Comments on: Collembolacomposting! http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bin-creatures/collembolacomposting/ Red Wiggler Worms, European Nightcrawlers and loads of helpful Worm Composting Information Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:46:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bin-creatures/collembolacomposting/comment-page-1/#comment-24249 Bentley Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:25:05 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1960#comment-24249 Andrew - your experiment sounds cool! I'm no molasses expert though (haha) so I'm not really sure what to advise! Any time I've mixed up a batch of molasses-water I've simply gone with the "that looks like enough" approach. I figure if the water has a pretty deep "tea" color to it there is probably enough molasses (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!). If you were doing this on a really large scale I'd certainly be a wee bit concerned about the heating potential of the 3-way mix, but I will definitely be interested to see how things turn out in these 18 gallon bins! Do keep us posted (and feel free to email me or post here, since Compost Guy is in a bit of a lull period at the moment) ------------------ Rich - You may be right! I do have a lot of these worms scattered around my property, so there may be some cocoons even in the grass clippings and leaves I added! We shall see! 8) Andrew – your experiment sounds cool! I’m no molasses expert though (haha) so I’m not really sure what to advise! Any time I’ve mixed up a batch of molasses-water I’ve simply gone with the “that looks like enough” approach. I figure if the water has a pretty deep “tea” color to it there is probably enough molasses (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!).

If you were doing this on a really large scale I’d certainly be a wee bit concerned about the heating potential of the 3-way mix, but I will definitely be interested to see how things turn out in these 18 gallon bins!
Do keep us posted (and feel free to email me or post here, since Compost Guy is in a bit of a lull period at the moment)

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Rich – You may be right! I do have a lot of these worms scattered around my property, so there may be some cocoons even in the grass clippings and leaves I added! We shall see!
8)

]]> By: Rich http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bin-creatures/collembolacomposting/comment-page-1/#comment-24247 Rich Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:56:27 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1960#comment-24247 I just would bet a cocoon has made its way into the bin somehow. I just would bet a cocoon has made its way into the bin somehow.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bin-creatures/collembolacomposting/comment-page-1/#comment-24244 Andrew Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:59:06 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1960#comment-24244 Bentley, youdaman! You need a new category for "Experiments". All those 50 cocoon & 4 worm experiments...it'd be a huge category. In a week or so I want to set up a small experiment and need a little advice. I'll eventually check out your compost guy site, but thought I'd ask here also. What I have is fresh horse manure with bedding (sawdust?), UCG & molasses. I'll have three 18 gal. totes. The control bin will just have manure. #2 will have manure & coffee. #3 adds Grade A molasses. My question for you is how much molasses should go in a gallon of water? The goal is to speed up the pre-composting process so that the manure is worm-ready. I know it's going to get hot. I'll measure temps and see if there's any difference between the 3 bins. Bentley, youdaman! You need a new category for “Experiments”. All those 50 cocoon & 4 worm experiments…it’d be a huge category.

In a week or so I want to set up a small experiment and need a little advice. I’ll eventually check out your compost guy site, but thought I’d ask here also. What I have is fresh horse manure with bedding (sawdust?), UCG & molasses. I’ll have three 18 gal. totes. The control bin will just have manure. #2 will have manure & coffee. #3 adds Grade A molasses. My question for you is how much molasses should go in a gallon of water?

The goal is to speed up the pre-composting process so that the manure is worm-ready. I know it’s going to get hot. I’ll measure temps and see if there’s any difference between the 3 bins.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bin-creatures/collembolacomposting/comment-page-1/#comment-24236 Bentley Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:08:18 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1960#comment-24236 Rich - not sure I follow. I'd be absolutely shocked if Red Worms ended up in this bin since it is an indoor system and I know what went into it. If they DID show up, it would almost certainly indicate that I somehow managed to introduce a worm cocoon with the tiny amount of compost that contained the springtails. -------------- John - thanks for the kind words! It certainly makes things easy when I get to have so much fun in the process! 8) --------------- Eric - I think you may be right (about them having a significant impact), but I have no clue what to expect in terms of end product. Little springtail "castings"? Who knows! Will be fun to find out! Rich – not sure I follow. I’d be absolutely shocked if Red Worms ended up in this bin since it is an indoor system and I know what went into it. If they DID show up, it would almost certainly indicate that I somehow managed to introduce a worm cocoon with the tiny amount of compost that contained the springtails.

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John – thanks for the kind words! It certainly makes things easy when I get to have so much fun in the process!
8)

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Eric – I think you may be right (about them having a significant impact), but I have no clue what to expect in terms of end product. Little springtail “castings”? Who knows! Will be fun to find out!

]]> By: ErickNL http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bin-creatures/collembolacomposting/comment-page-1/#comment-24235 ErickNL Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:27:03 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1960#comment-24235 Looking forward to the results Bentley. Always enjoy seeing those little guys in my bin, hard at work. My money would be on them having a pretty big impact overall! Looking forward to the results Bentley. Always enjoy seeing those little guys in my bin, hard at work. My money would be on them having a pretty big impact overall!

]]> By: John in Huntington Beach http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bin-creatures/collembolacomposting/comment-page-1/#comment-24234 John in Huntington Beach Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:23:07 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1960#comment-24234 Bently...Your dedication is over the top!!! Thank you. Bently…Your dedication is over the top!!! Thank you.

]]> By: Rich http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-bin-creatures/collembolacomposting/comment-page-1/#comment-24233 Rich Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:27:35 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1960#comment-24233 What's the over/under on how long it takes for red worms to show up in that bin? What’s the over/under on how long it takes for red worms to show up in that bin?

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