Don't Follow The WORM TOWER Directions- Everything will still be fine

[@PlantObsessed]

Amazon link to the worm tower in this video Worm Factory® 360 Black US Made Composting System for Recycling Food Waste at Home amzn.to/3RUtyQR

[@NanasWorms]

Raising worms is like herding cats!🐱 ~ Sandra

[@PlantObsessed]

The struggle is real 😁🪱👍🏼

[@royisagirl]

Lol i tried using both the :recommended by the company method" and the "Patrick Method" my worms decided they still wanted to do what they wanted, so I use neither methids😂😂

[@PlantObsessed]

Worms are brats for sure. 😃🪱👍🏼

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

Worms gonna worm !! Amazing that they end up in every nook and cranny, no matter the effort. Although they seem to very consistent in big blue, horizontal farming for the win 🤔🤔🤔 Cheers Ann !! 🌱🤞👍👍👍👍

[@PlantObsessed]

It's better now that the worms and I are getting the hang of this system. 😆👍🏼🪱

[@chriseverest4380]

Love the idea of worms "making bad life decisions" - perhaps you need a worm notice board : stay in school😂 say no to drugs😂 respect your elders😂 no partying on a school night😂 - who'd be a worm parent?😂😂❤

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes!! I'm the worm momma. No running in the wormery 🤣👍🏼🪱🪱

[@sardar5150]

I'm definitely going to try aggravating them. I have a tower and they hang out everywhere! Takes me a while. Thanks for sharing!

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you. Lol did you ever think you would be aggravating worms? 😊👍🏼🪱

[@sardar5150]

​@@PlantObsessed😂

[@anon-w9l]

@@PlantObsessedI aggravate mine multiple times a day. My inner kid wants to know where there are, what they're doing, how they're doing, etc. They would be doing better if I got a real pet and forgot about them for a couple of days at a time 😉 (Just got them two weeks ago, so there's hope.)

[@asteria4279]

Haha 😂 ​@@anon-w9lI used to do that too! You're right - they do better if left alone a few days.... But they are so fun!

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Good morning, Ann, from Windermere, Florida zone 9b 🪱 The Patrick Method!! Avacondo! Our Patrick is famous!!! I'm glad Autumn is his Executive Producer ❤ Your videos are always great 👍 Take care ❤Peggy❤

[@PlantObsessed]

They deserve it they have a brilliant channel. Thank you for the kind words.🪱👍🏼😁

[@LesliSagan]

In my towers, the worms also go all over, with some always going all the way down to the drip tray, an absolute ton in the bottommost layer (usually finished, wet castings), which becomes a love shack full of cocoons and wisps, and then the next two trays with moderate amounts of worms and bedding. Even the euros I've had for a couple of weeks are all over the Vermihut lid. I thought they were supposed to burrow!

[@PlantObsessed]

Worms do what they want. Lol I don't often see them in the lid but the kind I have doesn't have the coco coir mat to make a nice hiding place.👍🏼🪱😃

[@cherylmyers9285]

I use a light to make the worms go down. It doesn't need to be close them them,maybe 15" or so. Works great.

[@PlantObsessed]

The light method works great I agree. 👍🏼🪱😃

[@LesliSagan]

Re-watching. The only time I've had bugs in my tower systems was when there was food on top and the lid was loose. This means the old worm factory 360, which had a flat lid that just rested on top, could be problematic, especially last summer when I put it on the porch. BSF larva. Yep. Even though I buried the scraps. And fruit flies. It took me a couple of months after I brought it back in to get rid of those.

[@PlantObsessed]

I keep the heavy worm chow container on top for that reason.. gnats are so sneaky.👍🏼🪱😃

[@A-V]

You called the 'Executive Producer' Amber - I thought her name is Autumn... no? I'm glad you occasional mention your overwinter pepper plants. I too remembered to water mine a little while ago 👍🏻 Those heart-shaped directional arrows demonstrating where the worms go was great. Made me laugh out loud - haha! Adopting the Learn By Doing method is smart - it works well for them... so it's reasonable to imitate it :)

[@PlantObsessed]

Well crap autocorrect Amber/Autumn. They are the best at the tower system .😁👍🏼🪱

[@A-V]

Stoopid auto-correct!

[@KendziGE]

Thanks for your Videos and Explanations. Learned so much from all worm comunities on yt. My first Tower was the 'Worm café'. The instruction says, leave the tap at the base open, that liquid will Flow out and no worms can drown. Well.... The smell of drown worms in this Little puddle of liquid was horrible. After watching a lot of Videos about worms (learning to vermicompost was my first channel I watched), I decided to Change a few things. Last feeding I filled the base with cardboard, the first tray is fresh cardboard, too. Second is actually my old feeding tray and on top of that is a tray with soaked cardboard aß New feeding tray.

[@PlantObsessed]

You have the right idea. Find what does and does work for you and adapt. 🪱👍🏼😁

[@theJenhha99]

I saw on a video (I cannot remember for the life of me who's video it was) but they put a mesh or something over the "ladder" and attached it, to keep the worms from going down there. It was a pretty fine mesh.

[@PlantObsessed]

I just had a suggestion for landscaping fabric. Soon as I can find it I plan to line the bottom layer with it. 😃🪱👍🏼

[@trishoconnor2169]

This is just a random musing and I don't know if it's on target or not, but I kind of wonder if the "worms wandering around as if they haven't read the rule book" phenomenon may be an evolutionary trait that makes the species more resilient to changing conditions. In the wild, after all, no one is watching to make sure they have a mix of greens and browns with just the right moisture content at neutral pH, etc. It would be very efficient if they could all just be hard-wired to seek out the absolutely best conditions, but if they did that, leaving all other areas completely empty of worms, then their population would be more vulnerable than if they spread out to all the areas where they could possibly live, even places where conditions are currently not ideal. If they were all in that one perfect pile of leaves, one brisk wind could lay them all bare to a flock of hungry birds, and that would be it for every last one of them. Maybe they have some genetically programmed tendency to develop an occasional case of wanderlust, so that at any given time, some of them are always pushing the boundaries, and no matter which area gets hit by hungry birds or a fluctuation in temperature or a bit of bad chemistry, there will be some spot where some of them are alive. That could explain why my "worm treadmill" so far has never gotten the harvest area completely wormless for an easy, "clean" harvest with no need for any light migration at all. Far fewer worms than the areas with more nutrients, but still a few of those with a case of wanderlust. If I were ever to clear out most of the worms from the "feeding" area for fish bait, I suspect before long, worms from the less ideal spots would get over their adventurous ways and repopulate the ideal zone. I'm sure some of those who wander to non-ideal areas end up living shorter lives and not reproducing as much as they might have elsewhere, but overall, it makes it less likely I'll lose the whole bin to a change in conditions. The "bad life choices" for some individuals may actually be "good life choices" for the total population.

[@thenodiggardener]

I'm in the UK, right next to a tidal river, in a mining town. I go out at night with a torch to make sure my dog toilets before bed. You should see how many worms are out wandering my garden in the dark. When the water table is saturated, as with now, I have issues keeping my worms in my tower, especially the Blues. It's why I've been breeding more of the reds to replace them. That 'wanderlust' worms seem to have has worked out well for me in the garden though, because I also use 42ltr buckets to grow in, and treat them as no-dig too. They all have worms in them despite the fact I didn't put them there. I am amused by a huge worm that lives in a crack long my house, so when I come out at night it's often stretched out across the path. As soon as the light hits it it recoils back into its burrow. It could well be one of my escapees, or just one from the garden, but whichever it's doing very well there.

[@PlantObsessed]

Wow that is interesting. We have volunteer worms here too in my compost pile way before I kept worms. 👍🏼😁🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

You are right. Diversity ensures some will survive in random catastrophic events.👍🏼🪱😃

[@davidisaacson9328]

Instructions say to put newspaper in the bottom of the first holding tray, which in theory(and my experience) keeps the worms out of the leachate tray.

[@PlantObsessed]

OMG you're right. I totally forgot. I need to find something like that to use. Thank you 👍🏼👍🏼🪱😃

[@floydgraves3997]

Thank you. This has been very beneficial. I discovered the same thing with mine… the worms are all over the different trays… not in the top feeding tray. Thank you for all your tips… I’m going to start applying Them.

[@PlantObsessed]

I'm glad they are useful 🪱👍🏼😄

[@GardeningwithBarchuckin]

Ooh round zucchini, I ordered some round zucchini seeds for next season. Haha when I find the worms at the bottom I move them to the top so they have to worm all the way back down if they want to be in the bottom. System is looking good Ann.

[@PlantObsessed]

I think I'm finally getting the hang of this system. It was admittedly a train wreck to begin with. The round zucchini are awesome, highly recommend. 😃🪱👍🏼

[@GardeningwithBarchuckin]

@@PlantObsessed do they have less pest pressure? I need to try some winter squash this year too. Squash vine borer and squash bug kicked my butt this year

[@thomasbazin1529]

Hey Anne, Thanks for the upload! As I mentioned earlier, this 'sump' thing is a total engineering failure based on the assumption worms migrate upwards. 99.9% of mine move down into the sump in my tower system. This spigot thingy is actually 100% an annoyance. Useless (I don't want that stinky juice), and dangerous for worms. I'm progressively filling the sump with shredded stuff, and treat it more like as 'worm haven'. It's very damp, but they actually survive and breed a little bit. Although, after last feeding (2-3 days ago), they really gpt WAY TOO CROWDED and started trying to escape through air holes in the sump. Guess I will pick up most of the worms, and add them to a new tray on the top, as you do here in the video. I had thought about doing so (new trays on top and 'foraging' trays over these once they get ready). Makes you wonder if the designers of such systems really tested these first. It just doesn't work flawlessly if you follow their instructions to the letter. The sump (and spigot) are just a design flaw imo. Worms WILL eventually go down bc most of them want the highest moisture, and they want to move to new places after they dropped cocoons. Cheers! -Thomas

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you. I have some people actually pour water through it. Weird right? 🪱👍🏼😊

[@thenodiggardener]

I have a tower, and came to confined area worming from running huge muck heaps, so it's been a bit of a learning curve. However, I also adopted Patrick and Autumn's inoculating tray system after I found that worms are all just doing what they want and go anywhere. Also, because it's exceptionally humid where I am, even in my outbuilding where they are, it made sense to take advantage of that moisture. I was then hit by 40c temperatures that we'd never had before in the UK last year, so added frozen water bottles to an empty tray on top to keep them cool. The worms came to the top and started creating their own little eco-system to breed in in that top tray. Not only that, but they'd done the same in the sump. Your worms haven't made a bad life choice in the sump. They're creating their own eco-system down there for breeding. I just moved all my lot out because we're now down below freezing, and had rare for us snow yesterday, but if it was warmer in there I'd just leave them be. I don't find the cocoons in there with them, just a lot of breeding adults, so they do move back up/down to feed and deposit the cocoons.

[@PlantObsessed]

Good point. I don't recall seeing cocoons in there.ill look more carefully next time. I am lucky to have a basement to keep my worms in. 👍🏼🪱😊

[@thenodiggardener]

@@PlantObsessed My Son is lucky I don't keep mine in his bedroom with him lol

[@SquigglersWigglers]

I actually have a worm tower and have no issues with it. I have white material between the bottom tray and the moisture collection tray to prevent the worms going down but allows fluid flow. My bottom tray is for the worms. Next tray up is food covered with cardboard scredded. In a week or so after that try is full I will build another tray with scraps and cardboard cover. Occasionally I’ll water a bit through the top tray. When I am pretty close to putting on the last tray I will take out the bottom trays and harvest. I don’t use those corner pipes like you since I like the trays to touch previous bedding trays. The worms do migrate up and boy oh boy they multiply quick too. I love my tower.

[@PlantObsessed]

What is your white material made of? Like an old t shirt or cotton batting?👍🏼🪱😃

[@SquigglersWigglers]

@@PlantObsessed yes it’s muslin 100 percent cotton.

[@jshkrueger]

I did the same thing with mine. Put it between the bottom tray and the white perforated piece that sits between the bottom tray and the liquid well. The material came with my tower. I believe it's a white nonwoven polypropylene, like a thinner see-through version of some reusable grocery bags. Almost like a tule.

[@ScotWalt858]

Nicely done! Thanks for sharing. Your explanation and drawings do better at explaining the rotation process than any of the similar videos I've watched so far! Might fine!!

[@PlantObsessed]

Glad it was helpful!🪱👍🏼😃

[@AngeliaHoward]

Mine go where they go.

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes .. good thing we love them 🪱👍🏼😁

[@AJsGreenTopics]

Stop breaking the rules worms. 🙂

[@PlantObsessed]

It's like they are hearing me🤣🪱🪱👍🏼

[@fordtelly6573]

Very timely video for me. I have a bucket stacking system that I was feeding from the top to start with and the castings further down were getting wet and compacted. Lots of worms and baby worms in there which I felt were probably struggling to move through the mud to reach a better environment. So I thought perhaps if I bring the castings to the top, fluff it up and dry it out with cococoir and then feed the tray underneath instead. I've been wondering if it will actually work as I always hear that "the worms live at the top etc etc" I kinda had confidence it would as my worms usually head lower too. But this validation for what I've done so yay! Thanks for the video

[@PlantObsessed]

Sounds like you have great worm intuition.👍🪱😃

[@fordtelly6573]

@@PlantObsessed a little bit more than I used to. I've learned a lot from a really good teacher (you!) :)

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

Yes this is the better way with tower systems. I run my 360 and worm Cafe the same way and it produces more castings per month in my experience. Especially once the population is rocking...

[@HabitualHobbies]

I've been debating on getting one of these! Thanks so much for showing us another method aside from the box directions! I have always wondered how these bins would actually work! As of now, do you prefer this bin or blue?

[@PlantObsessed]

If I didn't have room for Blue this is a good choice. It would take 4 of them to hold the same number of worms as Blue but it's a good solid system. 👍🏼🪱😃

[@HabitualHobbies]

@PlantObsessed Wow, blue myst be much bigger in real life than it seems in the videos, haha. This may be a good choice for my smaller space, then! Thanks!

[@maneaim]

Your method seems to result in a drier casting harvest. Have seen videos where the bottom layer gets too wet. Thanks!

[@PlantObsessed]

For me, the humidity in the basement has a lot to do with the moisture of the bins. This particular bin stays pretty even. 👍🏼🪱🙂

[@memprime]

Can a bin be too deep? The rectangular bin I have is tall, so there's 8-10 inches of bedding with food on one end. There is moisture all the way through, and there's no water pooling at the bottom. Thank you for all your assistance.

[@PlantObsessed]

The only reason it might be considered too deep is if you can't manage it. I tried to do it in a vertical 50 gallon barrel. The bottom went anaerobic. If you can get your arm to the bottom it should be fine. 🪱😃👍🏼

[@HildeAzul]

Fruit Flies . In the middle of a December in the PNW!!!! I simply added a tip tray with organic feline pine (worms don’t go up in there) but it staved off the stupid fruit flies. Well after I trapped them all but they haven’t come back. Also, I am no idea but I don’t keep a wet bin, like never once have I had liquid oool in the bottom “lecheate” area: I Alden’s shave to give the kiddos a spray and the reason is because I keep ‘em in the garage where I keep a heat lamp (without it the soil temp is 50F.) anyways, that said m, I got soil mites. I think they came from the breeder or mulched leaves? Either way, yes, I have had pests!!!

[@HildeAzul]

Oh and I have castings that do fall in the ladder area and always check every day and they love it down there, the Wigglers. Not really but the stupid Blues love itXxx (sorry, I am so annoyed at my blues at the moment… I never even asked for them and they breed like rabbits but worse more like college frat rabbits 19 cocoons per week! 19! I have found them all in the worm blanket… thousands of them… teeny tiny oblong cocoons literally 50 cocoons within a square inch of worm blanket… my Wigglers on the other hand, so chill!!! I love on them and they just allow it. I pick them up and they just lay how I place them… so cute!!!!

[@PlantObsessed]

Lol true blue worms are crazy.😃🪱👍🏼

[@Tippler0611]

Thoughts on how a person might dry castings if we dont have a Blue?

[@relayer007]

Dear Ann, I have a question about the springtails. You mentioned in several other videos that a healthy worm bin also includes mites, springtails and isopods. My slightly dry, 9-month old bin has lots of worms, lots of isopods and some mites, but it does not seem to have any springtails. What benefit would springtails offer to my bin? Should I fix something about the conditions in the bin and/or order springtails from a terrarium shop? More details: I initially ordered a mix of red wigglers and Euros online. Soon after those I introduced brown predatory mites (Hypoaspis miles a.k.a. Stratiolaelaps scimitus), which boomed and then stabilized. I just read that they eat springtails, so that probably explains why springtails didn't get a chance at first. However, I next introduced isopods from my balcony, which also boomed, and the population of mites plummeted subsequently (they are still there, but in much smaller numbers). Isopods occasionally eat eggs and larvae of other arthropods, so they might eat and/or compete with the mites, but the decline of the mites might also be due to me becoming more careful in the way I feed the bin. With the number of predatory mites having shrunken so much, I don't think they could stop a population of springtails from forming, so why are there still no springtails in my bin? Also, could it be a problem that there are hundreds (possibly over a thousand) isopods on just 900 square centimeters (140 square inches) of top surface area? I mean, the worms don't seem to have a problem with it, but maybe springtails do? For what it's worth, the bin is slightly on the dry side (moist to the touch but it is difficult to form a ball that stays in one piece), but appears to be moist enough for worms and isopods.

[@PlantObsessed]

You may be right. The isopods might be out competing the springtails. I don't think you need them but they help pre-process food. 😃👍🏼🪱

[@toddfriley9373]

How tall are your risers?

[@PlantObsessed]

3 inches

[@annsmith2520]

@@PlantObsessedis using risers your idea??? I agree that the system does not work the way the company says. Do you use risers so that the castings below do not become compacted???

[@PlantObsessed]

@@annsmith2520 not my idea. Michael from intherockandinsoil gave me the idea.

[@toddfriley9373]

Thank you!!

[@Varcuri9898]

I drain my worm factory 360 regularly and I have yet to get a single worm come out the spout.

[@PlantObsessed]

Do you put anything in the bottom to keep them from the drain?

[@memprime]

What do dead red wrigglers smell like, please?

[@PlantObsessed]

It is really bad like rotten meat.

[@memprime]

@@PlantObsessed ah, thank you!

[@10minihaven]

How tall are your risers?

[@PlantObsessed]

2.5inches long 😀👍🏼🪱