Avoid This Toxic Food In Your Worm Bin!!! | Vermicompost Worm Farm

[@Vermicompost]

Below are my go-to vermicomposting items featured in my videos. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my channel! www.youtube.com/@vermicompost?sub_confirmation=1 Worm Bins I use: Vermihut 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin amzn.to/3w15lQt Urban Worm Bag V2 amzn.to/3XE9QsT 20 Gallon Fabric Grow Pots amzn.to/3EBYhdr 3 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck tote amzn.to/3eKDLhO Mortar Tray amzn.to/3V43KD2 Other Worm Bins: Worm Factory 360 3-Tray Version amzn.to/3AHnjqK Worm Factory 360 5-Tray Version amzn.to/3tYfWY4 Bus bins amzn.to/3fd8AvP Equipment I use: 12 Sheet Cross Cut Micro Shredder (I use it to shred cardboard) amzn.to/3xYZKYu Magic Bullet Small Blender (to pulverize egg shells) amzn.to/3gwEzb4 or amzn.to/42SQ4w9 (with extra coffee bean & nut blade) Worms Red Wiggler mixes amzn.to/3yGNhwl & amzn.to/3R5tKvD ENC's amzn.to/3OkxV51 Indoor Outdoor Wireless Thermometer for worm bin amzn.to/3wIdXbO Additional thermometer sensors 433 MHz amzn.to/41juD7v Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz Additional thermometer sensors 915MHz amzn.to/3WTFgua Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz Japanese Garden knife amzn.to/3VEzmiN Wrigglebrew Worm Casting Tea amzn.to/46PhV2A Food Dehydrator amzn.to/3O5Uj2H Mosquito Dunks 6 pack amzn.to/3OlCEUg granular amzn.to/42KDtM0 or 20 pack amzn.to/42Br4Kf Kitchen scale to weigh worms & food: amzn.to/3HnOQjg Blue gloves amzn.to/3XsBg5n Spray bottles to mist bedding amzn.to/3Fq23rN Digital handheld Thermometer amzn.to/3EWfC2j Compost Tea Bags amzn.to/3fCb5o1 Solar powered light amzn.to/3nOucAq Reusable Keurig Coffee K-cups amzn.to/3FNXvt6 Other useful equipment for worm farming: 5 stackable sifter with different sized mesh: amzn.to/3S2k184 Cameras & camera equipment I use: Insta 360 ace pro amzn.to/3vgdmR8 Flexible Tripod amzn.to/3CGTjcF Insta360 GO 3s camera amzn.to/3Z1CKVR Insta360 X3 360 camera amzn.to/494NOGl 4 Ocean bracelets I wear Multiple colors to chose from bracelets amzn.to/4eH5clM Books on worms & worm farming Worms Eat My Garbage amzn.to/3L4FXN2 Where to buy worms: www.TheGardenAndWormLady.com www.youtube.com/@vermicompost?sub_confirmation=1

[@NanasWorms]

Hey Patrick, so sorry the tofu caused issues. I couldn't find any research to help you understand what happened, but I found this excellent response from Bentley "The Compost Guy" Christie when someone asked if she could feed tofu to her worms: "...it is important to note that any protein source is going to be very rich in nitrogen, and it is very important not to end up with two much nitrogen-rich material in the system at once. Once the C:N ratio hits a certain threshold (usually around 20:1 or below), there is more nitrogen than the microbes can take up, and the excess is released as ammonia gas - very toxic for worms. In my experience you need to be even more careful with proteins that are combined with starchy elements - eg. legumes. Any sort of concentration of these types of materials can turn into a nasty, anaerobic goo with even more potential for problems than regular starchy materials (like breads, pastas etc). Cautions aside… I think something like tofu could make for a great protein source if chopped up well and mixed with other food materials and bedding - and just generally, when added in moderation." ~ Sandra

[@Vermicompost]

Thanks for diving into the available research to search for the issue Sandra!! Moderation was definitely not my strong suit with this tofu top feeding!! We didn't smell any ammonia smells which I am always on high alert for because of past worm bin experiences😂 And it didn't smell like rotten meat or fish...it smelled like a super bad case of halitosis...I just asked Autumn to describe what it smelled like and she just moaned and my youngest son shouted out it smelled like a hobo's cavity😂🤣😂 It was the talk of the house twice a day as we opened the lid for each time lapse video!! I should have know there was an issue when the smell never went away. I think the protein ratio you talked about combined with the salt content and possibly the acidity all combined into tragedy for that section of my VermiHut!! But, perhaps, once the scars heal (in our noses & memories) I'll give smaller pieces a try...If I can ever get Autumn to agree to buy it again!! Thanks for all your help Sandra!! And of course thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@tigco1121]

Thanks for that. I had two smaller bins one in which I put 1 decaying peanut, along with other food, in. Maybe 18 days later I found all of the worms dead in the bottom meant to catch water as if they ran away but couldn't get away from what I'm now guessing was gas. I put more in much larger bins and I guess due to the size of the bin the worms can just avoid them until it becomes something they can manage. Plus the larger bins are outdoor and I wonder if the cooler temperatures slow the gases spread. Whereas the smaller ones are inside where we run the heat. So that information about legumes is great. I'll probably save the rest for my outdoor compost bin.

[@eklectiktoni]

That makes a lot of sense.

[@Vermicompost]

Sandra always finds great researched answers!! Very interesting about your peanuts...thanks for letting us know so we can manage how/if we feed them!!🪱🪱🪱

[@teetwo56]

It was fascinating to see the worms totally avoid the tofu area!

[@Vermicompost]

We didn't even fully realize just how much of an area they were avoiding until I started stringing the time lapse together...then the issue became so obvious I can't believe we missed it!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@javonburgess5496]

idky but im addicted to watching your videos and i don't even vermi compost or worm farm. 🤣

[@Vermicompost]

😂 Thank you Javon!! We definitely appreciate you taking the time to watch!! Hopefully this one doesn't prevent you from ever wanting to give it a try!!🪱🪱🪱

[@the_green_anna]

Wow... Good to know. Glad it didn't hurt the whole bin!

[@Vermicompost]

Yes!! I am so glad it didn't hurt the whole bin!! I can't believe I didn't realize it was happening until I strung the time lapse videos together and saw the lack of movement around the tofu!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@AJsGreenTopics]

I have never tried tofu. I will keep the streak going. 😂 Thanks for sharing your observation.

[@Vermicompost]

😂🤣😂 Let me tell you, that is a good streak to have!! Thanks for the good laugh AJ!!🪱🪱🪱

[@AJsGreenTopics]

@Vermicompost 🤣

[@MrOldclunker]

Definitely something I have never heard of. If worms won't eat it, I am not eating it either.

[@Vermicompost]

In my mind that is a pretty good rule of thumb!!! There is plenty of food they love and chances are it is really good for us humans as well😂 Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@jessandbean]

I stay away from that stuff too😅 Thanks for the video🙌

[@Vermicompost]

😂 It makes you think...if the worms don't like it!!??!! But it was old and had been opened for several weeks before I put it in so it was in no way edible for humans. But neither is most of the food I feed them!! Thanks so much for stopping by to watch !!🪱🪱🪱

[@altasadventures1139]

You’re smart, if it isn’t GMO, it is sprayed heavily with pest/herbicides, if it is GMO, well, it’s fundamentally changed and still sprayed.

[@Vermicompost]

True!

[@tory464]

❤️👍tofu must be good dewormer. Very interesting.

[@Vermicompost]

😂 They are a good dewormer for worm bins!! This was one of my bigger lesson learning checkins in a while!! My worms won't be getting tofu again!! Thanks so much for watching! Tory!🪱🪱🪱

[@ames0818]

Great video! Very interesting. Loves the pics to show progression. How many worms you think you lost due to tofu? Hi Autumn!!!

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you!! I'm so glad you enjoyed our video!! Autumn says hello! I know of the one for sure but I think we probably had some babies and cocoons perish that could not get away from whatever was off gassing or spreading through the bedding...I've been checking on them regularly to make sure anything I may have spread into the rest of the tray isn't still creating issues...so far so good!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@lindaf114]

Smart little buggers, eh? I recently started my own bin in my basement. I am learning as i go- your videos are a source of education for me. ❤

[@Vermicompost]

They really are smart little buggers!! I am so glad that our videos have been helpful! I would have so many worm bins if we had a basement🤣😂🤣 Thanks so much for watching Linda!!

[@innaslyusarenko]

Thanks for the warning.

[@Vermicompost]

My pleasure!! It is fun to experiment with how fast they will eat foods but I did not expect this at all!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@wormweirdo340]

Wow, did not know this. Tofu never goes bad in our house though, we both love it.

[@Vermicompost]

We like to make spring rolls with it and we just didn't finish the block...and then it sat in the refrigerator forever!! When we re-found it, I put it in the freezer for several more weeks, but whatever was growing on it already really must have taken off in this bin!! Plus I put way to much in at once. Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@texaspatty4697]

Thank you for sharing what you learned, even tho, the hard way.

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you Patty!! I know they are just worms but we both really felt bad...maybe this will help someone thinking of putting a hunk of expired tofu in not do it...at least not in this size worm bin!! Thanks so much for stopping by to watch!!🪱🪱🪱

[@theunskoch4256]

Sorry about the near wormpocalypse, interesting about the tofu, it was a learning curve for you and for us

[@Vermicompost]

Yes!! It was a very steep learning curve for me on this one!! Thankfully I was lifting the lid twice a day to film and was able to catch the issue before it caused a total wipe out!! Thanks so much for dropping by to watch!🪱🪱🪱

[@garfunkel]

Wow I would not have guessed that. Thank you so much for the information.

[@Vermicompost]

Crazy huh? If I had any idea it would have done this I would have at least tried it in one of my bigger bins & probably with a smaller piece!! Thakns so much for stopping by to watch & especially for your long term support!!🪱🪱🪱

[@scitekk]

Veryyy interesting video! TY for sharing your experience with tofu

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you!! I'm so glad you liked it! It wasn't the outcome I thought would happen or even imagined could have happened but I always want to share my experiences good or bad! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@brianseybert192]

"Learn by doing" Wow, you sure nailed that one. Excellent video Patrick by the way, very informative and exceptionally well done with the time lapse. Probably would have had the same results if you stuck a hunk of hamburger in there. Anaerobic bacteria creating noxious gases, moving the worms away from the "danger zone" just like the too much heat that was generated with that heavy feeding you showed as well. Sure the worms will be fine and dandy. Have a GREAT Christmas and New Year! Stay Well!!!!

[@Vermicompost]

This was a bit of learn by failing😂🤣😂 Hopefully I got most or all of the noxious bedding out...this probably would have wiped out my whole Tiny Worm Bin if I tried it in there!! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you as well!! Thanks so much for watching Brian!!🪱🪱🪱

[@dadthings167]

That was interesting... I have to agree with a few comments on it being protein dense and thus a poisoning may have occurred. My understanding also is that sometimes it's made with lemons or limes which would drop its pH as well as it tends to drop pH quickly with time after opened. It may be worth adding more eggshell to the top and second tray to help buffer the bin pH or crush up some arragonite to buffer it and help it get through the recovery. But thanks for that demo... I now know for sure I can be comfortable shunning tofu 😂

[@Vermicompost]

I think you all are right about the protein...I had not even thought of that. This tofu had been opened sitting in our refrigerator for some time, so between that and lemon/lime possibly bringing down the pH I really was lucky this didn't destroy the whole bin!! Thanks for the suggestion of putting down some egg shell grit to buffer the acidity!! I'll go do that now!! Thanks so much for your insight & thanks for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@ggauche3465]

I've just got a new worm bin and am hunting down info to get started again. We don't have meat products so that won't be a problem for our worms. But in the past I used to "vitamise" everything together before feeding to the worms - veg and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells - it made a very poo like goo, which the worms loved!

[@Vermicompost]

That is fantastic you are getting back into it!! I'm sure your worms loved their vitamised feedings!! I did an experiment where I put blended food scraps next to previously frozen whole food scraps and they devoured the blended first as seen in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqqWd4Gemq95pcU Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and share how you feed your worms!!🪱🪱🪱

[@thaddeusdombrowski2241]

Cool discovery. Good to know.

[@thaddeusdombrowski2241]

It probably has something to do with the fact that tofu is a fermented product. Something in that fermentation produces something poisonous to the worms. I wonder how well tofu breaks down in a compost pile.

[@Vermicompost]

I agree, any further fermenting & the off gassing cannot be good for the worms!! I did freeze it before I put it in but clearly that did not help!! I threw the actual tofu in the trash but I did put the bedding in my compost bin in hopes of seeing if it breaks down or not. Next time we have any left over tofu, I'll put some in our compost pile to see what happens...but it might be a while before my wife lets me buy more!!😂🤣😂

[@Vermicompost]

Hard lesson to learn but glad it didn't wipe out the bin!!Thanks so much for watching Thaddeus!!🪱🪱🪱

[@shavingwithbarchuckin]

Wow I would not of thought that would happen. But what is more disturbing, is something we consume that worms and other decomposer would not go near 😅🤨 Nice feeding today Patrick. Thanks for finding out to avoid ToFo in the worm bin

[@Vermicompost]

I agree!! It has got me thinking about eating it again, but much like other foods I feed my worm bins this was not fit for human consumption when it went in! I'm just glad it didn't wipe out all my worms!! Thanks so much for watching Rick!!🪱🪱🪱

[@mikkosgarden]

im glad we don't eat tofu, those worms know what to not touch. Great video guys.

[@Vermicompost]

My worms taught me a lot in the making of this time lapse!! It might be a minute before we eat tofu again!! Mostly because we now associate it with that awful smell!!! Thanks for all your support Mikko!!🪱🪱🪱

[@TheRooflesstoofless]

Any thoughts or experience on adding charcoal / biochar?

[@Vermicompost]

Great question!! I have put just a few pieces of very tiny charcoal in my worm bin so I don't have too much experience with it, but I would think even mixing it with finished castings which is teaming with microbes would really boost the microbes in biochar!! I'm sorry I don't have too much experience with how it will affect worms in an active worm bin. Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@NaouasT]

Those worms eat better than i do!

[@Vermicompost]

😂🤣😂 It does sometimes pain me to know I let all this yummy food go bad!! But it is from my mom & dad and my son & daughter-in-law's households so I'm getting three families worth! Thanks for the fun comment & thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Whoa! Rank, 🤢, for sure!!!! I'm glad you didn't lose many 🪱🪱 Tofu 🤢 ...Rick is gagging as i mentioned your video 😂❤😂

[@Vermicompost]

Peggy it was so awful!!! We could not smell a thing until we lifted the lid each time to film the time lapse...then the smell slowly crept upwards!!! Whatever you were thinking it was worse!!! I kept going back to the time lapse to see how quickly they avoided it and within 1 day there were no worms even close to it!! We totally missed what was happening before our eyes for 12 days straight!! Poor Rick & Autumn having to deal with our hobbies!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

I'm so sorry about that worm yikes. Would you say it was an ammonia smell? I'm going to look into the chemistry of tofu. I know I have added a small amount of ground tofu in blue before but it was in rice and veggies. Thanks for the heads up to never add a block. Great video. 🪱👍🏼😁

[@Vermicompost]

It did not have an ammonia smell nor a rotting meat smell, it smelled like someone with a really bad cold, bad breath or as my youngest son said it smelled like a hobo's cavity😂🤣😂 It was such a strong odd unfamiliar smell that we really didn't think about it affecting the worms until that worm got dropped on it. When I went back and strung the time lapses together we realized there was something really wrong in the bin!! I think adding that much in a small space was the real big issue and the high nitrogen, possibly salt content & acidity as well as the possibility that the tofu acted like a petri dish for some off gassing bacterial colony to form and grow combined for a bad situation. Moderation was not my strong point with that tofu feeding!! Thanks for dropping by to watch Ann!!🪱🪱🪱

[@sweetpeahill3607]

Nutrition facts: tofu contain 10-25 mg of solium to 3 oz of tofu and a lot of water. Can't give them a large piece. We give our chicken and dogs the leftover tofu. High in protein

[@Vermicompost]

Oh wow! That is a lot of salt!! That could definitely be the issue...it was a pretty big piece! Thanks for looking this up, I didn't even think to check on that!! And of course thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@Dee.C]

Smart worms . Tofu is nasty !

[@Vermicompost]

😂🤣😂 We don't eat it very often, but maybe a lot less often if even the worms won't eat it!! The worms are sure showing me processed food is not good!! Thanks so much for stopping by to watch & for making us laugh!!🪱🪱🪱

[@healthyfitmom]

Its the Calcium Magnesium in the Tofu. I did something similar. I put a little dolomite (CalMag) while sifting the castings and any worms that touched it instantly, on contact, wiggled and freaked out like that. i rinsed them off but some did die😢. Tofu has Cal Mag added to it to ferment. I thought the dolomite would act like a rock dust. But no, its a worm killer.

[@Vermicompost]

Oh wow!! I had no idea they use that to get it to ferment! Thank you for the warning!! Sorry about your worms, we felt awful as well after this!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@adamsalcedo2172]

The way that worm behaved before it died reminds me of some worms I accidentally killed while applying Dinotefuran to the bases of trees for my job. Dinotefuran is a systemic neonicitinoid pesticide. Sometimes, after I applied it, worms would bubble up from the soil, wriggle around furiously, and die promptly. If the soybeans that made that tofu had neonicitinoids applied to them, it stands to reason that they would still be active in the food. (Dinotefuran is systemically active in trees for 9 months after application).

[@Vermicompost]

Oh wow!! That is horrible if it is in our food supply!! Thank you so much for letting us know what you've seen & what is out there!! Looks like I need to grow a bigger garden where I control what is on my vegetables!! Thanks again for taking the time to comment on your experiences & of course thanks so much for watching Adam!!🪱🪱🪱

[@michaelcoveney1588]

Interesting

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you Michael!! Not what I expected at all, but I figured I should show the good, the bad, and the ugly!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@karensterling5246]

I wonder if it’s the way that particular brand of tofu was made? That sounds like an experiment in the making. 🤔

[@Vermicompost]

That is a good question! There was something unsettling about it, that's for sure!! Thanks so much for dropping by to watch our videos Karen!!🪱🪱🪱

[@meepmeep7165]

Will you do a series testing protein powder

[@Vermicompost]

es!! I think I can give it a try one of the next times I feed my VermiHut Worm Tower...I'd like to do a comparison with a time lapse like I did with different worm chows in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2qoqGCLqtF4b9k Thanks so much for watching & for the good video suggestion!🪱🪱🪱

[@royisagirl]

I wonder if it was too big a piece and i say that because i put tofu in my bin all the time granted not a piece as big as the one that you put. We normally use firm tofu what kind was that? Maybe the different processes could be the issue of your bin vs mine.

[@Vermicompost]

I think how much I gave them was part of the problem! This was either firm or very firm organic tofu (Sprouts generic brand). It also had been opened for weeks and placed in our refrigerator so it was already going bad...not unlike all the fruits & vegetables I put in my bins. I'm pretty sure I buried a tiny piece of tofu in my bin in the past...I think I remember it showing up the next time I checked in to feed, and was a little mushy, but nothing to make me think a chunk of it would be totally avoided by the worms and create a ring of death around it!! That is good to hear you have fed it without issues...it would appear the size/over feeding it/putting it in when it was already off gassing may be the issue with this one! Thanks for letting us know how you have been successful with your bins & tofu!! And of course thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@ringoching7999]

Your tofu was in packages? Read the label to see if there are preservatives/additives.

[@Vermicompost]

It was in a package, unfortunately I threw it away when I opened it a while ago. Next time I'm in the grocery store I'll see what was in it. I know it was organic but clearly that does not seem to matter to my worms😂 Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@ringoching7999]

@@Vermicompost tofu is not made 100% from beans. There are additives as I know nomatter how organic it is or claims. Lime and some sort of salt to make it solidify.

[@Vermicompost]

I have a feeling both of those, acidity in the lime and the salt, added to or caused the issue. Thanks for letting us know!!

[@For_Cruyff_Sake]

If you use a plastic scraper and scrape down the castings from the walls so the walls of the bin is all clean, then you can dust some food grade diatomaceous earth so it looks like a powdered donut so 1) controls and kills mites 2) worms won't be exploring all over the walls of the bin and mucking it up all the time

[@Vermicompost]

MMMMMMMmmmmm powdered donuts!!! I haven't tried DE powder, but I do occasionally slide my finger around to get the castings off...this is my only bin that gets this way, probably because it has a tight lid (there are holes in it) and stays humid inside and along the walls. The worms just love to explore along any wet surface! It drives my wife nuts, but I don't mind it😂

[@ockertwessels649]

The bacterial digestion of a high protein substances could cause problems, including if you created a habitat for anaerobic bacteria, hydrogen sulfide gas. (I think that you may already suspect that due to specifically mentioning the bad smell and placing the towels on top.) That with the help of the POE general assistant.

[@Vermicompost]

Yes, I definitely think there was some off gassing from anaerobic bacteria and/or possibly some salts leaking into the bedding to get that area around it to be totally void of worms. I put way too much in for how dense it was with nitrogen! Hopefully I got all the fouled up bedding out!! Thanks for researching with the POE AI aggregator; I hadn't heard of that one before!! And of course thanks for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@TheTraderPatrick]

Hi. I had a similar experience with shrimp shells. Never will I add seafood again! I don't buy tofu but it's nice to know. Thx @@Vermicompost

[@Vermicompost]

My pleasure! Oh wow, sounds like a smelly mess! I have fed shrimp shells with no problem but I don't want to take my chances anymore after this incident!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@TheTraderPatrick]

@@Vermicompost For all we know worms might have likes and dislikes as people do ... as far as food goes, I can just say my worms ( both tiger and red wigglers ) didn't go near it and I did find just one single dead worm. Like you, I threw out the stinky mess with a third of their bedding. No problems since. Thx for commenting and Merry Christmas!

[@Vermicompost]

Very good getting rid of the bedding around it worked...that's what I'm hoping for!! Merry Christmas to you as well!!

[@MasterKenfucius]

Could it be a fungus growing on the Tofu that they don't like?

[@Vermicompost]

It could be! If you look on the tofu there are a couple of white spots that grow over the time of the 12.5 day time lapse...they could be fungus or a bacteria colony. There are a lot of both fungi and bacteria that are food sources for the worms, but there are also some that are not so it is hard to tell unless I did a culture of what was growing. If I had a lab I would do so many tests on that tofu!! Thanks so much for watching and offering your ideas of what it could be!!🪱🪱🪱

[@lazygardens]

If you feed high protein things, make sure it's well mixed with high fiber things. That tofu, if mashed and mixed with leaves, carrot peels and other vegetative scraps would have been OK.

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you, that is good to know!! I think I also put in way to much for that size worm bin. It probably would have done better in my Urban Worm Bag with about 1/8th the size tofu and a lot of bedding surrounding it as well. Thanks so much for watching & passing on your knowledge!!🪱🪱🪱

[@kimyoonmisurnamefirst7061]

In order to make tofu you have to add nigari. I would suspect that's toxic to the worms. The smell you have is likely the lactobacilli breaking it down the lacto acid and bacillus subtilis breaking it down to ammonia, which would be toxic to the worms which is a result in that fowl egg smell. lactobacilli would break it down into acid. bacillus subtilis, IIRC breaks it down to that ammonia smell. (Imagine Natto times ten). In addition, soybeans are an EXCELLENT substitute for agar. It grows everything, and not all of that everything is helpful to the worms who don't exactly eat your food. So from the worm's perspective, you poured acid on them and gave them an ammonia bath.

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you so much for all this great information!! I really had no idea what tofu was made of except that it was soy bean based. I didn't have an ammonia smell nor a rotten meat smell...it was more a smell of bad breath of someone who has a cold and didn't brush their teeth for days. You've got me thinking the tofu may have acted as a petri dish and had some random bacteria on it that affected the worms and off gassed into the surrounding bedding!! I wish I was back in college and could run some tests to try to identify what was growing on it!! I do think it was acidic (or possibly basic) based on the reaction of that worm that fell on it. I've never seen a compost worm react so violently. It's also possible any ammonia smell was masked by the other smells...we didn't get our faces too close!! Thanks again for all your insight & thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@signallost5420]

Hmmm, Could it have something to do with the GMO manipulation where they've made it pest resistant?

[@Vermicompost]

I would rule out nothing at this point!! There have been so many great explanations and theories being suggested and I'll be honest, they all seem plausible in some form or fashion. Secondary effects of any pesticide or plant genetic modifications to control pests can disrupt the natural ecosystem in place so you could be right!! Thanks so much for watching & passing on your idea of what happened!!🪱🪱🪱

[@chrisdeangelis4616]

I had something in my bin that completely decimated my worms. I think it was a red onion? Friend was watching my bin and added (I never do onion) and they ALL ended up dying off, even after adding some more worms. The ph or something must have changed. Sad 😢

[@Vermicompost]

Oh man, that is sad...I'm sorry that happened Chris. I have fed red onion to my worm bins but very tiny pieces relative to their population size. Change in pH or salt content is definitely something that can linger in a worm bin. Do you have another bin or was this your whole setup? I appreciate you stopping by to watch & I hope you get another bin up and running soon!🪱🪱🪱

[@chrisdeangelis4616]

@ @ my buddy and I (the one who put a half red onion in the bin) started out together. He's used before supposedly but I never did so prob was a shock. I have since move to Japan so out of the game now. Hard having worms as a military guy moving every 3 years! He just didn't get my 1/2 when I left... was a fun experiment for sure but yeah, super sad because I had a booming population!

[@Vermicompost]

Oh wow half a red onion is a lot😁 I feel your pain with moving every 2-3 years!! I would get my garden going great, new soil, and then the Air Force would ship me somewhere else!! Being sick of buying new soil for each assignment (I never trusted the ground around AF bases) is what ramped up my vermicomposting adventure...I started making my own soil with it to save money! Have a great time in Japan!! I flew into Kadena AB a bunch and my brother in law was stained at Yokota AB.

[@rondavis2791]

Too much protein poisons the worms gets acidic. Similar to composting meat and chicken dairy it can be done but tricky need a lot bigger bin to start. Good video.

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you Ron! I kept thinking the worms would eventually make their way over but when I saw that worm wiggle so violently I knew something was seriously wrong. So it was probably acidic to them? Thanks for passing on your insights!! And of course thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@A-V]

Interesting how the tofu created a zone that the worms disliked. My guess is that the worms were probably able to steer clear of anything that could of caused them discomfort :)

[@Vermicompost]

What's crazy is we didn't even see that zone until I pieced together the time lapse and rocked it back and forth!! We could see they hadn't touched the tofu and the end of one banana peel while we were filming, but then it all made sense after!! I'm hopeful most, if not all of the worms were able to steer clear shortly after I put it in...The one I dropped on the tofu may have saved the colony because I don't know how big that zone would have grown had I not stepped in to get it out!! Thanks so much for dropping by to watch AV!!🪱🪱🪱

[@A-V]

It's a good thing that the tofu went into a system that was going to get an above-average amount of attention while the time-lapse was being prepared - enabling you to catch it & remove it 👍🏻

[@Vermicompost]

100% agree. Autumn and I were just talking about that!! I probably also introduced more oxygen and let noxious fumes out twice a day helping them out as well!!

[@SimonBarita]

In my place It is called protein poisoning. Tofu is made from soybeans and soybeans contain high protein. even the remaining soybeans in making tofu process cannot be given directly to worms. If still want to give it as food for worms, it should be fermented first. but of course the risk is a pungent smell

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you for passing on your knowledge Simon!! It was a bit of hard lesson to learn...especially for the worms, but now I know not to feed it to them!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@robertmcauslan6191]

Tofu is a fermented product, they’d probably respond the same to sauerkraut. You basically salted the land. Do they respond to cheese the same way? Tofu is essentially a vegetable cheese.

[@Vermicompost]

Vegetable cheese...that is a good way to visualize what it is!! I haven't fed them cheese but I imagine it would not have gone much better if I put the same size block of cheese in...which now that I think about it that way, this was an enormous amount of tofu!!! Hopefully I got most or all of the toxic bedding out of the bin!! Thanks so much for watching Robert!!🪱🪱🪱

[@sharonspencer6229]

Tofu has a lot of plant protein,,,might be poisoning to worms, Sharon

[@Vermicompost]

That has been the theory of quite a lot of people & I think you all may be on to something!! Protein is definitely something my worms do not get often and at the very least it added a microflora my worm bin is not used to!! Thanks so much for watching Sharon!!🪱🪱🪱

[@wild-radio7373]

Oh NO!😢❤

[@Vermicompost]

I know!!! We felt awful...unfortunately I didn't realize what was happening until the worm was wiggling violently and we strung the time lapses together and saw that everything was paralyzed around the tofu!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@Andluth]

Is soy in any form bad for worms? Thanks

[@Vermicompost]

I don't think so. A soy bean plant or the beans are not, but there has been a lot of discussion about how much I put in, if it had pesticides on it, how fermented it was and the heavy nitrogen to carbon ratio of the tofu. Perhaps if I put in just a little tiny piece surrounded by a lot of bedding I might have had a different result. But, I'm not going to put tofu in this worm bin ever again!! Basically if the food scraps you put in look exactly like they did when they were grown out of the ground, then they are safe to feed your worms in moderation! I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@Frog13799]

That's why those that know have moved to BSF, they eat anything, process waste much faster and are self harvesting. Worms are very "yesterday"

[@Vermicompost]

I almost bought a BSFL bin a couple years ago!! My wife gave me the big NO!!! I don't think we produce enough food scraps for them based on their voracious appetite and I didn't get a whole lot of frass to use in my garden from them when I had them in a couple of my compost bins. If I had a farm and lots of scraps I would totally have a BSFL bin!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@healthyfitmom]

​@Vermicompost supposedly the ones BSF frass fron China are fed plastics. KIS organics channel had an interview posted on it. So it's good to know who and how they are farming the BSF. I didn't know you can buy BSF set up. I've only seen DYI systems on KZbin.

[@Vermicompost]

Interesting!! I'll have to check that out!! Vermitek has a BSFL "bin" they call the LarvaeLab😂 It is the same company or distributor that makes the VermiHut I use.

[@dnawormcastings]

Tofu can get acidic I used to feed it to my cattle and also can fermented also and stink 😱🇳🇿🪱

[@Vermicompost]

I think I hit all three of what you described there in this feeding!! I should have put in a much smaller piece and maybe one that hadn't gone bad first. Thanks for stopping by to watch & pass on your experience feeding tofu to your cattle!!🪱🪱🪱

[@asteria4279]

Tofu is essentially a big hunk of meat. (It doesnt count as a "processed food") Your worms are not accustomed to eating protein, and it was a huge amount in one place. It would be super interesting to put a smooshed little piece (0.5cm) and see if they still avoid it.

[@Vermicompost]

That is a good way to look at it!! If I had that perspective I would not have fed it too them...or maybe tried it in a more isolated area of my much bigger Urban Worm Bag!! If I feel brave enough, I may give it a try again there...Thanks so much for watching & sharing your knowledge!!🪱🪱🪱

[@joesoutdoorplaces]

Not sure I will eat tofu again.

[@Vermicompost]

😂🤣😂 It may be a while for me too!! It will be hard to disassociate that smell form that food for a very long time!! Thanks for dropping by to watch Joe!!🪱🪱🪱

[@jamescarpenter1999]

GREAT info! sorry it killed worms, but ya don’t learn untill ya do! Keep up the great work! ;-)

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you James!! Yep, I learn best by giving things a try...I just didn't think I'd get this result, but now I know!! Thanks for the encouragement & thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@novampires223]

Isn't American tofu treated to make it edible, not fermented like most country's do?

[@Vermicompost]

Great question! I thought it was a fermented product but I don't know for sure...I will do some reading of labels next time I'm in the grocery store! Either way it's not going in this worm bin again!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@jackmarley2755]

G M O toxic tofu.

[@Vermicompost]

Pretty bad when even the worms won't eat it!! I didn't help things by putting so much in at a time!! Thanks so much for watching Jack!!🪱🪱🪱

[@marilynmcconnell-twiss3046]

The tofu is still alive and fermenting. Fermented tofu is a thing, is expensive and delicious.

[@Vermicompost]

I think you are exactly right...it was still fermenting! It was left open in my refrigerator for weeks and then frozen for weeks, but I have no doubt there was still some bacteria growing on it based on the two white colonies growing on the top and the pink color it became! There must have been some off gassing going on. Thanks so much for watching Marilyn!!🪱🪱🪱

[@marilynmcconnell-twiss3046]

@Vermicompost I've actually got a jar of 'furu' - fermented tofu in chilli oil - in my fridge: it's very funky and quite addictive.

[@Vermicompost]

Oh wow!! I never knew they had that!!

[@Emmylou2]

If worms won’t eat it….should we???

[@Vermicompost]

That's the question I'm asking myself as well!! This was tofu that had sat open in my refrigerator for several weeks so it wasn't fit for human consumption...but then again neither is the other food I feed my worms!! Either way it will be a while before we eat it again after associating it with the nasty smells we went through each time we opened the lid to film the time lapse!! Thanks so much for watching EmmyLou!!🪱🪱🪱

[@laneeacannon1450]

You should have changed your glove before rummaging through the rest of the bin.

[@Vermicompost]

You are right, I should have!! I did wipe them pretty good with those paper towels but I should have changed gloves. Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@MistressOP]

not using organic tofu. always by local if you can as well.

[@Vermicompost]

That is great advice!! I'm pretty sure this was organic tofu but it had been opened and sitting in my refrigerator for several weeks. I really should do another test on a much smaller fresh piece...but I'm a little scarred by the smell every time I lifted the lid for the time lapse video!! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch & comment!!🪱🪱🪱

[@nml5536]

Soy is typically very coated in pesticides... I bet that is whats happening.

[@Vermicompost]

It was organic Tofu but I don't think that always means it is void of pesticides! You have a totally plausible theory but the scariest when it comes to thinking about us eating it filled with pesticides!! Thanks for sharing it!! And of course thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@jenniferjones3004]

I'm a vegan and even I avoid tofu.

[@Vermicompost]

A vegan and my worms don't eat tofu...I think I need to take the hint & cut it out!! Thanks so much for watching Jennifer!!🪱🪱🪱

[@Michael-pn5lp]

*They don't like "processed food" ! ! !*

[@Vermicompost]

That's what my worms are trying to tell me and I need to listen!! My new rule is if my worms won't eat it, neither will I!! Thanks so much for watching Michael!!🪱🪱🪱

[@For_Cruyff_Sake]

Honestly I would just throw away the entire top half of the bedding where the tofu was. Tofu isn't just smashed soybeans. It's a processed product with emulsifiers and preservatives so not appropriate for worms. Don't put anything processed in the worm bin and....no skipping out on eating your tofu 😂

[@Vermicompost]

True, if we had just eaten all our tofu we wouldn't have this problem😂🤣😂Curiosity killed the worms! After we were done I was a little worried that I may have mixed in some toxic bedding so we have been checking on the worms periodically and they seem to be doing ok!! I won't be putting in processed food (besides my worm chow) any time soon!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@georgerichardson8575]

I've had a worm bin for fifteen years and the one thing I have learned is that the worms can die off in weather that is too hot and they die off when the weather is too cold for too long but they always come back when the weather is nice. Worm eggs are very tiny but each one contains a bunch of worms and they are virtually invincible. Short of total desiccation they will rebound. You can freeze the eggs and they will produce worms when they thaw out.

[@Vermicompost]

That is amazing!! We usually don't have too many extremes hot or cold, but I am so glad these worms survived my tofu experiment...and the time my food and broken air conditioner in the middle of summer happened at the same time!! That is good to know how resilient they are!! Thanks so much for sharing your experience, I'm sure there are a lot of people wondering how extreme temperatures will affect their worms!! And of course thanks so much for watching George!!🪱🪱🪱

[@bluehoneyhomestead7291]

Most tofu is gmo

[@Vermicompost]

My worms must have known😁 When worms reject our food it definitely causes me to wonder if I should be eating it!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@walkingn6161]

That's great to know. Thank you for experimenting. From Grok AI: Tofu can be used in worm composting, but there are some considerations to keep in mind. Tofu itself is made from soybeans, which are rich in nitrogen, making it a high-nitrogen food source for composting worms. However, adding too much nitrogen-rich material at once can disrupt the balance in the compost bin, potentially leading to ammonia production, which can be harmful to worms. From the available information, it seems that while tofu can decompose in a compost bin, it might not be ideal for worm composting without some precautions. It's suggested to crumble tofu and add it in small amounts to avoid overwhelming the system with nitrogen. This approach might help in maintaining the necessary carbon-to-nitrogen ratio for optimal composting.

[@Vermicompost]

Great idea asking Grok!! I just saw X made a version of Grok free...I've got to try it!! The high nitrogen content & nitrogen cycle creating ammonia could have been it!! But I didn't smell an ammonia smell...however clearly there was some off gassing going on to paralyze that section of the bedding. I think crumbling or just putting in a small piece would have worked...I probably just overwhelmed the bin. Thanks for asking Grok and bringing in more information to figure out why this happened!! And of course thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@lksf9820]

Food so bad not even worms will touch it 😅

[@Vermicompost]

😂🤣😂 Not a good look for tofu that's for sure!! I didn't help things out by giving it to my worms after it had been left opened for several weeks in my refrigerator, but almost everything I get them has gone bad in some form or fashion! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@trishkcmo3683]

Definitely not eating tofu.

[@Vermicompost]

😁 We are taking a break for sure!! To be fair it was severely expired tofu but so are all the food scraps I feed them!! If the worms won't eat it then they are probably telling us something😂🤣😂Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@kevinkc3onohelijeepworld953]

Well I would think ur bodies wouldn’t like tofu either. I know u can hide smother it with flavors but to be honest I can’t stomach tofu, it isn’t pretty 😊

[@Vermicompost]

😂🤣😂That was a nice way to describe how tofu affects your stomach!! It's interesting, I have accidentally dropped worms on food before and after a second or two of wiggling around they just gently scoot off, but this one was wiggling like crazy for several minutes...I felt bad filming it but I wanted to get the word out & seeing it is 10x more powerful than hearing it!! We do feel awful about it though. Thanks so much for watching Kevin!!🪱🪱🪱

[@Gekite]

I'm like the worms, stick with natural food

[@Vermicompost]

That is great advice!! You can't go wrong eating the food nature gives us, exactly like it gives it to us!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@annsalty5615]

I would put that in the trash! That was so interesting. Who knew tofu was so bad. We only eat it at some restaurants, but may avoid it. 🧐🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱

[@Vermicompost]

Yep, that's where it went!! After this I'm inclined to avoid foods my worms won't eat!!! I think they are trying to tell us to avoid processed foods!! Thanks so much for watching Ann!!🪱🪱🪱

[@annsalty5615]

@@Vermicompost Think of it this way. Our digestive system depends on micro organisms. I already knew tofu was controversial, but I may avoid it now. Be interesting if anyone comments that can explain why it is toxic to worms.

[@rondavis2791]

@@annsalty5615 i don't think it's that bad. Try putting a raw chicken breast or a chunk of beef in there i guarantee it won't end well lol.

[@Vermicompost]

It would be interesting to find out what microbes were growing on in and around the tofu!! The tofu had been opened for a while and it was not edible at that point for us...but then again neither is any of the other food scraps I put in there!! This experiment has definitely opened a can of worms (pun intended) of new questions!!

[@Vermicompost]

Now that would be an experiment that would get me kicked out of the house😂🤣😂 But you do have me wondering how fast each of them would get consumed in a side by side test if I put them in a bigger worm bin where I introduce the worms far way from the experiment and let it take as long as the worms or the microbes need to break them down!!