Comments on: How Many Worms Is Enough?

By: David Garcia

David Garcia — Thu, 30 May 2019 06:09:25 +0000

This site is an incredible resource. I am a longtime gardner but a fairly new (like a few weeks) to vermicomposting. It has been amazing.

I started with two buckets — each with a population of about 1k. I then created a new bin for vertical migration using heavy duty 17-gallon bins. I also added about 1-2k new worms yesterday that someone gave me.

So, I have about 3-4 k munching away. I have a pH monitor and a moisture monitor, and believe it or not, my first bin is about 70% full, and I am asounded by how fast they eat. After reading this post (which does answer my “how much is too much, how few is too few” question, I am pretty excited to add another 2 k, which will bring this bin to 5-6 k. I fed them two days ago, and then today, I used a ninja blender to chop and then strain a bunch of bean sprouts and lettuce. I then shredded a whole bunch of new brown paper bags and added the damp (strained pulp) to some dry shredded newspapers.

This is amazing

By: craig

craig — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 15:22:44 +0000

Hi, I’m here formally introducing myself as a newb (commencing yesterday 😉 )
I went around to bait and fishing shops yesterday and managed to pick up a few worms myself. I realm anticipating using them only for helping grow potatoes until the worker at the shop said that these worms are rather scarce around the place I stay, so…i have a first buyer…already 😉
Where do you buy something and the shop says they’re willing to buy from you if you produce?
So I’m now taking advantage, lets see how it goes)
First customer and I haven’t even started yet)

By: Bentley

Bentley — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 15:12:28 +0000

Hi Pat
Unfortunately, that is next to impossible to predict since there are so many different variables that can affect this. Hugely important factors include temperature, aeration, moisture content, the type of food you are adding, the C:N ratio, and how well you optimize everything.

You should also expect to go through a “priming” period, of perhaps 2-3 months, before you can even start harvesting (the good news is that your worm population should at least increase a lot during this period).

With a system like a Worm Inn (or other flow-throughs) you should reach a point where you can continue removing castings on a fairly regular basis. With a plastic bin it will probably be more of a periodic batch harvest every few months (although, if you really wanted to, I’m sure you could get away with digging some out of your bin every month).

By: pat fale

pat fale — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 22:12:28 +0000

how many pounds of castings will 500 worms produce per month

By: bob

bob — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:43:14 +0000

Because if they lay 1 egg per day and i kept adding a tub every 2 or 3 weeks couldn’t i really speed up the process by making like a nursery in the long run? Because if breeding worms lay 1 egg per day you would think you could do allot better Im confused

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 05:02:42 +0000

I started composted about a year ago and couldn’t be happier with the results. I now have four bins in my basement and have had to resort to asking friends/family for their food scraps because I’m not producing enough. I have found that a mixture of leaves, shredded newpaper and carbord seem to make an ideal environment for my worm but still need to periodically add additional water to bins as it does seem to dry out at times. This summer is the first time that I have enough castings to put into my garden and I’m excited to see how my vegetables do this year. As a thank you to my worms, I’m planning on planting pumpkins just for them to eat. They just love pumpkins and I will find 100s of them in one spot just eating away. Thank you for the helpful information that you have shared on this site.

By: Nat_Bee

Nat_Bee — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:58:42 +0000

I am just starting out and before finding red wigglers, had purchased a larger tupperware bin (53L, basically big enough for about a pound of worms give or take) Now everything is basically set up with compost and bedding and drilled holes and the works). I finally managed to find some red wigglers from a friend of a friend, but when I picked them up, there were only a few ounces! Wondering if I should put my worms in, or just pay the 60$ or so it would take to ship wigglers to my area :S Should I put the wigglers in a smaller container? How long would it take them to multiply? Kind of looking forward to getting started before winter… Not too worried about them eating all of my waste, I have a regular outside compost, but hoping to get some compost by late spring early summer to throw in the garden… Thoughts?

By: Bentley

Bentley — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:51:03 +0000

Sounds like a “good problem”, Lulu. My suggestion would be to give a lot of them away. Maybe put an ad in Craigslist, or better yet, post something on the Vermicomposters forum and/or provide me with your location and I can post here on the site. I’m sure we could track down someone willing to help ease your vermi-burden.
😉

By: Lulu

Lulu — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 23:37:08 +0000

HELP !! they won’t slow down multiplying!
This is my 3rd year with them. They are good workers and eat more waste than I can produce. I actually collect waste from my neighbor to keep them fed. I encourage fraternization, but they don’t use any birth control !!!
The DNR lecturer said not to let them loose in our environment. So how do I control the population??? They are captive slaves, I want to be fair.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:43:48 +0000

Hi Tom,

I have seen few cocoons in my bins as well. The food goes in, disappears, castins appear but few if any cocoons. I am sure conditions are not quite right, but it is a frustrating wait. I will keep at it.

+Frank