Comments on: “Extreme” Worm Farming!

By: gwelch

gwelch — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 02:18:51 +0000

Bentley
Update video has been removed. So darn I want to see it to….oh well..

Happy Worm time

Grady

By: Chris Ramsay

Chris Ramsay — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:48:38 +0000

I have one of the high efficiency side-load washers that use very little water, and the low sudsing soap. I have three kids, so the water coming out of the washer has plenty of dirt in it. I capture the water in a 2 gallon bucket.

I have been adding dirty water from the clothes washer to my house plants, and they seem to like that. Would it be OK to add the dirty water to my vermicomposting bin? Would the worms benefit from that?

By: Bentley

Bentley — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:06:27 +0000

Hi Nolan,
Wow – 2-4 lb every 2-3 days sounds great. You said something I think is really important – “once Bin #1 matured“.
Something a lot of people seem to assume is that their system is going to go gangbusters as soon as they set it up. In actuality there is a critical period early on when the worms are adjusting to their new surroundings and the ‘food’ they are being provided with. As you have shown, once the system has reached a certain balance point, it can be amazing how well it works!

Sadly, a lot of people give up before this point is reached! Overfeeding is pretty well the most common problem early on – something that can lead to all sorts of different issues.

Anyway – just wanted to highlight that. Thanks for your comment!

By: Nolan

Nolan — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:23:12 +0000

I’ve been freezing my kitchen waste since I started. My mom produces WAY too much waste for my bin to handle.

But once Bin #1 matured, it was scary, the little guys were going thru 2-4 ibs of waste every 2-3 days. By the time I broke my ankle in December, i think they clean out my freezer in the garage (Which i had a stock pile of over 4 months worth or kitchen scraps).

The big thing I found, as Bentley mentioned, was the liquid after the thawing. Initially i dumped it all in (my initial Bin had holes drilled thru, with a Clear-Rubbermaid Storage container on the bottom to collect). Now I just drain out the liquid first and then dump the greens in. Still a lot of moisture gets released into the bin. But it seems its just enough moisture to prevent a mass-DoDo Suicide jump (Pre-Drilling, Worms were escaping out of the bin…floor was just nasty).

By: Bentley

Bentley — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:29:36 +0000

Patricia – I think they are using the bags to help keep moisture in rather than using a lid or bedding.

Jason – I definitely agree. Bedding is always a great option since it provides so many different benefits.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:16:30 +0000

I think those bags would get pretty gross pretty quickly. Freezing is great and I do it myself, but I think a better strategy is covering with several inches of bedding (in my case, shredded cardboard or fall leaves).

By: Patricia

Patricia — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:00:49 +0000

Bentley, I am confused about the use of the plastic bags. Could you pls explain what they are trying to show?

By: Red Icculus

Red Icculus — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:36:11 +0000

I had no idea a worm bin could be so productive. 1600 pounds. Sheesh.