galactic_worm
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A Fertile Cocoon
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Colored newspaper? - 2008/06/06 17:54
Just wondering: Is colored newspaper okay to use? It's not glossy. It's not colored paper. Just regular ol' newspaper w/some colored photos.
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redhen
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/06/06 21:37
Most all newspapers are printed with soy ink these days.
If you are concerned, call your local paper and ask.
I use all my newspaper and junk mail, just no shiny inserts or magazines
Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth. |
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gnosnhoj
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/06/06 21:54
redhen wrote:
I use all my newspaper and junk mail, just no shiny inserts or magazines
Seconded. Have for most of 2 years now.
I do admit to re-reading the old Sunday comics when I'm shredding though  .
Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY |
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Paratrooper
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A Mature Breeder Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/06/06 22:50
I called my local newspaper and found some help from the first person I spoke with . The nice lady that answers the phone there . She asked for my question so she could better direct me . When I asked about the ink she had the answer . It seems that she was concerned since she uses the newspaper for her cat which BTW has diabetes . She had checked herself and was assured that it was ALL soy ink .I have checked with the folks that print the other throw away rags and found that they also use soy ink . I even called General Mills about the ink on their cereal boxes and was told (when they called back) that they use food grade ink which have to think is good .
I do have one more question which one of you might be able to help with . How about the pure white pizza boxes . I would wonder if they are bleached white . Anyone have experience with them ?
Tom
Kingman Arizona |
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gnosnhoj
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/06/07 09:58
I shred and use everything from junk mail to newspaper to cardboard boxes of all types; pizza boxes, shipping boxes, 12pk containers yadda yadda. I just make sure to get all the tape / plastic off first.
Some of it takes longer to break down, of course, but it all does disappear eventually.
Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY |
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S_Merlo
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A Hatchling Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/07/01 15:38
I called my local newspaper office, and was told that the ink used for colored photos and such was a toxic, irritant ink. Nobody could tell me if the ink was soy- or petroleum-based, or what it is.
Fortunately, I haven't purchased my wormies yet, as I'd rather get the bin set up first. But, how can I find out if my newspapers are safe for a worm bin? Should I err on the safe side, and not use the newspaper? If so,I may as well cancel my subscription... there's no real news in this hick-town 
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gnosnhoj
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/07/01 19:32
S_Merlo wrote:
Should I err on the safe side...
Always.
If your local paper folks can't or won't tell you what they're sending to your house every day, you might ask if they outsource the printing and if so contact those folks for info.
Another option would be a little test bin with the suspect paper and a few worms.
Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY |
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S_Merlo
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A Hatchling Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/07/01 21:05
Thanks, Gary. I made a few more phone calls to our local paper, and made my way up to the general manager. He informed me that our small town printing setup is still behind the times, and that the ink used is not a soybased product. Needless to say, since I can read the same news online on their website, I also cancelled my subscription. I have no need for the toxic inks, 
Anyway, thanks for responding, Gary. I'm waving at you... just look south toward Tennessee...  
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gnosnhoj
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/07/01 22:09
Howdy, neighbor  .
It's a shame your newsfolks aren't using the worm-friendly stuff. The l'il fellas do like shredded newspaper.
You might be able to talk them out of their un-inked paper roll ends...
Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY |
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Paratrooper
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A Mature Breeder Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/07/03 21:55
Now I have a question . I seem to be building up paper and cardboard way faster than I need it . Generally speaking,would newspaper or cardboard be better ? Is a mix called for ? Is one head and shoulders above the other ? I have been leaving my little friends alone quite a bit lately . I took a part time job as a guide on The Colorado River by Grand Canyon West . It's a long day . Up at 4 AM out at 5 . Back home at 7:30 PM after all day in 117/118 degrees . Drinking 6 liters of water a day . There's not much time left for the little guys . I can only get to them on week ends . When I do mess with them it's just to throw cantaloupe and watermelon rinds in there . They seem to be happy .
I had to bring them into the house since the temps in the garage were about 90 degrees and they were balled up by the air holes . When fall gets here I will split into 6 bins from 3 . So the bedding question needs to be addressed before then . Thanks .
Tom
Kingman Arizona |
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gnosnhoj
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/07/04 11:20
Hey, Airborne!
Your new job sounds like fun, but seems a lot of hours for "part time". It's a dry heat, right? 
Freeze your CamelBak overnight; as it melts it'll keep you cool during the day.
I like a mix of paper & cardboard (with leaves). Varied breakdown rate, and the different textures keep the bedding aerated a lot better. Paper by itself tends to clump up more IME.
I seem to be building up paper and cardboard way faster than I need it .Hehe. Yepper, I have a few bags in the barn too. I'm gonna work a bunch of it into a new patch of garden this fall.
Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY |
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Paratrooper
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A Mature Breeder Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/07/04 19:07
Roger that Screamin' Eagle . The reason for the tough schedule is that we are about half vets . Marines and AIRBORNE . We seem to be more dependable and responsible . There are no "short" days . I was hired for between 0 and 4 days depending on "wants and needs". Sounds familiar . The 4 seems to be winning more than the 0 . Next week one of the Marines will be off for the whole week (B'day and family from out of town ). So now my schedule is 5 days a week until he comes back .No rest for the wicked .Today was supposed to be relaxing but a buddy from the 82nd wound up broke down in the middle of Northern AZ . To top it off he must have flunked Land Navigation since he was not where he said he was . In his defense all this scrub country looks the same . I managed to get him and all his equipment back home . The worms are making short work of the melon rinds and seem to be happy .
As for the paper/cardboard question I was thinking that cardboard would provide more air and room for movement . Maybe cardboard in the bottom 2/3 and paper for the top 1/3 . I have some more questions but time to go "beddy bye" will be here before I know it . Have a good 4th . AIRBORNE!!!!!
Tom
Kingman Arizona |
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nuismom
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A Fertile Cocoon
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/08/28 22:13
As galatic and S_Merlo ask, I am wondering if you could not use the other publications about town, the penny-saver sorts, real estate mls booklets, and alternative publications that surely would be happy to have you take them off their hands at end of time limit? Also, I work retail and we have tons of boxes, and I take tons of them home and use them for the worms and mostly for starting all sorts of new gardens and under my trees before putting down mulch, after a year, the weeds are smothered out, the soil has many earthworms and I can start in the gardens with minimum backbreaking work. I also go to a store in the area and get the "corrugated" paper that is used to pack their dish ware. Sometimes you have to think inside and outside the box. 
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mikel
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/08/30 20:07
S_Merlo wrote:
Thanks, Gary. I made a few more phone calls to our local paper, and made my way up to the general manager. He informed me that our small town printing setup is still behind the times, and that the ink used is not a soybased product. Needless to say, since I can read the same news online on their website, I also cancelled my subscription. I have no need for the toxic inks,
I have been in the printing industry for over 14 years, most newspaper inks are soy based. However soy based inks are thinner and carry more water in the printing process. I have used it and opted for rubber based ink (petroleum based). If in doubt contact the newspaper, also some farm it out to other printers, get printers name & call them.
I would like to make it clear that I don't know if there are ill effects on the worms if it is not soy based inks.
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gnosnhoj
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Colored newspaper? - 2008/09/04 21:47
nuismom wrote:
penny-saver sorts, real estate mls booklets, and alternative publications...tons of boxes,...for starting all sorts of new gardens...Sometimes you have to think inside and outside the box.
Sorry for all the "...'s", nuismom.
Local adverts - I use 'em all the time.
I work in a big building with lots of different depts - they either call or bring their cardboard to me now.
I do as I think you have: cardboard on dirt, soil & mulch on top. It works:
Of course, they get a lot of vc & avct too .
Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY |
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