 127
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/15 06:51Marshall,
I live in a rural area and scraps from the food markets are really at a premium because of the people around here who raise hogs. Plus the fact that not all stores or eating establishments will allow you to take the scraps. Those that do have regulars that pick up the scraps on preset days.
Being it is just my husband at home now, I may not always have the amount of scraps I need so I have asked my daughters to save their veggie scraps in zip lock bags and to bring them to me when ever they visit. I will just freeze the overage and thaw and use it as I need it.
glendaGlenda
I always wanted to be somebody; I guess I should have been more specific.
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Marshall
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 138
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/15 07:18Glenda,
I was talking to someone in another state who is finding it difficult also. He said contractors and farmers are collecting the scraps from his town to feed pigs.... similar to your experience. I am going to keep looking around.
One of my neighbours is saving the scraps for me. I am not sure if I want to ask the whole street but I wish I could. I might just ask one or two.
MarshallAge and treachery will always overcome youth and skill
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CarolV
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 44
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/15 09:29Use the barter system: Offer some worms for fishing or even help set up a bin for a large family with kids in exchange for their scraps.
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Marshall
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 138
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/16 02:08Carol,
That's a good idea. There is a family nearby I could try ... they seem a bit green to me.
MarshallAge and treachery will always overcome youth and skill
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glowery
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 127
Re:It's all interesting - 2006/05/16 07:33It never hurts to ask Marshall. Invite them over to look at your set up. You never know what interest you may generate.
GlendaGlenda
I always wanted to be somebody; I guess I should have been more specific.
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New Forum Topics 
I dumped those light grayish worms since I didn't know what they were and did not know if they would live in captivity. I just put them back where they were.
) it has been said we are always just 2 weeks away from a drought at any given time.
