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Boardwalk :: Forum List Six (6) New Worm Digest Forums 1) General Earthworm Discussion Forum
earthmuffins
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A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 6
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 Bin 1 mo. old and some questions - 2006/07/15 20:02 Ugh! I just typed out a post then forgot to post it so here goes again! Our bin is about a month old and doing well. Lots of babies and lots of cocoons. So I have some new questions:
* Should I be stirring the entire depth of the bin? If so, how often?
* I don't think I added enough bedding in the beginning and now its down to a depth of about 4 inches. Its not fully composted yet (of course) but I feel like I should add some more bedding to give the worms more depth. What do you think? And if I should add more bedding, how should I do it and how much? It just seems like their bin is pretty shallow now.
Looking forward to learning from you pros ~Earthmuffins
A God-seekin', homeschoolin', worm-growin' family!!!
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redhen
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A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 684
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 Re:Bin 1 mo. old and some questions - 2006/07/16 11:38 * Should I be stirring the entire depth of the bin? If so, how often?
Unless there is a problem,(smell, too wet etc.), there is no need to stir the bin at all. The worms are in charge of that.

I don't think I added enough bedding in the beginning and now its down to a depth of about 4 inches. Its not fully composted yet (of course) but I feel like I should add some more bedding to give the worms more depth. What do you think? And if I should add more bedding, how should I do it and how much? It just seems like their bin is pretty shallow now If so, how often?

You don't say what you are using for bedding or even what kind of bin you have them in, but I will take a shot at this anyway.
In my plastic tote-type bins I use shredded newspaper/junk mail. The worms will eat that bedding and it will need to be added to, (I add new bedding weekly sometimes). I keep a good 3" layer of shredded paper on top of the food added. Don't worry about the bottom as that will become compost. Just add new bedding to the top as needed.

Post edited by: redhen, at: 2006/07/16 11:43 Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.
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Judy
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A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 40
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 Re:Bin 1 mo. old and some questions - 2006/07/16 12:04 I use the same methods. Plus, last summer, to avoid heating in the bin, I began feeding on top of the bedding, but under the shredded paper lid. The worms really began to thrive and my feeding work was cut.

The castings will become part of the bedding mass and become deeper. I read somewhere that this shouldn't get too deep. Last year, I harvested the plastic bins and started them in 2-3 inches of peat. That lasted until this spring when I could harvest again.

At a month, you are still intrigued and enfatuated with your bins. This is great. You are learning a lot about what your worms need. Some of the checking and turning is justified. When you get tired of it, they will still work. When Life Gives You Scraps, Make A Quilt.
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earthmuffins
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A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 6
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 Re:Bin 1 mo. old and some questions - 2006/07/16 14:19 Thanks for the tidbits of wisdom! My bin is in a big metal cow trough and my bedding is moist newspaper. Maybe I'll just go ahead and add a few inches of bedding on top of what I already have. Even though my first bin is several months old, this 'cow trough' bin started with 2,000 worms and is my first 'official' bin so yes, lots of enthusiasm and infatuation over this bin! Again, thanks for the info! ~Earthmuffins
A God-seekin', homeschoolin', worm-growin' family!!!
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glowery
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A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 127
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 Re:Bin 1 mo. old and some questions - 2006/07/19 10:54 Raising worms really becomes addictive You get a few strange looks and comments when your friends find out you are raising worms, but that doesn't stop them from wanting to know when you will have bait available I raise the ENC's for that purpose along with being able to harvest the castings. Glenda

I always wanted to be somebody; I guess I should have been more specific.
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sundance creek
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A Fertile Cocoon
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 Re:Bin 1 mo. old and some questions - 2006/08/07 11:57 what is ENC?

Gord
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wtman
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A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 33
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 Re:Bin 1 mo. old and some questions - 2006/08/07 16:47 european nite crawlers
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Boardwalk :: Forum List Six (6) New Worm Digest Forums 1) General Earthworm Discussion Forum

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