Back when I mentioned (I can’t find the link) we were now worm farmers, I tell you, my inbox was choked with enthusiastic questions about the practice*.
*Well okay, it wasn’t. But I forgive you because I’m sure it was a busy day and you’ve still got that email drafted up ready to send.
I also promised a post as to the ‘hows’ and the ‘whys’ of Vermiculture. Unfortunately, I still do not feel qualified to undertake such a responsibility-laden service.
In fact I truly believe we’re lucky to have the damn things still alive.
Put aside the fact that although they eat a lot, it takes a while for them to build up to that efficiency. So when I chucked in a watermelon core that time thinking they’d fall upon it like mushy piranhas? Bad idea. (Though it did break down in the end).
Put aside the fact that they are slightly fussy (no citrus, onion peel, meat or dairy).
No the real test is when it comes to water. Don’t get them too wet; not too dry either.
When I was having troubles with them in the beginning, luckily that weekend I ran into a worm merchant (imagine that on a business card) at the local market, and I discussed my worms’ slackness with her and she asked about the water situation.
“How do you wet them?” she asked in a Sveeedishh accent.
“I tip a glass of water over the top when the mixture’s drying out.”
“From a tank?”
“No – water from a tap.”
Well, she gave me such a look of horror that you’d think I’d told her I napalmed the buggers with “The Ride of the Valkyries” playing soundtrack in the background.
“No no, you can’t!” she said loudly. “Tap water has chlorine in it. You will kill them.”
There’s another thing about many worm farmers. They love their worms. Almost too much, if you ask me.
But perhaps I should too. They’re not cheap.
Anyway, I got home that day thinking I’d lift the lid to their home with all my new babies dead, each holding a placard up in the air spelling “M U R D E R E R!”
Luckily they were wriggling around happily. Dodged that bullet.
But the heat of this past week has hit them badly, and they are currently burrowed down into their castings, waiting for the coolness to return.
And now I have written all this I am slightly embarrassed to have devoted so much time to it, but then you did ask.*
*No, you didn’t.
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vermiculture sounds pretty cool, but quite involved. kudos for the willingness to get all into it.
and i had a similar experience with a pet store employee who castigated me for 30 minutes in the checkout line for planning on buying the wrong cage for my friend’s bunny. man, did she love her some rabbits.
Vermiculture…one doesn’t get many posts about that.
Jean-Luc Picard’s last blog post..It’s My Birthday!
You think you sound sad, daggy and wormy??? No no no! You’re living the dream….
I want a worm farm. I asked for one for Christmas and my family looked at me as if I’d gone insane. I’d race out and get one myself, but you’re right. They’re a bit pricey. For those $$$, I want a bit of smooching or tail wagging to feel like I’ve got my money’s worth. Pets that simply wriggle around under their own castings just doesn’t have the same feel about it.
But I still envy you…
Frogdancer’s last blog post..Skinflint Sunday.
Ugh! I have a worm phobia, and you’re giving me the creeps. It all stems from a traumatic fishing trip…
I could not possibly live in a house with worms in it. Especially if I had to look at them every day.
angelawd’s last blog post..Mothers and Daughters Blog Carnival – January 14, 2008
Hello! Visiting from jean-luc-picard’s birthday!! This is a fun site you have here. Will drop back by!!!:)
As a devout gardener I reap the benefits of my worm farm regularly. Castings are great planting material and provides all plants a huge nutrient boost. Also, the worm juice is a fantastic liquid fertiliser. For this I suggest stock piling a couple of 2 litre coke bottles, its amazing how much the little buggers will produce, which reminds me I need to check that soon.
By the way, when, and it will be when, god awful maggots invade get a loaf of bread, soak it in milk, and put it on top. Leave it for a few days then remove the loaf. Most of the ugly maggots will be removed in one foul swoop. You can then repeat the process and cleanse the system. I learnt that the hard way recently in my Worm Wars series.
Well done on the great environmental decision to implement a vermiculture ecosystem. You will see a great reduction and waste and have a much healthier garden as a result. Just look after the little critters!
ShadowKnight’s last blog post..Maggot Wars: Return of the Worm
Well, I was a fascinated to the point of almost wanting to try it someday until I read about the maggots. I’ll pass on that little side effect, thanks.
I’m probably the only one in the world who remembers this, but Harrison Ford had a worm farm in the Henry Winkler movie “Heroes.” Came out in 1978. Yes, I know most of you werent’ born yet. I was in high school.
I don’t mind worms myself, but I only see them in the garden, or rather the rocky, silty, shady patches of ground in which I plant things in the perennial hope that they’ll grow. Some do, so I keep doing it. If none did, I would give up.
Janet’s last blog post..Thanks!
Thanks all for your comments – ShadowKnight wow! You’re a wealth of untapped wisdom!
re: maggots. Yes, that part has come and (hopefully) gone. What affect do they have on the worms though? Do they attack the worms and eat them? Or are they just a pest? At some point we might be starting a veg garden and that would be the aim, to transplant them in there to make it even better, plus all the juices and castings too.
Janet – no I haven’t seen the movie – but I AM intrigued now!!!!!
My wrigglers are tourists from the garden who’ve set up home in my compost bins. I shred newspaper and the junk mail for them every other week and throw in some water to keep the paper moist.
You end up with compost you could grow a dead body in lol
Jayne’s last blog post..Trivial History January 16
I’m new here, but thoroughly enjoyed this post. My worms unfortunately didn’t survive me but I would like to attempt a worm farm again in the future.
From my recent experience aslong as the maggots are not eatting the food completely the worms will survive. In fact mine seemed to breed up further and were fighting back on their own.
I have read some vermiculturists advising to do nothing and let the maggots disappear on their own. I could not do it and had to intervene. The milky bread did the business after I did a long haul of picking em out by hand originally.
Good luck with the vermiculture, it is very rewarding. To anyone thinking of giving it a go, do so. It is easy as pie and the benefits are huge.
oh I am off to go buy my wrigglers now – so did you feed them right away ? and should I give the watermelon a miss ?
I will go check shadownight too.
Babyamore (Trish)’s last blog post..52 blessings to be grateful for on Friday
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