It looks as though gum is NOT ideal for vermicomposting (go figure – haha!) – at least not the particular varieties I used for my recent gum vermicomposting experiment.
What`s interesting is that some of the invertebrates – namely springtails and mites – did show an interest in the two pink pieces of gum (Trident watermelon flavor as I recall) – at least initially (see first image below). Perhaps this had something to do with available sugars.
There didn`t seem to be ANY interest in the green gum (Excel spearmint, `Chicklet` style) at any time. As you can see in the second image below, the paper the gum was sitting on DID however get consumed!
It would still be interesting to see if gum could be broken down during hot composting – but I think it`s safe to say that this material is not going to end up becoming one of my regular worm foods any time soon!
🙂
I think you have to wrap it up in dead fish and then a thin layer of cheese before the worms will like it! 🙂
Spearmint must be something only we like. Lol! I think i figured out a fun wormbin composting idea off of this one. HA HA!
Forgot to mention. Found what i was looking for. http://gleegum.com/order.htm
They have a store locator for Canada as well. If someone has a latex allergy i wouldn’t try this stuff. But this may turn out to be a win/win experiment.
Bet it would get eaten after a bokashi fermentation. HAve yet to find anything they don’t eat once it has been in the buckets.
Most gum has some synthetic food grade rubber in it. It does not seem to decompose very well.