wormnwomn
User
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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