Comments on: Coffee Cup Challenge - Day 33 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/ Red Wiggler Worms, European Nightcrawlers and loads of helpful Worm Composting Information Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:21:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/#comment-808 Bentley Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:57:02 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/#comment-808 Hi Keenan, Your system sounds great! I would imagine that your location allows you to essentially compost year-round. Locating your bin in a sheltered location is a great way to prevent it from over-heating (and drying out) in the summer, while helping to block some of those cold winds in the winter. Red wigglers (Eisenia fetida) actually require a habitat rich in organic matter, so they would definitely rather stay in your compost heap than venture out into your surrounding soil. Hi Keenan,
Your system sounds great! I would imagine that your location allows you to essentially compost year-round. Locating your bin in a sheltered location is a great way to prevent it from over-heating (and drying out) in the summer, while helping to block some of those cold winds in the winter.
Red wigglers (Eisenia fetida) actually require a habitat rich in organic matter, so they would definitely rather stay in your compost heap than venture out into your surrounding soil.

]]> By: keenan turner http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/#comment-797 keenan turner Sun, 02 Sep 2007 18:34:21 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/#comment-797 I live in a southern Ky town and have two 12-15 ft high deciduous shurbs in my back yard. I have my outside "natural" worm compost (5'X6') in the ground between these shrubs. The sun never gets to the compost ground so it remains relative cool and if it doesn't rain I add water. Have worked with it 3+ yrs and it is providing lots of red wigglers for the friends and me. I provide ripe tomatoes, coffee grinds/filters, all kind of fruit rinds, and occasionally some horse manure. The soil water ph is in the low 6's. At first, I was worried the worms would escape but if they are they're producing more than I need. Do you see any future problems with the situation I have described? I live in a southern Ky town and have two 12-15 ft high deciduous shurbs in my back yard. I have my outside “natural” worm compost (5′X6′) in the ground between these shrubs. The sun never gets to the compost ground so it remains relative cool and if it doesn’t rain I add water. Have worked with it 3+ yrs and it is providing lots of red wigglers for the friends and me. I provide ripe tomatoes, coffee grinds/filters, all kind of fruit rinds, and occasionally some horse manure. The soil water ph is in the low 6’s. At first, I was worried the worms would escape but if they are they’re producing more than I need. Do you see any future problems with the situation I have described?

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/#comment-172 Bentley Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:01:45 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/#comment-172 Hi Alison, Yeah it should be ok if you can't see light coming through, especially if you are keeping the container in a fairly dark place as well. My worm bins are doing fairly well - I recently dumped one of my small bins into my large outdoor system and have started fresh. I am actually just starting an experiment with some castings, so I'll definitely be writing about that on the blog soon. Cheers B. Hi Alison,
Yeah it should be ok if you can’t see light coming through, especially if you are keeping the container in a fairly dark place as well.

My worm bins are doing fairly well - I recently dumped one of my small bins into my large outdoor system and have started fresh.

I am actually just starting an experiment with some castings, so I’ll definitely be writing about that on the blog soon.

Cheers

B.

]]> By: Alison http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/#comment-155 Alison Sun, 24 Jun 2007 04:48:27 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/#comment-155 Hi Bentley, I stuck my head in an ice-cream container and cupped my hands around the edge of it and my head to block the light and I couldn't see through the container so do you think it is all right? I never thought about the light so thanks for mentioning it.I am getting a container that looks like your rubbermaid ready ( moist shredded newspaper and cardboard and raw food scraps)It has been sitting for about 5 days and very soon now I will put my two little containers into it and start one little one again.I like the little ones and having them makes me leave my big ones alone.I look in the little ones at least once a day and they are growing in numbers so I guess they don't mind me too much.It seems it will be so long before I get any real vermicasts and I really want some to make aerated tea.I would like to try your idea of a see through container that has a wrap around on it to keep out the light and then to use a red light to watch the worms in a darkened room, that would be great.You will be in your summer so how are your worm bins doing?Do you grow plants with your casts? Have a great day. Hi Bentley, I stuck my head in an ice-cream container and cupped my hands around the edge of it and my head to block the light and I couldn’t see through the container so do you think it is all right? I never thought about the light so thanks for mentioning it.I am getting a container that looks like your rubbermaid ready ( moist shredded newspaper and cardboard and raw food scraps)It has been sitting for about 5 days and very soon now I will put my two little containers into it and start one little one again.I like the little ones and having them makes me leave my big ones alone.I look in the little ones at least once a day and they are growing in numbers so I guess they don’t mind me too much.It seems it will be so long before I get any real vermicasts and I really want some to make aerated tea.I would like to try your idea of a see through container that has a wrap around on it to keep out the light and then to use a red light to watch the worms in a darkened room, that would be great.You will be in your summer so how are your worm bins doing?Do you grow plants with your casts?
Have a great day.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/#comment-82 Bentley Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:05:04 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/#comment-82 Hiya Alison! Thanks for stopping by. Glad to hear you are 'getting there' (even if it is 'slowly')! Tiny indoor set-ups are actually a great way to learn - you can get up close and personal with your bin and see what's going on. If your mini tubs are light coloured you might want to keep them in a dark spot in the house (maybe you already are). I know some of those ice cream tubs can be pretty translucent. Anyway, keep me posted! B. Hiya Alison!
Thanks for stopping by.
Glad to hear you are ‘getting there’ (even if it is ’slowly’)!
Tiny indoor set-ups are actually a great way to learn - you can get up close and personal with your bin and see what’s going on.
If your mini tubs are light coloured you might want to keep them in a dark spot in the house (maybe you already are). I know some of those ice cream tubs can be pretty translucent.

Anyway, keep me posted!

B.

]]> By: Alison http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/#comment-74 Alison Wed, 13 Jun 2007 02:20:10 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/coffee-cup-challenge-day-33/#comment-74 Hi Bentley, this is great ! The worms have done a marvelous job.This is what I am trying to get my worms to do and I am slowly getting there.I have two tiny set ups in the house going.They are in two two litre ice-cream containers with holes poked in the sides, lids and the bottoms.One has worms from my outside compost and the other has worms from my swag.The bedding is mostly very damp shredded cardboard and paper.I have seen new egg sacks in one but not the other yet. Hi Bentley, this is great ! The worms have done a marvelous job.This is what I am trying to get my worms to do and I am slowly getting there.I have two tiny set ups in the house going.They are in two two litre ice-cream containers with holes poked in the sides, lids and the bottoms.One has worms from my outside compost and the other has worms from my swag.The bedding is mostly very damp shredded cardboard and paper.I have seen new egg sacks in one but not the other yet.

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