Red Worms

Red Worms are considered to be the best choice for bin composting. Also known as manure worms, red wigglers, red wriglers, e.foetida, eisenia foetida, tigers and composting worms. Talk about having some nicknames!

Why are these e.foetida the preferred for composting? Several reasons:

• they adapt to bins well and do not try to escape(unless bin conditions are horrible)
• they are top feeders making feeding easy; unlike nightcrawlers who are burrowers
• they out eat many other breeds
• they survive in a wider range of temps than other breeds

In other words, they are user friendly and good bang for your buck.A full grown e.foetida ranges from 2"long to 5" inches long. They are on the smaller side of the wormbreeds. I call them petite worms. I still thing nightcrawlers are nasty, yet my petites are easy for me to handle bare handed! And I am a woman worm farmer...

Sometimes, you can find them for free at a local farm in their manure pile. It may take you a month to gather a pound of worms- but it is a free alternative to buying them. The going rate for a pound is around $25/pound. My suggestion is to find a local supplier to save on shipping.

But if you need to buy and have them shipped, buy from me! I offer a free online worm composting class to ensure your success. Click on the buy worms button on the left of the screen.

What about just wrangling up some worms from the yard and putting them in a bin? I wish. If this was the case but native worms are not suited for bin environments. They are burrowers and will escape or die if you put them in a bin.

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