Comments on: Worm Farming Business http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/ Red Wiggler Worms, European Nightcrawlers and loads of helpful Worm Composting Information Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:27:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-21136 Bentley Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:25:41 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-21136 Hi Linda - really sorry for the delay responding to this. The first few days (sometimes as much as a week or more), the worms will most likely not be consuming wastes at their normal rate. They need time to adjust to their new surroundings. Clear containers aren't the best ones to use for worm bins since worms really don't like light - it can actually harm them (especially outdoor light). I haven't used the "egg laying crumble" myself so I'm not sure what it contains, but I would definitely be cautious with a material like that in a normal (enclosed plastic) worm bin. All in all, it doesn't sound like you are having major issues. I would leave them be for a few days and see if they settle down a bit. Hi Linda – really sorry for the delay responding to this.
The first few days (sometimes as much as a week or more), the worms will most likely not be consuming wastes at their normal rate. They need time to adjust to their new surroundings.

Clear containers aren’t the best ones to use for worm bins since worms really don’t like light – it can actually harm them (especially outdoor light).
I haven’t used the “egg laying crumble” myself so I’m not sure what it contains, but I would definitely be cautious with a material like that in a normal (enclosed plastic) worm bin.

All in all, it doesn’t sound like you are having major issues. I would leave them be for a few days and see if they settle down a bit.

]]> By: Linda http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-21094 Linda Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:09:02 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-21094 I received 4 lbs of European night crawlers four days ago. I placed them in mostiened Canadian Surphan peat moss. I moistened egg laying crumble down the center of the plastic tote on top of the dirt. The tote I have them in until my 5 tray worm farm arrives is just a plastic tote with air holes. It has been 4 days since I received my worms and they don't seem to be eating much. If I touch the top of the soil its like a tidal wave of movement. My concern is if I sniff about 6 inches from the dirt I smell a sour smell but I have to stick my nose this close to smell anything. My ph level says 7. However, I do see worms balled up in places plastered to the outside of the plastic clear tote. I investigated and all were alive. I have only found approximatelly 10 dead since arrival. Am I doing anything wrong? Should I be concerned about them not eating much? trying to escape rate on the 4 lbs. is maybe 4 worms everymorning on the sides. I keep the lights on and lid off during the day and put the lid on and turn lights off at night. Any advice is welcome. I received 4 lbs of European night crawlers four days ago. I placed them in mostiened Canadian Surphan peat moss. I moistened egg laying crumble down the center of the plastic tote on top of the dirt. The tote I have them in until my 5 tray worm farm arrives is just a plastic tote with air holes. It has been 4 days since I received my worms and they don’t seem to be eating much. If I touch the top of the soil its like a tidal wave of movement. My concern is if I sniff about 6 inches from the dirt I smell a sour smell but I have to stick my nose this close to smell anything. My ph level says 7. However, I do see worms balled up in places plastered to the outside of the plastic clear tote. I investigated and all were alive. I have only found approximatelly 10 dead since arrival. Am I doing anything wrong? Should I be concerned about them not eating much? trying to escape rate on the 4 lbs. is maybe 4 worms everymorning on the sides. I keep the lights on and lid off during the day and put the lid on and turn lights off at night. Any advice is welcome.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-4082 Bentley Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:05:13 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-4082 Wow Kami - sounds rough! You are absolutely right about trying to do something drastic to help save the situation (often ends up backfiring) - this is often a mistake that newcomers make whenever they see something going wrong with the bin. Really sorry to hear about the worms - it would definitely be tough to see them dying and know there isn't all that much you can do to help! Anyway, hopefully the remaining population (of tough worms) bounces back in a big way and you get back on track before too long! B Wow Kami – sounds rough!
You are absolutely right about trying to do something drastic to help save the situation (often ends up backfiring) – this is often a mistake that newcomers make whenever they see something going wrong with the bin.
Really sorry to hear about the worms – it would definitely be tough to see them dying and know there isn’t all that much you can do to help!

Anyway, hopefully the remaining population (of tough worms) bounces back in a big way and you get back on track before too long!

B

]]> By: Kami http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-4077 Kami Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:27:19 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-4077 No, not your fault at all. I am not really sure what happened. It could have been too much food or too much heat. I lost some worms, but still have many strong, happy worms. I could not bear to pull all of the worms out of the bedding and start over, so many worms were doing fine and I did not want to stress them. Also, I could not imagine throwing the old bedding away. As a result, I am still losing a couple of worms, but I think the loss would have been greater if I had tried to pull the worms out (also, I would have lost a large number of cocoons). It is really stressful to see some of the worms die. I want to do something huge to save their lives, but a huge change would probably kill more worms. No, not your fault at all. I am not really sure what happened. It could have been too much food or too much heat. I lost some worms, but still have many strong, happy worms. I could not bear to pull all of the worms out of the bedding and start over, so many worms were doing fine and I did not want to stress them. Also, I could not imagine throwing the old bedding away. As a result, I am still losing a couple of worms, but I think the loss would have been greater if I had tried to pull the worms out (also, I would have lost a large number of cocoons).

It is really stressful to see some of the worms die. I want to do something huge to save their lives, but a huge change would probably kill more worms.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-4074 Bentley Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:27:29 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-4074 Hi Kami, You are right, starting a worm business IS definitely a gamble (although the same can be said for starting any business really). There seem to be two main schools of thought when it comes to improving your chances of success with a worm business. As I suggest, you can start small and take your time, thus limiting your risk and providing you with plenty of time to learn the ropes. OR, as some others might suggest, you can throw a ton of money into the endeavour, do all the necessary research and planning etc, and get started quickly and effectively. There are certainly arguments to be made for both sides. I'm really sorry to hear about your worms, Kami!! What happened? Hopefully it wasn't due to advice I've provided on the site! :shock: Hi Kami,
You are right, starting a worm business IS definitely a gamble (although the same can be said for starting any business really).
There seem to be two main schools of thought when it comes to improving your chances of success with a worm business. As I suggest, you can start small and take your time, thus limiting your risk and providing you with plenty of time to learn the ropes. OR, as some others might suggest, you can throw a ton of money into the endeavour, do all the necessary research and planning etc, and get started quickly and effectively. There are certainly arguments to be made for both sides.

I’m really sorry to hear about your worms, Kami!! What happened? Hopefully it wasn’t due to advice I’ve provided on the site!
:shock:

]]> By: Kami http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/comment-page-1/#comment-4029 Kami Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:21:31 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/worm-farming-business/#comment-4029 It seems like a bit of a gamble, the worm business. I just had a die-off after an amazing first few months. Bentley, think you are correct when you suggest that people start with a side business. It is very possible that one small problem could result in terrible financial loss. Also, mainstream people do not seem to understand vermicompost. In my area, they would not be willing to pay very much of their money for worms or for vermicompost for their gardens. I am just doing this for fun and to help process kitchen waste, but if I were trying to make a living, I would be in trouble. I still love to care for worms, but have no ambitions for money. To everyone looking to start a vermi-business, good luck. I hope things go well. Hey, maybe I will buy a pound or two of worms from ya. I think the next best thing (in terms of buisness) will be new products helping home composters to care for their worms and to harvest the castings. But, what do I know?...(man, I am chatty tonight..sorry). It seems like a bit of a gamble, the worm business. I just had a die-off after an amazing first few months. Bentley, think you are correct when you suggest that people start with a side business. It is very possible that one small problem could result in terrible financial loss. Also, mainstream people do not seem to understand vermicompost. In my area, they would not be willing to pay very much of their money for worms or for vermicompost for their gardens.

I am just doing this for fun and to help process kitchen waste, but if I were trying to make a living, I would be in trouble. I still love to care for worms, but have no ambitions for money.

To everyone looking to start a vermi-business, good luck. I hope things go well. Hey, maybe I will buy a pound or two of worms from ya. I think the next best thing (in terms of buisness) will be new products helping home composters to care for their worms and to harvest the castings. But, what do I know?…(man, I am chatty tonight..sorry).

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