It's been raining so hard I haven't been able to do any gardening, so instead I made a worm bin! There's supposedly 50 worms in there right now. I didn't actually count when I added them. Not too many, but I thought I'd start small (also I'm being cheap). Hopefully they'll multiply quickly. The instructions for building the bin are available online from the WSU extension. (Thanks Yoonjo for the link!) It was SOOO easy.
In addition to the newspaper bedding, I threw in a scoop of dirt and some aged hay I had available. Then I put in a first meal of wilted cabbage leaves. I hope they like it! I've had them for 24 hours and have already peeked inside a dozen times. I don't think they particularly like my hovering, but I'm just so curious how they're doing!
I also went outside in the rain to see if I could collect some additional wild worms. There were plenty hanging out around my outdoor compost bin. But after I collected a few, I decided I'd rather just leave them to do their business in the yard. They were born free after all. Besides, 50 seems like a decent number to start with in the bin. I'll just feed them slowly for a while.
Worm castings, hooray!!!
-J
Nice!! Make sure you add a source of calcium like crushed eggshells with their feed to get them to start reproducing and to keep the pH neutral. Once they get settled, start over feeding them to get them to reproduce. You'll have a gazillion worms in no time! Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI'll start putting in eggshells right away. I just gave them a second meal today of lettuce and I saw them all wriggling around happily. I'll give them a big fat Xmas meal tomorrow too. Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteI started with about 50 worms too. These days, I try to keep my bin small so that even if I don't have a lot of worms, I can easily find them when I want to. That's important to me because I fiddle around with the bins about 10 times a day!
ReplyDeleteIt is really addictive checking in on worms! I think I really need to start leaving them alone. They must be exhausted by running from me every time I poke my head in.
ReplyDeleteIt's totally addictive! It took me a year to leave them alone, well, I did wash my worms... if that's not obsessive! Checked my worms today and my second bin is full of eggs and almost ready to harvest the castings!! I really need a garden.
ReplyDeleteOr you can just mail me your worm castings, hehe.
ReplyDeleteI realized I didn't even know what worm eggs look like so I just googled it. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for those. Do you usually pull those out when you harvest castings and put them back in the bin?
I generally do although it's pretty time consuming to pick all of them out since they are pretty tiny. I don't think most people do when they harvest. I just feel weird not saving them, you know? I could send you some castings if you want. My other bin will probably be ready to harvest in a couple of weeks. I usually end up with about 5 to 10 lbs. of castings! Let me know if you really want some!
ReplyDeleteOh, dang, I really wish you still lived in CA because I would totally take you up on the offer if you weren't so far away. I'll try to pick out and save the eggs. Especially since I'm trying to build up my numbers because I started small. I guess it's just another reason to bust out the Optivisor!
ReplyDeleteI wish I was still in CA, too. :-( Maybe I'll be back some day. Who knows!! Oooo, I should get an Optivisor!
ReplyDeleteI know everyone wants to see you back in CA!
ReplyDeleteI've really been thinking about getting an Optivisor of my own just to have around the house so I don't have to borrow my work one. It's not too expensive depending on the seller:
http://www.amazon.com/Donegan-OptiVisor-Headband-Magnifier-Magnification/dp/B0015IN8J6
If I had the money to move back to CA, I would pack up my worms and stuff and move right now!! I feel like it was such a mistake to leave. Anyway... maybe in the new year some miracle will happen and I will be able to afford an Optivisor and find a job back in Los Angeles!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you will find your way back soon! I really think with finding work the old saying really rings true, "where there's a will there's a way."
ReplyDeleteWe should start a worm club when you get back!
A worm club!! That would be so awesome!! Hey, I just started a blog (a new year thing), is it alright to add your blogs to my fave sites? BTW, my blog is: you-n-jo.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteCheers and Happy New Year!
Done! You are in the stuff we like!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!!!
Cool! Thanks! I added your blog to my Good stuff as well!
ReplyDelete