For quite some time I’ve been wanting to come up with a fun contest for fans of the site – but, as I discovered with my last attempt to set something up, these things can end up being hugely time-consuming if I’m not careful. I recently hit on the ideas of A) keeping things super simple by committing to giving away composting worms (or suitable alternative for those outside of USA) every month no matter what, and B) finding ways to link the contests with other things I’m trying to accomplish.
Those of you who have been on the e-mail list for awhile will know that I’ve been having trouble getting back into the swing of things with my “Worm Briefs”. Well, I thought one way to get back to those would be to do little Q&A emails based on questions I receive on particular topics. I’ve also been toying with the idea of starting to put together some “podcasts” (basically like an audio “show” you can listen to on your computer, mp3 player, ipod etc) centered on particular topics – again, a situation where reader questions would be really helpful.
Yesterday I decided to see how many questions I could round up simply by posting a request on the Red Worm Composting Facebook Fan Page. The last time I tried this I was blown away by how many people responded (and how quickly), so I was optimistic that there would be a decent response (especially with a worm giveaway involved). As I’m typing this, the number of questions that have been posted (in about 24 hrs) is up near 60 – so not too shabby!
[By the way – if you are a reader here but still not a “fan” over there, I’d greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to “like” the page. If you are logged in to your Facebook account you don’t even need to visit the fan page itself. All you have to do is click the little “like” button over on the Facebook Badge in the sidebar here.]
So here’s the deal (for those of you who have not read the fan page post)…
I am looking for any (and ALL) specific burning questions you have about vermicomposting. Ideally, these should be fairly short (not multi-paragraphs with multiple questions etc) and to the point. I recommend you peruse the questions that have already been posted (again – on the Facebook page) so you are not simply re-posting one that’s already there. In fact, for the sake of making this as easy as possible to keep track of – I will ONLY accept entries that are posted in the contest thread on the Facebook wall (i.e. please DON’T submit them as comments on this post).
Each unique submitter will be added to my list of names to be drawn from when I pick the winners. The default prizes (bare minimum) for the contest each month will be 1 lb of composting worms (your choice of Red Worms or European Nightcrawlers) awarded to two different people. Depending on what’s going on in a particular month and what’s involved in the contest for that month (i.e. the “burning questions” request is just for this month), there MAY be other prizes as well. Again, those outside of continental USA (the shipping range of my supplier) ARE allowed to participate, but will receive other prizes (eg. access to VermBin membership).
This morning I posted (on the FB page) that the contest deadline was this Friday. I’ve actually decided to change that to October 15th (and will aim to keep the deadline consistent each month).
One last thing to mention…
I will definitely commit myself to going ahead with this for three months (this month plus two more), and will then decide if it’s something worth continuing with. Obviously, if people don’t seem interested etc, I won’t bother with it. Ideally, I’d like to see AT LEAST 100 people participating each month.
If you have any questions/comments about the contest feel free to post them HERE, if you are ready to post a question or two, be sure to do so as a comment under the contest post on the FB fan page.
P.S. All those who “share” the contest thread will also be added into another prize draw (for a prize I’ll be announcing later in the month)
P.S.S. I’ve included a screenshot below so you’ll know what you’re looking for when you hit the FB page. You can see the link for viewing the other questions (again, important before you post yours) and the comment box where you can add your own question.
I had read that some people feed leftover Halloween pumpkins to their worms. I tried that once and it seemed like half my worms were gone within a few days. Now that I have chickens, many people recommend feeding pumpkin to chickens to get rid of worms. Is pumpkin safe for worms?
I’m not on Facebook either…
My question is… Do worms sleep…!!! ???
Thanks
For the last year I’ve had a rubbermaid-style worm bin and have done pretty well with it. I harvested it once, after about six months, and now I’m at the 6-month mark again and wondering if I risk killing my worms by keeping the bin going through the winter and maybe making it get too full. Is there a reason I shouldn’t just keep adding to it? I can’t use the compost much until spring, so I’d rather just wait if I can.
I second the pumpkin question….I need to know before dumping pumpkin into my worm inn!!!
If pumpkins kill worms then @Kay Robbins should automatically win for saving me all my worms!!!
although…i am 99.997% sure taht worms love all gourd and melon type food?
OK, this is an easy question:
There are holes in the bottoms of the bins to allow the leachate to escape. This would seem to mean that the bottom of the bin is wet – mine certainly is. BUT, in the videos I’ve seen, people are harvesting dry leavings from the bottom of their bins. The vermbins also have rails in the bottom to allow the dry matter to fall out. So my question is, how can the bottom of the bin be both wet and dry?
ed
Oh! What have I done!? I had a bunch of old, unpopped popcorn kernals that I thought would make some good food. I put a few cups through the blender till powdered then added to my bin. About 4 days later, I checked the bin and it was steaming! I totally cooked most of my worms. 🙁 I moved the few handfuls left into a new container and am starting over again but need to know just how much grain-type foods I can give my worms at a time.
Funeral services have already been held, but contributions can be made in Wormies name to RWC. 🙂
Hey Ed with the steaming popcorn!
(And anyone else with hot compost wast problem)
Haha- HCWP, sounds like a condition. 8)
Make sure you try “pre-composting” that kind of a mix. The heat will actually break down your medium/food/bedding and also create a situation where microorganisms will thrive.
Just wait to incorporate it into your bin until after it goes through this stage.
Then, welcome yourself to worm wonderland!
Hahahahahahaha, I’m cracking myself up tonight.
I’ve been landlady to my worms in a Rubbermaid bin, outside my apartment, on the front porch…My worms have survived this summer’s heat very well, but as the cold weather approaches, I am wondering where to place the worm bin to keep those kids warm, and to not freeze them to death.
I cannot keep them in a bathroom shower, because the last bin that I had gave off a noxious methyl ga.
If I were to try to keep my worm bin outside, what do I have to do to avoid my wormies freezing? This is a serious question for me, because I am very attached to my little ones… Thanks.
OOPS…”noxious methyl GAS.”
I live in Alaska and have access to infinite produce from my local grocer. I bring it home to the ducks and geese and goats and of course, worms. I now have a large box I am using for dumping the produce in and three smaller ones. How am I to keep my worms and compost going this winter? What suggestions do you have to keep the temp at least ambient or to reduce freezing and death of the worms? Won’t the compost itself heat the bed? I am thinking that a few straw bales will help, and an A frame over the bigger ones. The smaller ones I may try to put in the duck or goat barn again this year. Suggestions? Not on FB
What is the best way to share vermicompost and worms, locally? /i live in a place with no garden, and as far as I can tell, there are no red wriggler vendors in my state. I am not looking to start up a business, I just want to share my love of worm composting with others in my community, and I would be more than happy to give away my compost and worms.
And yes, I realize the irony of this question, given that the prize is more worms.
Applying vermicompost or vermicompost tea to newly planted seeds or seedlings…does it affect the growth (stunt or slow the growth of same)?
remind me to not click on the box to get an email ever time someone responds on the next “questions” post! 🙂 May not be so bad had I not been the first to respond haha…I hope you answer all the questions that made me wonder too.
Yeah all, here’s my question. Has anyone used corn silk as bedding? If so, what were your results. If not, any reasons why? Thanks All!
Win Worms Monthly:
Burning Question:
How can we make the worms get into the habit of eating and reproducing themselves more so that it becomes their genetic charectristics to be transfering into their next generations?