Comments on: 50 Cocoon Challenge – Update #3

By: Bentley

Bentley — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:41:13 +0000

DUFF – there definitely isn’t any specific way to handle cocoons, nor do you need to be overly careful about keeping conditions the same. Remember, this is the most resistant, easily-adapted stage of a worm’s lifecycle so they can put up with quite a lot of abuse (just don’t squish them – haha).
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ROBYN/BERWICK – Do let me know if you repeat the experiment. I’ll certainly be interested to compare results with others (make sure to note temperature where bins are sitting though – this could make a big difference).
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DON – that is really interesting (re: horse manure and gardening), and definitely makes sense. Not only is horse manure pretty fibrous, high C:N stuff, but it’s also typically mixed with bedding materials making the overall C:N even higher. What’s cool about the Red Worms is that they accelerate the breakdown of this material, freeing up lots of plant available nutrients. So while I would imagine that horse manure simply added to the garden might not be all that great, horse manure added to a very active in situ vermicomposting system should be more effective. That would actually be a really fun experiment (comparing the two situations)…hmmmm

By: Don H

Don H — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:01:22 +0000

Horse manure isn’t popular with gardeners, (I understand it is low on nitrogen, full of weed seeds etc) but ideal for worm composting. Last week I tilled the perimeter of my cousin’s horse manure pile and to my surprise it was dry and fluffy and no odor. I brought a large quantity home for my garden and will now use some for a worm bin. I’ll also add my Starbucks coffee grounds to see how they work together with normal home waste. Because of your suggestions, I’ll start this new bin with cocoons only. Thanks for all the excellent input! Don H

By: Berwick Worm Farm and Waste Systems

Berwick Worm Farm and Waste Systems — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:10:51 +0000

Ive tryed this with my worms, I took out some of the cocoons anf put them in a small container by themselves and wached them closely. Quite interesting. Ill do this again and see how long it takes on to mature.

By: Berwick Worm Farm and Waste Systems

Berwick Worm Farm and Waste Systems — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:02:42 +0000

Every body has a different idea on worms, worm tea and compost. Some people just throw there leftover vegetables in a water bucket and let them soak, then use this for a liquid fertilizer

By: robyn

robyn — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:13:18 +0000

I am very interested in your experiment..I am also surprised at how quickly your juveniles have matured, i also thought it takes about 3 months in ideal conditions. But maybe not…I guess the best way to confirm maturity would be when you have evidence of a new lot of cocoons in your bin.
I have a homemade raised worm bed about 60cm x 150cm and am trying to havest my first lot of castings. I started with 8000 juveniles about 1- 2mths old, these weighed 1.2kg and i have had them for about 6 -7 mths. I am weighing all the worms as i am pulling them out. i have only just started today and so far using the light method have pulled out 700g from about 2 buckets full of bedding. I estimate there to be about 6kg of worms in that bed, but this is just a guess. I also do not want to not waste the cocoons, so am putting them aside for month or so to collect the hatchlings. I guess i could easily repeat your experiment to see if i get the same rapid growth as you did.

By: Selene

Selene — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:21:40 +0000

Hey Bentley,
I’ve never seen any cocoons in my worm bins but I know that they’re there cause I keep seeing baby worms. And not just a couple at that! They’re all over in the oldest bin. My question to you is: where do you find most of the cocoons to be in your bins? In the dryer top layer to the wettest bottom layer?
Also, I was wondering about composted manure that you buy in any of the big box stores. Is this in any way comparable to the manure you get from a farm and compost yourself? Or is this too much like soil to work as a bedding/food for the worms?

By: Duff in VT

Duff in VT — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:31:23 +0000

Bentley, I have never seen this question posed. Is there any particular way you should handle a cocoon? Can you just pick them up and transfer from one container to another? Should the climate in the second container be similar to the first, etc.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:20:17 +0000

JOHN – definitely not. This bin has a lid on it and is sitting a good distance away from any systems that might pose an invasion risk.
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BERWICK – I am surprised too! I’ve heard of entire worm growing approaches that rely upon bucket growing for at least part of the worms lifecycle, so I imagine they must be ok (assuming no lid). I’m not a major fan of buckets myself though for exactly that reason (limited surface area)

By: Berwick Worm Farm and Waste Systems

Berwick Worm Farm and Waste Systems — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:30:49 +0000

I thought it took 3-4 months for worms to mature? I am raising my worms in 5 gal. sheet rock buckets. Do you think the buckets have enough surface area?

By: John

John — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:10:22 +0000

Bently…Is it possible that some mature worms migrated from another of your bins??