Comments on: Walnut Shells and Banana Peels?

By: Bentley

Bentley — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 15:22:14 +0000

Hey Debbi – they are ok in moderation. Basically same as something like wood chips. They will take a LONG time to fully break down but they can become a sort of “living material” over time – screen em out and re-use to inoculate new systems. If you have a lot it is probably better to toss in the garden or in a bigger outdoor system.

By: Debbi Bothe

Debbi Bothe — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 21:12:53 +0000

I have some walnut shells that I was wondering about adding to the vermi-bin. I was thinking I’d give them a good pre-soak for 24-48 hours first …. Thoughts? Updates?

By: James Gililland

James Gililland — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 22:39:32 +0000

I use a leaf blower-vac to break down pecan shells. I get produce (tomatoes, cucmpers, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, celery). An run them through a juicer. Takes a while, but the smaller the better. I put the veggies on top of my worm bin filling half the bin. Then topping it off with ground sweet feed, an chicken feed. Then with ground pecan shells w/ the pecan meat. Takes time getting all that together. But the outcome beautiful vermiculture.

By: Sue

Sue — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 23:41:04 +0000

Bentley: Now that your shells have become brittle, I agree with your decision to run it as a normal bin. Shouldn’t be too long now and please keep us updated. Thanks.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 19:12:20 +0000

Hey Sue!
This comment reminds me I need to post an update for this one! Over time the shells seem to have become really brittle. And I have decided to convert this one over to a more “normal” system with regular inputs and more moisture. I suspect they will break down pretty well. But screening is always important when selling. Anyway – good luck with the grinder!

By: Sue

Sue — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 19:02:41 +0000

Hello all;
revisiting this page gives me an idea to do the same with pumpkin seeds that will take a lot less time to break down, I hope. I sell my vermicompost so seeing lots of pumpkin seed shells is not attractive. Was going to put them through the (manual) grain grinder but now I change my mind and will start a 3 gal. bin with it. Could have saved me the trouble of drying them; but now this will save me the trouble of grinding. The light bulb didn’t turn on until today.?
Every time I used my manual grinder, I can’t help thinking about the poor donkey of olden days, walking round and round to work the grinder, haha.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 18:57:26 +0000

I use an old coffee grinder to grind egg shells and today I decided to give the walnut shells a try the are hard to blend up for sure but I broke most of them down to a heavy grit

By: Bentley

Bentley — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 14:02:52 +0000

In reply to Sue.

Haha – that’s funny, Sue!
I have seen some evidence of them breaking down, but it’s pretty clear that the level of resistance is similar to that of wood (if not even more resistant).

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 18:10:36 +0000

I made a mistake by adding Chestnut shells ca. 3 or 4 yrs. ago and I’m still picking them out when harvesting compost. So I agree, Walnut shells might take a life time and a day.

By: indano

indano — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 06:00:28 +0000

run banana peels through a blender, add enough water to blend well, worms seem to thrive, in the moist food.