Using Red Wigglers for Making Vermicompost

Out of all the worm specie only a few are suitable to use in composting bins. The red wiggler (Eisenia) is the most popular as it has the characteristics useful to breading and growing worms. It is claimed that they will eat between 50% to 100% of their weight a day. With their hearty appetites they then leave behind more castings. Their activity is usually within 6 inches of the surface. This makes feeding the worms and harvesting the castings a simple process.

Another reason the Red Wiggler is a popular composting worm is because they reproduce faster than many of the specie. Since each worm is both male and female any two worms of the specie can mate. How they decide the role each one should play I do not know. Maybe its who surprises who.

As the earthworms tunnel through the soil, the soil from the tunnel passes through their digestive system scavenging organic material and bacteria. The worm castings are of a ph that most plants thrive on (slightly basic -ph a little above 7). They contain nutrients from the organic material in the soil and a lot of bacteria. If in their tunneling the worms encounter harmful bacteria, by the time it passes through the worm's digestive system it becomes beneficial bacteria. As an added benefit the worm castings are coated with a mucus membrane enabling them to hold moisture and slowly release nutrients into the soil.

One of the considerations of having your own worm bin is to duplicate the living and growing conditions they would thrive on in the open soil. Although there is a wide range of materials that can be used in the bin worms do have their preferences. Bin moisture is essential. This is one of the most important conditions to control. To little moisture will make tunneling through the bin difficult for the worms and to much moisture will eliminate any oxygen from the bin and the worms cannot live. Two much water will also will tend to putrefy the bin materials and cause a smell.

Many worm growers suggest using a moisture meter to determine the correct moisture content. Especially until one develops a feel for the correct moisture content. Most of the worm farms selling worms and equipment tout how easy it is to raise worms. It really is easy once you figure out what to do and be consistent doing it. It is not unusual to lose the first batch of worms while you figure out what to do.

Bin can be constructed from a wide range of materials. Avoid having treated wood in contact with worm media. Chemicals detrimental to the worms could leach out. Most untreated wood will have a limited use as moisture present in the bin causes rotting. Using a wooden box for structural support and lining it with a plastic material would eliminate a lot of the wood rotting problem. Be sure to provide for effective drainage.

Bins constructed out of a durable plastic material have become popular for small to midsized bins. Any of the plastic formulations that provide sufficient structural strength should be ok.

Bin temperature is also important. Bin temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees F are ideal. Keep the bins out of sun and below 95 degrees F. You may start losing some worms at temperatures above that. Worms will freeze. Cold weather protection is important.

For more interesting information on worms and worm bins please visit my blog. http://wormstotherescue.blogspot.com

worm bins,worm compost

Out of all the worm specie only a few are suitable to use in composting bins. The red wiggler (Eisenia) is the most popular as it has the characteristics useful to breading and growing worms. It is claimed that they will eat between 50% to 100% of their weight a day. With their hearty appetites they then leave behind more castings. Their activity is usually within 6 inches of the surface. This makes feeding the worms and harvesting the castings a simple process.

Another reason the Red Wiggler is a popular composting worm is because they reproduce faster than many of the specie. Since each worm is both male and female any two worms of the specie can mate. How they decide the role each one should play I do not know. Maybe its who surprises who.

As the earthworms tunnel through the soil, the soil from the tunnel passes through their digestive system scavenging organic material and bacteria. The worm castings are of a ph that most plants thrive on (slightly basic -ph a little above 7). They contain nutrients from the organic material in the soil and a lot of bacteria. If in their tunneling the worms encounter harmful bacteria, by the time it passes through the worm's digestive system it becomes beneficial bacteria. As an added benefit the worm castings are coated with a mucus membrane enabling them to hold moisture and slowly release nutrients into the soil.

One of the considerations of having your own worm bin is to duplicate the living and growing conditions they would thrive on in the open soil. Although there is a wide range of materials that can be used in the bin worms do have their preferences. Bin moisture is essential. This is one of the most important conditions to control. To little moisture will make tunneling through the bin difficult for the worms and to much moisture will eliminate any oxygen from the bin and the worms cannot live. Two much water will also will tend to putrefy the bin materials and cause a smell.

Many worm growers suggest using a moisture meter to determine the correct moisture content. Especially until one develops a feel for the correct moisture content. Most of the worm farms selling worms and equipment tout how easy it is to raise worms. It really is easy once you figure out what to do and be consistent doing it. It is not unusual to lose the first batch of worms while you figure out what to do.

Bin can be constructed from a wide range of materials. Avoid having treated wood in contact with worm media. Chemicals detrimental to the worms could leach out. Most untreated wood will have a limited use as moisture present in the bin causes rotting. Using a wooden box for structural support and lining it with a plastic material would eliminate a lot of the wood rotting problem. Be sure to provide for effective drainage.

Bins constructed out of a durable plastic material have become popular for small to midsized bins. Any of the plastic formulations that provide sufficient structural strength should be ok.

Bin temperature is also important. Bin temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees F are ideal. Keep the bins out of sun and below 95 degrees F. You may start losing some worms at temperatures above that. Worms will freeze. Cold weather protection is important.

Earthworms for Your Garden

To the causal gardener earthworms may seem like a slimy unwelcome guest. Something that has to be tolerated if there is to be a lawn and garden. If that is your attitude this article will help change you mind.

*Worms it turns out are very beneficial to our gardens and lawns. As they tunnel through the soil, they loosen the soil making it easier for plant root growth. Their tunneling also tends to aerate the soil which is beneficial for plant root growth.

*As they tunnel, the earth from the tunnel they make passes through the worm scavenging any organic material and bacteria. Decaying organic matter is full of bacteria as a result of the decaying process. Worms process these bacteria into beneficial bacteria.

*The material that has passed through the worms digestive system is called worm castings or sometimes worm compost. Worm compost is often referred to as vermicompost. This brings out the importance of having organic matter or humus in your garden soil. Worms need organic material and bacteria to live and multiply. Gardeners have noticed that by adding humus to their garden soil worms will show up. I don't know how they know organic matter has been added, but, they do.

*Organic matter or humus is virtually any thing that once was growing. Even cow and horse manure as well as rabbit droppings are enjoyed by the worms. Although dead animals were once growing, it is not recommended to add dead animals to your garden soil. Adding citrus peals and garlic to the garden soil is not recommended either as they are difficult for the earthworm to digest.

*When adding organic material to your garden, grind the material if possible. Small particle size make the material decay more rapidly and therefore more accessible to the worms.

*The use of chemical fertilizers has been popular for the past several years. These chemical fertilizers often produce deep colors and large foliage and fruit. But, as beauty is only skin deep, so is the plant appearance using chemical fertilizers. The good looking foliage lacks essential nutrients making it more susceptible to insect damage and diseases. The fruit which is the part we eat has less nutritional value. This causes humans and animals dependent upon the fruit and foliage of plants to be more susceptible to diseases. If the unused parts of the foliage and fruit raised with chemical fertilizers were added to the soil as organic material it would still benefit the soil in that the soil would be more friable and it would have a greater water holding capacity, it would not return essential nutrients to the soil.

*Chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides are not organic matter and are toxic to earthworms. To encourage earthworms, these chemicals will have to be minimized or eliminated.

*Attracting and encouraging earthworms to visit our gardens can eventually restore our garden soil nutrients to levels that again will be beneficial to man and animals. This will require a continuous program of adding organic material to our gardens.

Worm Farming Just Makes Sense

As you can imagine, the environment and our bodies are full of man-made chemicals, playing havoc with our own immune systems and that of the planet earth. I know. It will take concerted efforts to see any change in today's society.

But what's wrong with helping our ecosystem for the sake of our futures? With that lofty goal in mind, some have chosen the occupation of worm farming. It's safe, natural, and healthy in many ways.

Worm farming offers variety including setting one up with earthworms, catalpa worms, meal worms, red worms, or grub worms. You can try having more than one kind, but there are benefits to keeping them in separate containers.

With separation of each type of worm you can detect which varieties are progressing and at what pace. Another benefit is having them separated for the different reasons you would want to use them. One reason for keeping them separated is to make sure you have the correct temperatures and the correct conditions for each type to thrive and prosper.

Which worms are edible? At least from a human standpoint? Earthworms, meal worms, and grub worms are. Maybe you don't want to partake of this sort of exotic delicacy yourself. It may just be a little too safe, natural, and healthy for your tastes! But what if you could extend the life of your cats or dogs by adding the cooked worms to their dry food that you've made yourself? You'd be surprised that animals that wouldn't normally eat worms can actually thrive very well on their nutritive value.

Worm farming is actually less expensive and less dangerous than your average farm. After all, you don't need tons of employees and expensive equipment to have a worm farm. You can have your own little worm farm for your own personal benefits. Encourage your kids to join in and use it in class for show-and-tell time.

It's a novel way of getting up close and personal with natural science. Little gardeners can enjoy the benefits of this safe farming. And if you are raising the edible worms, you won't have to worry if your tot does experiment by popping one in his or her mouth!

Although the catalpa worms are not one of the edible worms, they are still safe and natural to use as fish bait. This Southern U.S. variety is sometimes referred to as Catawba Worms.

The catalpa trees are well-known along the rivers and swamps of the southern states in the United States. Texas, Louisiana, and Florida residents enjoy the bait from these trees but these trees and their worms are easily established outside the realm of the South. These trees thrive in moist, rich soil.

If you live in east Texas (and many other Mid Western states), you are well-acquainted with the pest called the June bug. You may not have known, however, that this pest comes from the humble grub worm.

Sure, the grub worm isn't a friend if you have vegetable garden, but in some cultures, this worm is a delicacy. Now didn't you learn something new about worms today?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rita_Lambros-Segur]Rita Lambros-Segur

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Worm-Farming-Just-Makes-Sense&id=756610] Worm Farming Just Makes Sense

How to Make Money Raising Earthworms

Earthworm business opportunities might amaze many people in the world today as to the volumes of information available on the subject. There are several things that a person must know before leaping into the dirt for their first batch of success. Earthworms will work for the right entrepreneur.

The first thing you must assess before starting an earthworm business is whether or not you are in a marketable area for such an endeavor. This will lead you headlong into the question of what type of worms you are going to grow and for what purpose. The worms and the environment they are kept in will vary on the purpose of your earthworm growing business.

Two major industries for earthworms are as bait and for soil composting. Worms for each of these industries are raised and handled differently and so you will need to know in advance which direction you want to go. Both of these industries will require you to become educated on the different types of worms and their needs. These types of earthworm businesses are known as vermiculture and vermicomposting.

For example, if you are looking to raise worms for bait (vermiculture), you will need to concentrate on the health, growth rate, and reproductive rate of your worms. You will spend more of your effort and resources providing the best food and environment for your worms to existing in. You will also need to be aware of the different species of worms available on the market and which ones you clientele will be interested in the most.

There are several web sites that will provide resources and supplies to growers in raising earthworms for profit. An earthworm growing business will need such specialized supplies and food products for growing the optimal worm. Being able to provide better worms than your competition will be key in your success.

Analyzing your local market is a first step. If you are in a coastal region, you may be able to attract local fishermen and the fishing industry to your brand of worms. Also, do a little research for local fish farms. Fish farms will at times use live food, such as earthworms, to feed their stock. Don't rule out the Internet as a great source of sales as well.

Vermicomposting, like its name, is the side of the industry that grows worms for the purpose of soil enhancement. This is often a misunderstood area of the earthworm business. Don't be misled into believing that there is a mass market available for this type of worm. Checking your local market and the Internet will give you an idea whether this product will be in demand for you.

Composting worms, in comparison to bait worms, do not necessarily need to be as big or robust in behavior. The purpose of these worms is to generally create compost for gardening and farming. This is a much more specialized area and can require a bit more research.

One of the biggest concerns for an earthworm business is the climate you are in or your ability to control that climate. Earthworms will require set temperature and moisture requirements for optimal growth and reproduction. This will be critical in both vermiculture and vermicomposting. Breeding earthworms will require some patience and attention to the detail of the worm's environment.

Raising earth worms and breeding earthworms for sale will take some time and dedication on your part. However, once you are successful at growing your worms, you might also consider selling worm products along with your stock. Developing a successful food, or designing a new bed will increase your ability to generate income as well as give you an edge over the competition.

An earthworm business will require you to educate yourself and do research to discover your market. Choose your worms and setups according to the service you wish to offer. Once you have these essentials discovered, you will be on your way to growing your success in earthworms.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy currently has a website dealing with [http://www.ultimate-coffees-info.com]Reviews of Coffee Related Products such as coffee makers, espresso makers, coffee, k-cups, and more plus articles on coffee enemas and other coffee and health related topics. He also has a website of [http://www.smallappliancebuyerguides.com/]Reviews of Small Appliances such as ice cream makers, vacuum cleaners, mixers, irons, toasters, food processors, and many other appliances.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Make-Money-Raising-Earthworms&id=40708] How to Make Money Raising Earthworms

What Worms Tell You About Your Soil

When you see worms in soil you can be sure that the quality of the soil is excellent. It will be rich in organic matter and valuable nutrients. It will be well aired with good drainage.

Where there is an abundance of worms in the soil plants will be healthy and sturdy, flowers will be more colourful and plentiful and fruit and vegetables will taste better and be more nutritious.

The question that is sometimes asked is this - is this good soil the result of the worm population or are the worms there because the soil is good quality?

There is no clear answer to this because the two are so inter-dependent; they are like the chicken and the egg dilemma. One is not possible without the other.

In soil where worms are absent you may have assumed that the soil is poorly drained and lacking in organic matter. You may also have assumed that the nutrient content was poor.

These assumptions are probably right but the other possibility of course is that the soil is of good quality but the worms have been removed or destroyed by the New Zealand Flat Worm. This worm thrives in the climate of the British Isles and has done untold damage to the native earthworm population here.

The Flat Worm has not posed the same threat in its native country because it cannot tolerate a hot climate and exists there only in shaded and damp areas around trees and bushes. Unfortunately no such restrictions apply here and the flat worm has been free to move and breed at considerable speed.

Talking to local farmers they have told me how the sea gulls used to follow the plough for the rich picking of earthworms. But the sea gulls do not do this any more because the worms are not in the ground.

Whatever the reason for a lack of worms in your soil adding worms will bring benefits. The benefits will be increased where organic matter such as compost or manure is added. The worms can be placed in the soil about three quarters of a spade in depth with some worm bedding. For more details on adding worms to your soil you can read the article "Worms - Fertilise your soil the natural way with burrowing earthworms!" on our site.

Another excellent feed is worm cast - it is excellent for breaking up heavy clay soil and aerating the ground. You will notice when you added worm cast to your ground that after a while it sinks down a couple of inches as it makes it way down into the earth.

Worm cast is also excellent mulch. It will help keep weeds down and it gives the flower beds a fresh well groomed appearance.

Leansmount Worms grow and supply worms for soil improvement and worms for composting. Our fishing

worms are large and healthy.

For more worm articles visit [http://www.leansmountworms.com/articles_about_worms.htm]

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_Downing]Paul Downing

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Worms-Tell-You-About-Your-Soil&id=470889] What Worms Tell You About Your Soil

How Earthworms Grow Spectacular Plants and Flowers While Helping the Environment

Earthworms are not just for scaring your sister anymore. They are used to make organic fertilizer, fishing bait and to keep waste from reaching city landfills. Earthworms have become an income source for commercial farmers, home gardeners and worm hobbyists wanting to make a few extra bucks.

Many people will tell you that the earthworm's real value comes from their composting abilities. These worms can reduce a large pile of kitchen waste into a small heap of the best organic fertilizer you can get your hands on. Now lets take a look at whet you need to get started worm composting.

Starting an earthworm bin.

Earthworms have certain needs that must be met. The first thing you'll need is a container the earthworms can call home. A wooden box or plastic container may be used. Or if you prefer you can buy worm-composting bins from the web. The container must have hole on the top, sides and bottom. The holes should 1/8 of inch and no larger.

Earth Bedding material:

The next thing you'll need is a quality bedding material. There are plenty of options available including newspaper, cardboard, leaves, manure and peat moss to name a few. Keep in mind the material should be able to hold moisture, yet be "airy" so the worms can more and take in air easily. The bedding material must be kept moist, not soggy.

So what kinds of worms are best used for composting? They are either red worms (Eisenia foetida) or red earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus). Red worms are said to be the most prolific composting worm on earth. The red worms will multiple like rabbits under ideal conditions. A bin of 1000 red worms can double in size in a 2-3 month period.

What to feed the red worms

Red worms will eat almost anything that was once living or breathing. For example, coffee grounds, tea bags, paper, cardboard, eggshells, watermelon rinds, grass clipping, shrub trimmings, seaweed and on and on. Do not feed them meats or pet manure. The feed schedule for the worms depends on how much waste your household produces. As a guideline, 2000 worms will need a pound of food a week to keep them healthy.

Steve Habib is a active gardener and researcher on growing and caring for a variety of plants. You can find more insights and free reports on how to become a better gardener at the: [http://www.different-kinds-of-plants.com/index.html]HOME PAGE To discover more about [http://www.different-kinds-of-plants.com/earthworms.html]EARTHWORMS visit here.

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Making Your Own Cheap Compost Bin

Making Your Own Cheap Compost Bin

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jade_Shing]Jade Shing

Composting is an easy way to practice good stewardship of the earth and control garbage odors inside your home. It is one of the lowest hanging fruits in the sustainability, carbon sequestration conversation, as well as a simple way to build up the carbon banks of the earth. In this article, we'll discuss the basics of composting, and introduce you to a few different ways to compost, followed by links to products that you might find useful.

Later in this article we'll discuss what can be composted easily, and what should be kept separate from your compost. For the sake of simplicity, we will focus on cool composting and composting with worms. Hot composting, ie creating a compost environment that gives off so much heat during the decomposition process that it will literally steam on a cold morning is the fastest way to convert organic matter into compost. It's also a little bit more sophisticated than digging a hole in the ground and filling it with potato skins. So we'll save that for another article.

How to properly use Organic Waste

Every socially conscious kitchen ought to have a re-sealable container near the sink for collecting organic waste. While your prep your food, dump your peelings and egg shells and onion skins directly into this container, and when it is full, bring it to your compost area. This takes very little effort once you establish the routine, and the pay-off is good compost. What if you live in an apartment, or in an urban area, as more than half of all humans do? Will composting be more of a hassle than a reward? Possibly.

Your compost bin will attract bugs as well as a plethora of micro-organisms. For beginners, you don't want this in your kitchen itself, though there are counter-top vermiculture composting bins on the market. The ideal place is a back yard or shared green space where composting is allowed. Egg shells, veggie peelings, the tops of carrots and the ends of lettuce, apple cores, banana peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, and the like are good biomass to compost. Avoid citrus. Absolutely no proteins or fats, like bacon grease or left over fried chicken. These will rot differently than veggie matter and will attract more attention than you want, especially from rodents.

Do it Yourself Cheaply

You can buy a bin that suits your needs (see links below) or build your own. A classic DIY composting bin is a large RubberMaid tote container with holes the width of a pencil diameter drilled regularly around the sides (for aeration). With some shredded newspaper and mail-order worms, you can make an accelerated composting environment and harvest worm casings which are ounce for ounce the most valuable soil additive you can buy, even more so than petroleum based fertilizers like 10-10-10. This kind of bin can work well on a porch or a balcony, but if worms are being used, temperature and sun exposure must be taken into consideration. Worms need temperate, shady areas to thrive. Places with cold winters will not see much activity in outdoor composting situations, but there are ways to plan for this. The goal should be to create the best environment that is cost-effective for you. If you find that you can only compost half the year, hey, that's better than nothing!

Waiting it out

Another method for DIY composting is to dig a hole in the ground, fill it, cover it, and forget about it for a couple months. Variations on the theme include building up a bed with rail-ties or fallen logs. Wild animals will be attracted to the smell of your compost, so be sure to cover fresh peelings with dirt or leaves. The ideal compost pile is not too wet and not too dry. A good rule of thumb is that it should be moist enough to feel moist, but not so moist that water comes out when you squeeze a handful. Balance is important. You want to have equal parts green material (like kitchen scraps) and brown material (leaves and mulch). Keep in mind, coffee grounds (which tend to be a large portion of the average Joe's kitchen waste output) counts as a GREEN material.

When you get further along, testing the Ph of your compost might become necessary. For now, take the plunge and start thinking where you can set up your system! Composting is a rewarding way to channel your waste into something useful. We can't say enough about these days.

Jade Shing

21st Century Home Maker

To learn more about compost bins go [http://www.cheapcompostbins.net/]here

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Making-Your-Own-Cheap-Compost-Bin&id=6110675] Making Your Own Cheap Compost Bin