Worm Composting Blog

A blog discussing all things about worm bin composting.

New worms

Thanks for your reply. I got my worms, put them in the bin with a light and had to leave town. I had someone turn off the light and put on the lid. I left

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The worm bin saga continued

the cornmeal used for heating worked out real well the tempature can be regulated by varying the amount of water that is applied to it. initially it absorbs

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Paper shreds

I got my worms today on Ground Hog's Day. I am so excited! I start feeding on Sunday. I have a ? about paper shreds. Can any type of paper be used? Junk

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Final Results from Bob

I think I’m about finished with my temperature testing, unless the temperature turns really cold and provides some additional information that I’m not

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Springs First Bloom 2012

I have officially named the winter of 2011-2012 SWINTER. It has been the winter that was really spring. I have absolutely no complaints. Here is my photo

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Worm composting for mushroom growth

Hello, I'm researching to grow Agaricus blazei to help me self-treat my illness. I need to grow these mushrooms on compost consisting of cow manure. I

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red wigglers vs african nightcrawlers

Hi everyone- I have been composting with worms for about a year now. I have a number of bins currently working for me. Most of them are in 5 gallon

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The worm bin saga

In the beginning I had my worms in my den but the attracted fruitflys an my wife said please get these slimy gross looking things out of my house.so i

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Does an indoor bin need a lid?

My bins are 22 gallon Sterilite tubs with four small holes in the bottom for drainage. I have them nested inside another bin of the same size. The bin

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Large order question

Liz, I have two farms south of Waco. In the past I have clean the barns and pens and ended up with 4 or 5 piles of poop that are 8 feet tall and 10 feet

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Compost tumbler & easy harvest worm bin

To make a really great compost tumbler, try this web site http://dixiegrilling.com/tumbler.htm The plans are free and easy to follow. It's made out of

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Worm Fattener Recipe substitution

I have your recipe. I have all the ingredients. I substituted Alfalfa pellets for the meal. My question: What can I substitute for the wheat meal?

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Worm bin expansion

Hi readers, I have a medium size indoor worm bin which needs expansion because it has become too full. Shall I simply transfer the contents by pouring

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Bin has ammonia smell

The last two times I have turned the soil in my bin I have gotten a real strong ammonia type smell. Not sure what the cause is but hope you can help with

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Homemade Compost Bins

Thought I would share some photos of my homemade compost bins here. The all black one is a a converted trashcan. The painted black one is a converted

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Red Worms for Sale, worms for sale

Red Worms for Sale shipped direct from Texas

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Where can I purchase cocoquoir?

I have never heard of this material. I live in NC. I assume it is widely available. Also I purchased my starter bag, but did not see a place to give an

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Welcome to the VERMIforum

Welcome all. I cannot wait to see your posts/questions for other composters right here on this page. Submit away. And remember, if you would like to

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Worm Tower

Something very similar to a worm trench is the worm tower. The theory behind a worm tower it that you can feed the worms from above the ground via a tube

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different species of red wigglers

I was told that there are red wigglers that are native to Florida that handle our extreme heat better than the red wigglers sold outside of Florida.

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Worm Trench

The worm trench is a simple way to attract NATIVE worms to your lawn and or garden.

This method is so simple, its almost comical:
1. Collect food scraps (about a gallon is a good place to start)
2. Dig a hole in your yard or flowerbed about 10 inches deep and 8 inches round.
3. Dump the food scraps into the hole.
4. Cover the hole/food scraps back up with dirt
5. That is it! Collect scraps and start over.

See now, that is pretty simple, no layering, no turning, no watering. Just bury it and go! It will take about 2-3 months for it to break down. I do most of my trench composting in the wintertime so I don't have to trek out to my compost heap. Yes, I am a lazy composter.

I keep a little flag or garden stake to mark where I last placed my scraps in the flowerbed. You could also draw a map and keep it handy to show where you have placed the scraps in the past.

Here is an awesome video from Bentley with Redwormcomposting.com and he shows you his HUGE composting trench:

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What should you NOT to feed worms

Hello Liz, I have a question on the kinds of food NOT to feed my worms. I know peppers, onions, salty foods, meat, or spicy foods are not good, but what

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what type of growing/area device/bed do you favor

do you perfer a single growing area ie bucket,tray or a multi level design. Answer from BigTex Worms: I like a single level working worm bin. I have found

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Intermediate results of worm bin temperature testing.

Jan 4, 2012 Worm bin set up and temperature conclusions: I purchased a 12 foot GRO Quick electric soil heating cable on the Internet. Just google using

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Glad I picked Big Tex !!!

Liz should have named this site Worm Whisperer . Wait, can I have that name? Product 100% viable post shipping, and exactly as advertised. Plan to

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Soil Warming Cables

I saw these soil warming cables. I used a string to string around my bin to determine the approximate length of cable needed. I measured 12 feet.

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Home Grown Tomatoes

There is nothing quite like a fresh tomato that one grows themselves, so one summer I decided I was going to till up some land at my parents summer home

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I killed a cactus

I am a terrible green thumb. I don't grow plants, I kill them. My parents and I live in the desert, and we killed three mini-cacti. How?, you may ask

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Vegetable Garden in my Front Yard

I have a vegetable and fruit garden within the boundary of front of my house.It has 3 guava trees,2 lemon tree,1 wood apple tree and many other small vegetable

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yard worms

When you have an indoor bin and no new worms except the ones hatched in your habitat is it necessary to bring in outside worms to keep a healthy population?

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3 tips for your organic garden

My hobby garden has completely taken over my backyard and workshop in the past few years. I find it an enjoyable hobby and these are some of the key staples

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Worm "bugs"

Hi, I just set up my worm bin with a starter packet. Much to my surprise, worms weren't the only thing that came in my package. There are larvae, bugs

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Worm Bin Hole Placement and Spacing

Hi again, Thanks for the helpful information, you've already provided. The main question I have left is where on the box should I put the holes and

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Ants in the worm bin

Hi, I have found a large nest of black ants ( the small ones) in my worm bin, i have noticed that they are eating the fruit fly larvea in my bin which

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Got my little wigglers today ! Have this grub in my tumbler. What is it, please ?

Hello Liz, My new pets arrived today,one of my dogs was jealous and inquisitive, the other didn't care. Made my bin before watching the course. Didn't

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Pumpkin Collection Video

Here is my video on all the pumpkins I collected to feed my worms this winter:

Cold Weather Composting

Welcome to my Cold Weather Composting Challenge.

I frequently have frantic customers wanting to know what to do to prepare their outdoor worm bins for winter.

It has always been my theory that the winter is not nearly as dangerous as the summer but that is just a theory.

This Challenge is an attempt to prove OR DISPROVE that theory. So.....

I have a challenge for those of you who have outdoor worm bins. Let's document some bin temperatures this winter. Do a bit of a science project.

Here is the challenge:
1. Obtain a thermometer, it can be a compost thermometer, digital or manual is fine. If you dont have one, here is a link to a cheap one on amazon.

To me, this sounds fun I would LOVE for you to participate. See, I have this theory that cold temperatures outside are not as dangerous to worm bins as most people think. But this is just a theory and until we do a STUDY, we won't know for sure.

Who's in?

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Gardening is one of my hobbies.

I enjoy planting vegetables and plant those flowers. My vegetable garden is one of the loveliest fields. My field is a sort of mixture. I grow a variety

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One Week after purchase

Hi Liz, Well after one week of having my worms, I have learned quite a bit. I can attest to the fact that the book learning prior to getting the

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Backyard dreams

My back yard garden is breath taking with beautiful lush and juicy strawberries growing near the house. Big purple grapes climb the trellis alongside my

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Kids Compost Thermometer and PH meter

This is an ADORABLE little 3 in 1 compost reader: it measures temperature, ph and moisture all in one cute little ladybugpackage. It is a must have for your little gardeners stocking stuffer.

And at under $6, its a win/win.

Grow your Own Composter

Hi! I work for a 'grow your own' products maker in the UK and we have just released our attempt at an affordable Rolling composter (approx $26). Unfortunately

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Keyhole Garden Using Red Wriggers

Are you familiar with Keyhole Gardens. They recommend a pound of red wrigglers. Dr. Deb Tolman is experimenting with this type of gardening in Clifton,

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Feeding Frozen Food Scraps

Liz, I followed your advise and ground up a large amount of food scraps at one time feeding some and freezing the rest. My question is do you put the

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Can o Worms for Christmas

Want a groovy GREEN gift for your earth loving friend?Buy them a worm bin! Oh yeah, now that is original.

This particular model allows for very low maintainence. Great for anyone who does not want to get their hands dirty or is creeped out by worms, lol.

If you buy this worm bin be sure to buy your worms from BigTex Worms. click here to order worms

Freezing worm food

Hi Liz. My father and I have been produce farming for about 30 years now, selling fresh fruits and veggies directly to the public at a farmer's market.

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Seperating castings

I have a traditional three layered farm that works swimmingly. What is the best way to seperate the castings and the worms Answer from Liz with BigTex

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Grandma's backyard grocery store

I love gardening, whether it is flowers or edible fruit and vegetables. I also have 17 grandchildren whose parents struggle to give them fresh vegetables

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Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Worm Lovers!

Don't forget to save all your fruit/veggie scraps for the worm bins. I found out last year that the worms will even eat jellied cranberry sauce, they devoured it.We have a "worm bucket" in our kitchen for the produce scraps, lol.

Have a happy and safe holiday all.