Roz's wasted wormery!

Rozgreenburn · Mar 13, 2022

The next time I get to town I will see if I can sell some EWC to our best nursery. I don't want to sell to individuals, and I fear shipping costs would only make money for someone else.
Maybe I'll put it in gallon bags, and she could sell for me on consignment?

MostHigh · Mar 18, 2022

@Rozgreenburn ...im starting my 1st worm bin. 22 gallon tote about halfway full of coco loco n im gonna add some kelp n azomite etc. i ordered 500 red wigglers online will be here next week. is this too much for a 22 gal? what about sugary stuff like cereals? in the bins for food

Rozgreenburn · Mar 18, 2022

gashouse said:
@Rozgreenburn ...im starting my 1st worm bin. 22 gallon tote about halfway full of coco loco n im gonna add some kelp n azomite etc. i ordered 500 red wigglers online will be here next week. is this too much for a 22 gal? what about sugary stuff like cereals? in the bins for food

Good for you man. I start with no more than 1/3 full of bedding. I would add 1/2cup Azomite, 1/4 cup powdered Cal-Mag, 1 cup crushed oyster shell, and 2-3 cups of composted cow manure. Mix it all together in your tote with the coco loco [ the whole 1/2 tote full ]. I would mix this every day until you want to add the worms. Now cut back the total volume to 1/3 full and save the rest. Before you add the worms, mix anout 3 quarts of EWC into the top 2 inches. 500 worms will fit nicely and you will probably need another bin in 3-4 months. I am not certain about sugary items like cereal and such, but I'd go easy on them until you know. Coffee grounds, kitchen scraps, yard waste, cardboard and paper are my primary feed stocks. NO fats, meats or highly acidic foods. Good luck bro, I'll be here!

MostHigh · Mar 18, 2022

Rozgreenburn said:
Good for you man. I start with no more than 1/3 full of bedding. I would add 1/2cup Azomite, 1/4 cup powdered Cal-Mag, 1 cup crushed oyster shell, and 2-3 cups of composted cow manure. Mix it all together in your tote with the coco loco [ the whole 1/2 tote full ]. I would mix this every day until you want to add the worms. Now cut back the total volume to 1/3 full and save the rest. Before you add the worms, mix anout 3 quarts of EWC into the top 2 inches. 500 worms will fit nicely and you will probably need another bin in 3-4 months. I am not certain about sugary items like cereal and such, but I'd go easy on them until you know. Coffee grounds, kitchen scraps, yard waste, cardboard and paper are my primary feed stocks. NO fats, meats or highly acidic foods. Good luck bro, I'll be here!

thx bro

MostHigh · Mar 24, 2022

i did all roz told me to. worms came, i put them in box. 2 days later im checkin them and i find like 10 worms under the tote. theres like 18" from top of bedding to top of tote. no drain holes in bottom. wtf?

Rozgreenburn · Mar 24, 2022

gashouse said:
i did all roz told me to. worms came, i put them in box. 2 days later im checkin them and i find like 10 worms under the tote. theres like 18" from top of bedding to top of tote. no drain holes in bottom. wtf?

Don't panic partner, that is a rather common occurrence with a new environment. It freaked me out at first as well, sorry, I forgot to mention it. They will settle in in a week or so.
Try cutting a piece of plain [non painted] cardboard about 1/2 of your surface area, get it nice and moist and set it on top of your bedding. Also, don't forget to check the lid of your tote. They will crawl across the ceiling of the tote at times.
I'm not saying that you won't lose some worms but, keep them satisfied and their numbers will double 3-4 months. I panicked my first time out, I only had a book which was pretty vague. It's kind of like growing, it gets easier as you continue forward.

MostHigh · Mar 24, 2022

thx again bro...ididnt realize they could stick to the tote. idont even have a proper lid. but ill get one now. can i put too much food in there? i just culled 7, month old males that just showed. can i throw the whole plant stem and all or should i just give leafs? sorry bout all the questions, ive got a logistical mind and i like details...really appreciate all your help. blessingz

Rozgreenburn · Mar 25, 2022

MostHigh said:
thx again bro...ididnt realize they could stick to the tote. idont even have a proper lid. but ill get one now. can i put too much food in there? i just culled 7, month old males that just showed. can i throw the whole plant stem and all or should i just give leafs? sorry bout all the questions, ive got a logistical mind and i like details...really appreciate all your help. blessingz

Don't be sorry bud, I'm here to help. Back in the trades, if my apprentices didn't ask questions, I found new ones who would!
Too much dry worm chow can build up too much heat because it will start decomposing once wet, so sprinkle that so that the bedding is still visible. Just a fine dusting. As for scraps, leaves and soft items, they should not be layered too thick. I place used soil, and food scraps into a 20 gallon garbage can. I add my cannabis waste to this as well, but, only after the stems are cut into 2" pieces and frozen at least overnight. The freeze breaks down the plant cells quicker. I keep the volume to 1/2 because it will initially be quite wet. This mix should be flipped once daily for 2 weeks. After the first week, I add dry grass clippings, shredded paper or card board [not painted] to the bottom, center and top of this food mix. Only add 1/8" per layer or it may heat up. I continue to do this until the mix is just barely wet. If you must feed the frozen scraps faster, it must be completely thawed first. Or very fast, cut canna stems much shorter and do not freeze.
You can dig a trench halfway down on one side of the tote, I add no more than 5% of volume of the bedding with the feed mix and cover it with the bedding from the trench. That will be enough for 2 weeks at least. The next time you feed, do the same thing but on the opposite end of your tote. You will feed again in the original spot but only when most "feed is gone". I watched mine way too much at first, so will you. But, as you get comfortable with them, you should be able to go 3 weeks between peeks.
When I harvest, I use a 1/4" garden soil sieve to stop most of my worm and catch the foodstuffs that the worms haven't finished. I just give them back those leftovers in their new bedding.
It seems like allot when you start out but it is easy once you get involved. At this point, put a lid on them, maybe some cardboard [moistened] and lightly feed them. Then, stay away for 3 days, then 5 days, 1 week.... It is just a different kind of grow, you got this...

MostHigh · Mar 25, 2022

Rozgreenburn said:
Don't be sorry bud, I'm here to help. Back in the trades, if my apprentices didn't ask questions, I found new ones who would!
Too much dry worm chow can build up too much heat because it will start decomposing once wet, so sprinkle that so that the bedding is still visible. Just a fine dusting. As for scraps, leaves and soft items, they should not be layered too thick. I place used soil, and food scraps into a 20 gallon garbage can. I add my cannabis waste to this as well, but, only after the stems are cut into 2" pieces and frozen at least overnight. The freeze breaks down the plant cells quicker. I keep the volume to 1/2 because it will initially be quite wet. This mix should be flipped once daily for 2 weeks. After the first week, I add dry grass clippings, shredded paper or card board [not painted] to the bottom, center and top of this food mix. Only add 1/8" per layer or it may heat up. I continue to do this until the mix is just barely wet. If you must feed the frozen scraps faster, it must be completely thawed first. Or very fast, cut canna stems much shorter and do not freeze.
You can dig a trench halfway down on one side of the tote, I add no more than 5% of volume of the bedding with the feed mix and cover it with the bedding from the trench. That will be enough for 2 weeks at least. The next time you feed, do the same thing but on the opposite end of your tote. You will feed again in the original spot but only when most "feed is gone". I watched mine way too much at first, so will you. But, as you get comfortable with them, you should be able to go 3 weeks between peeks.
When I harvest, I use a 1/4" garden soil sieve to stop most of my worm and catch the foodstuffs that the worms haven't finished. I just give them back those leftovers in their new bedding.
It seems like allot when you start out but it is easy once you get involved. At this point, put a lid on them, maybe some cardboard [moistened] and lightly feed them. Then, stay away for 3 days, then 5 days, 1 week.... It is just a different kind of grow, you got this...

many thanks, kind sir. one of the greatest lessons growing has taught me is patience and less is more. my skill set thanks u

MostHigh · Mar 25, 2022

Rozgreenburn said:
Don't be sorry bud, I'm here to help. Back in the trades, if my apprentices didn't ask questions, I found new ones who would!
Too much dry worm chow can build up too much heat because it will start decomposing once wet, so sprinkle that so that the bedding is still visible. Just a fine dusting. As for scraps, leaves and soft items, they should not be layered too thick. I place used soil, and food scraps into a 20 gallon garbage can. I add my cannabis waste to this as well, but, only after the stems are cut into 2" pieces and frozen at least overnight. The freeze breaks down the plant cells quicker. I keep the volume to 1/2 because it will initially be quite wet. This mix should be flipped once daily for 2 weeks. After the first week, I add dry grass clippings, shredded paper or card board [not painted] to the bottom, center and top of this food mix. Only add 1/8" per layer or it may heat up. I continue to do this until the mix is just barely wet. If you must feed the frozen scraps faster, it must be completely thawed first. Or very fast, cut canna stems much shorter and do not freeze.
You can dig a trench halfway down on one side of the tote, I add no more than 5% of volume of the bedding with the feed mix and cover it with the bedding from the trench. That will be enough for 2 weeks at least. The next time you feed, do the same thing but on the opposite end of your tote. You will feed again in the original spot but only when most "feed is gone". I watched mine way too much at first, so will you. But, as you get comfortable with them, you should be able to go 3 weeks between peeks.
When I harvest, I use a 1/4" garden soil sieve to stop most of my worm and catch the foodstuffs that the worms haven't finished. I just give them back those leftovers in their new bedding.
It seems like allot when you start out but it is easy once you get involved. At this point, put a lid on them, maybe some cardboard [moistened] and lightly feed them. Then, stay away for 3 days, then 5 days, 1 week.... It is just a different kind of grow, you got this...

IBEW?

Rozgreenburn · Mar 25, 2022

MostHigh said:
IBEW?

IB of Carpenters and joiners!

MostHigh · Mar 26, 2022

Still bros… respect

Rozgreenburn · Mar 31, 2022

Rozgreenburn said:
EWC has been bagged after evaping the excess moisture, 45 gallon total! 2 weeks from now, another 45-50 gallons. Ended up starting 2 more bins when I thinned the population down to size. Probably means starting 2 more when I finish the other half.
The adult part of me says take it easy, but the kid side says " why don't you weld together a few 55 gallon drums and attach a belt and motor"! I wonder who I'll listen to?

Yep, a learning curve! I checked my bins today and all were healthy but, when I removed 1/2 of the worms a few weeks ago, it slowed down the amount of compost the remaining worms produce. I keep adapting my style as I go, so I am always learning. My new projection of EWC harvest is 2 months out. Previously I would harvest the entire bin at once, separate the worms and what eggs I'd find and then put the worms into new bedding. That worked OK but it would take 2-3 weeks for the worms to settle down as some tried escaping due to a totally new environment. By only harvesting 1/2 of the bin, the worms recognize the scent and feel of their home.
I surely have much more to learn but so far all my moves have been going in the proper direction.

Rozgreenburn · Mar 31, 2022

MostHigh said:
Still bros… respect

Brothers indeed! Just following up on your worm journey. Are you good with it now?
Feel free to ask for any help, except moving, I'm too bloody old to move myself sometimes!

MostHigh · Apr 1, 2022

i did wanna ask u about some worm chow. i been busy and havent checked much, but when i did i could only find a few worms and it didnt look like any of the canna clippings i put in there were eaten...thats all i put in. should i put in food scraps too or some kinda worm chow to get them going? i didnt see any dead worms in the bin or under or around it so i guess they are just spread out but im worried they dont have enough food but dont wanna over do it either...i thought they loved fresh clippings. i got a heater in the building they are in with my veggie starts and it hasnt gotten below 55 degrees. hope all is well in your nick of the woods...heat one up for me!!!

Rozgreenburn · Apr 1, 2022

MostHigh said:
i did wanna ask u about some worm chow. i been busy and havent checked much, but when i did i could only find a few worms and it didnt look like any of the canna clippings i put in there were eaten...thats all i put in. should i put in food scraps too or some kinda worm chow to get them going? i didnt see any dead worms in the bin or under or around it so i guess they are just spread out but im worried they dont have enough food but dont wanna over do it either...i thought they loved fresh clippings. i got a heater in the building they are in with my veggie starts and it hasnt gotten below 55 degrees. hope all is well in your nick of the woods...heat one up for me!!!

I make a powdered worm chow which is sprinkled lightly over the bedding besides all my scraps. I have to look up my recipe for that, I'll post it tomorrow. Feel free to add kitchen scraps [ no meat, fats or highly acidic foods }, shredded paper and most anything organic. I try to pre compost my leaves, stems and roots for a week or more before feeding them. As long as your bedding and feed don't go anaerobic and start to smell rotten, you'll be fine.

Rozgreenburn · Apr 2, 2022

My first recipe for worm chow {dry feed}.
1 quart each of ground corn, rice bran and alfalfa meal
1 cup Ground composted cow manure
1/2 cup crab meal
1/4 cup each of greensand/ Azomite, ground composted chicken manure, crushed powdered eggshell and ground oyster shell.

I buy the corn, rice bran, alfalfa and oyster shell at a local feed store in 50 LB sacks. All 4 items together should cost you less than $75.00.
Bagged composted cow manure will work if you can't source anything fresh [ you would then have to compost it yourself}. I'm not against a few hours of work in a barn for a years' worth of clean nutes. I also add canna scraps which I dry completely and grind into a powder, about a pint.
I am no expert, but whatever I post works well for me and therefore, it should stand for you.

You may want to just order some worm chow from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm to start out with. I have roughly 200 gallons of tote space with worms going at this time. I am not certain the dry feed is necessary but I look at it like it's their multivitamin.

Rozgreenburn · Apr 2, 2022

Yeah, sorry, if you only have 1 bin, you are probably not ready for mass quantities! I would think that you could use corn meal, $3.50 for 5LBs, from the grocer for now. 5LBs will last forever with a single bin, so, relax and have some cornbread and be happy!!!

MostHigh · Apr 2, 2022

Yea I got my worms from uncle Jim. Thx for the clarification. I need to put a little more effort into feeding them. I just threw in some fresh clippings and a little veggie scraps cause I didn’t want to over do it. I’ll try to make it a little easier for them and try some worm chow. I have most ingredients already. Thx and blessingz!!!

Rozgreenburn · Aug 2, 2022

A few days ago I harvested my worm bins, and received 60 gallons of EWC for my effort.

Roz's wasted wormery!

"The Philosopher, is Stoned"

In Bloom

"The Philosopher, is Stoned"

In Bloom

In Bloom

"The Philosopher, is Stoned"

In Bloom

"The Philosopher, is Stoned"

In Bloom

In Bloom

"The Philosopher, is Stoned"

In Bloom

"The Philosopher, is Stoned"

"The Philosopher, is Stoned"

In Bloom

"The Philosopher, is Stoned"

"The Philosopher, is Stoned"

"The Philosopher, is Stoned"

In Bloom

"The Philosopher, is Stoned"

Similar threads