Simple & Effective Worm Composting on your Homestead

[@73gmiller]

I went to boarding school for my HS years. The school was self sufficient we grew and raised all food we ate. So the students did all the work. My point is my job my first year and a half was being in charge of compost and worms. I had 20 fellow students help me daily. We used a mixture of leaves, saw dust from non treated wood and leaves. Those were main ingredients. Again my point is we had a idea that worked great and didn't require turning as much. We took pvc pipe that went from bottom to top. Width of pipe don't matter so much. We drilled holes all threw out the pipes then wrapped a screen around the pipe before sticking straight in the compost to the bottom. This helped get oxygen throughout the compost and the results I remember being remarkable. Mabye this will help someone.

[@rubbersoul79]

Great idea!!

[@roscmon]

I want to use this idea, but I stumbled on some articles about chemicals from PVC leaking into the environment and being absorbed by plant roots. I'm still trying to find more information on it to see if it's really as toxic as some say.

[@Axelcat11]

Are you Adventist ?

[@Horse237]

Look up Johnson Su Bioreactor for making compost. Might remind you of the old days. You can choose to make fungal dominant compost or regular. Fungal dominant is best for forage grasses and berries. Veggies like regular compost. Sounds from the ingredients that you were making fungal dominant compost. Did you have pasture and berries?

[@Horse237]

PS: Johnson adds worms to his Bioreactor after the temperature cools down.

[@durairanganathan5059]

Firstly thanks for this wonderful video. I replicated exact setup - it costs $150 (San Jose, CA) The liquid comes at the bottom is called “leachate” not worm tea (do research on this topic). I went to composting training in Palo Alto (CA) and the experience trainers warned me about using leachate on vegetable plants (trees okay) due heavy presence of Anaerobic organisms which gives foul smell. It ‘May be’ used after running aerator (google compost tea aerators). Have a wonderful gardening!

[@okieking8503]

Pretty much anything natural for fertilizer absolutely wreaks lol. I have been using fish emulsion lately. Gagggggg

[@OppenheimerRanchProject]

The fly larvae are probably soldier flies - very helpful for vermicomposting and they don't bother the worms. A divider - perforated in some way or using slatted boards- can also be added across the middle of the bin to make harvesting compost easier. Add material to one side; once it's full start adding to the other side. Once the worms are done chowing on the first side, they'll migrate to the fresh food on the other side and you can harvest the casting from the first side. Perforations or slats don't have to be big - the worms can get through small spaces and will find their way. Would love to see some tips on keeping worms adequately warm in winter and cool enough in summer for outdoor bins since temperature is critical to their survival. Leah

[@AdmiralBirdy]

I had a little wasp like bug to lay eggs and have larvae in mine. They became very numerous, I wonder how to keep them out?

[@durairanganathan5059]

To keep bin cooler in summer, I used automatic drip irrigation, which runs for 10mins (weekly twice). This minimizes worms traveling out of bin.

[@Ungovernable74]

Good stuff. We started our own bin last year due to a generous donation from an awesome subscriber. They are a great asset.

[@derstreber2]

0:09 "his name is PETER PAUL he's MARYed" I see what you did there.

[@maxamy89]

exact thing came to my mind when she said it...LOL... singing puff the magic dragon now...

[@TheFrogfeeder]

Hippy

[@1Jaz5d]

Great vid! So glad more people are doing this. I've started mine back in March 2008 and use mainly kitchen scraps and egg cartons. My worm box is 24"x 30"x72" and made way more compost than I could ever imagine or use!

[@BackyardFood]

That is awesome Joe!

[@daviddecatur4190]

Dear Marjory, Thanks so much for this video I have one of these tanks I've used it for rain water off my sheds to feed may small green house and garden but after 10 years it stared to get small rust holes which I been patching well I finally got a new one made of plastic from tractor supply now I have a new use for my old tank. I had not thought of this thank you very much I will set it up today. Very pleased Dave Decatur

[@coldpak82]

Great Video. I have this tub in my yard.for 10 year's it's so old an heavy and thick gauge too you just gave me a Idea how to use it. Thank's for posting this video.

[@freakygeaktwo]

when you introduced buddy as Peter Paul and he's married I heard Peter Paul and Mary I had to rewind and listen again :) good thinking there grow your own groceries I like that. thanks for sharing.

[@krl640]

Great job.I started a similar system on a smaller scale to this one.I have used the worms from an old compost bin.I use,chook poo, food scraps ,and dog poo ,no meat though as I was concerned it might get over run by maggots and smell bad. Early days yet but this vid has shown me it can work, thanks for sharing this.

[@Gilgamesh798]

Glad I found this video. I've been wondering about the best way to maintain a compost pile without loosing nutrients to leaching. Looks like I just found out. Thank you so much for posting this.

[@dtnj06]

HI Marjory, Great video! I had purchased a commercial black plastic one, but I had it in the sun in the summer and my poor worms cooked! I have been composting in a large black plastic trash can with the bottom cut our, dig a hole 6-12 in down and stick it in the ground,once full I move it around my yard. The sweet worms found me!

[@dylanjosselin]

this is great. I've been looking into worm farm composting for a while now, and this is the first video I've found that demystified it for me. thanks a lot!

[@GrowGnome]

Yeah I have a bin just like that collecting rain water with 12 big fat goldfish that turn the water dark green. This works great in my garden. Now I'm going to start a worm bin next spring! : ) I live on a lake so free worms for fishing sounds good too! : )

[@marklewis4793]

worms are attracted by rythmic vibrations-put a clock with a loud tick-tock sound or a musical metronome in a sealed bucket(resonator) on the'food'side of the worm bin,and they'll cluster around it...Anything that vibrates(pool-pump,generator,aquarium pump) will have this effect,..in south africa anyway.

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

This is not a good idea. The reason worms react to vibration is because it mimics rain. Worms come to the surface when it rains so they don't drown. Birds use there feet to creat vibrations on the ground to get the worm up so they can eat them.

[@1d1hamby]

I use several bins to worm compost. The best way to do it is get some old large bed sheets and cut them in quarters and line an old milk crate. Put some moistened shredded newspaper and worms with a little food scraps, to start, inside and wrap it up. You can put a little coconut coir or peat in to help with moderating the moisture. Stack the milk crates on a rolling dolly to aid in air circulation and convenience.

[@Ced3kGama]

First time I see worm eggs. Thanks.

[@DonShei]

I've been looking at several worm rearing videos and that guy really inspired me to create the same setup as his.

[@KurtUhlir]

I’m just getting started and loved the interview. Much easier and more practical than many of the worm farm plans.

[@IdahoViewing]

Tom, I have seen several videos of people composting, traditional and with worms, through the winter. It takes some preplanning and extra effort but it can be done. This bin would have to be WELL insulated to work. The great thing is the cocoons survive the winter so if it does get too cold you will have something to start with in the Spring. You could also have a smaller system for in the house to keep some worms going as well.

[@GreenLion419]

Marjory, great vid! Just a tip...you can use bokashi composting in the kitchen and feed the bokashi to the worms. This greatly speeds up the process and helps balance the soil with beneficial lactobacillus bacteria. The worms love it and the food is half digested before they get it. Happy farming!

[@morgrimx5732]

I have an idea about corralling the worms when you're ready to harvest your compost. I believe red worms like to stay 6" - 8" from the top of the pile. You could make a large insert with a screen on the bottom and place it on top of your compost. Stop feeding the worms in the compost and, instead, put the feeding in the insert. The worms should migrate to that "top hat" area after a while. So, when it's time to harvest the compost, you might be able to just lift that insert up and out of the way with most of your worms in there. Other worm systems use layers, allowing you to remove the bottom layer where the worms have already eaten everything and moved upward to the layers where there is food. It's worth a try anyway.

[@Michele0403]

Morgrim X If you put the food on one side, then the worms will go to that one side. Leaves the other side, worm free after a few months.

[@Gilbs2211]

Thanks for sharing, I juice and would love to take advantage of all the left overs for next years garden. Being in CO, i'll have to try the garage trick this winter and see how well the worms fair in my garage.

[@ronnieevers2023]

My Great Uncle use two old freezers to raise worms in, beside his smoke house on a shaded side to help keep it from over heating in a sunny spot he mainly used them for fishing and soil in garden areas and flowers beds,He would leave the top cracked a bit,,for air,,also,,he would sprinkle corn meal on top to feed them. As children it was as much fun to dig the worm,,as it was to go fishing,,,so ,,a good use for old freezers that stop working,,these were the chest type freezers by the way.

[@dinajohnson3435]

I live in Arco Idaho and understand that this method would not work outdoors due to our temps getting below zero thru the winter... I would LOVE to learn how to do this at a large scale without needing a large bank account here on my 'Kind Pharm' Thank you!

[@scottentomophagy229]

Looked like a Black Solider Fly larvae, these are incredible and edible larvae and fantastic composters. They are really good breaded and fried, arn't most things, but you want to steady boil them for a good while and dry before cooking.

[@suewinchester3674]

That's why I also when I clean my fish tank I put a strainer over a 5 gallon bucket and dump some of the water into through the rocks my rocks. My rocks into the strainer and use the fish water on my plants cuz you also get your fish manure that way too and then I put them put it on my household plants you can do that that's cool cuz it makes your house plants grow bigger

[@bayouboy6615]

like he said bout the eggs ! the worns with the white rings is the worns with eggs you want to keep them i dont raze worns but my yard is full of worns in the spring time been thanking of making me a worm bed try to keep them year round

[@AyudaraOtras]

Thanks! I've watched several of video on making worm bins and, so far, I like this one the best. The others make bins that are too small for my use. This one seems great. Thanks!

[@links0311]

That was a great video, thanks. I've added a worm bin to my garden plan.

[@Mrplace001]

You can get a plastic version of that water trough at Tractor Supply for about $39.

[@Michele0403]

Mrplace001 I have 4 worm bins going. I've been using plastic storage containers .. usually a 30 gallon, but any size will work. I found this website that is terrific and easy to follow for making your own bin. whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/easywormbin.htm

[@richarddowner4292]

great video. thank you very much. I my self am getting ready to start my own worm bin. I am super interested in the worm water/ tea. for my garden. plus the great soil they make. I can't wait to see the difference from natural to store bought chemical... again thanks for this video. very educational...

[@Former11BRAVO]

I've heard/read that as well. Same goes for meat products. I'm going to start worm beds under my -soon to be in existence- rabbit cages, too (an exception to the above 'rule' regarding animal waste), A trusted, gardener friend says rabbit pellets are as good a worm-food/compost as you can get. Most of his kitchen scraps go to his chickens, as do ours. The only other material he adds is some straw now and then, as I recall, although I think some leaves will be fine as well. Mmm.... compost!

[@treadsoftly8031]

This is a much better method than buying your vegetables and fruit because there are no toxins or pesticides on your food. I would not use meat just vegetation. Worm tea is amazing I've been using it for over a year and my veggies and fruit gardens are so good and healthy.

[@paulchalmus6881]

I love this. Will any nightcrawler do or is one type of worm better than another? What happens in the winter? Do the worm bin require special care? It seems that in nature worms are not that deep into the ground and they do ok? Is there a difference when you are raising them?

[@rogerannewilson]

Thank you so much for sharing this. Your video's are really inspiring us to take our garden to the next level.

[@Horse237]

Look up Johnson Su Bioreactor which makes compost without turning. You can choose to make fungal dominant compost or regular. Fungal dominant is best for forage grasses and berries. Veggies like regular compost.

[@GrenadeChick99]

Worm farms! More fun than the ant farms Milton Bradley marketed back in the day. Hands down!

[@ToxicVortex8]

exept you would see little pecks of shit everywhere you look XD

[@hmmurdock27011]

Worms are good for composting, forging chickens and excess/over populated worms can use for fishing

[@flarose97]

Loved this video!! Very educational. Now I'm going to be on the lookout for a water trough! Thank you very much!

[@Sig220Euro]

I was wondering the same. I'm guessing maybe the heat from the compost is enough to keep things warm or they hibernate?? But he did say he gets like 30 gal of juice over the winter and it gets cold in the NW so guess they work on it all winter long?

[@farmercal2782]

thank you for posting this video. How much can you sell worm juice for. When making tea with worm juice what is the ratio

[@dannyhughes4889]

Free Worms: At the end of Autumn I had Planters with too large drainage holes so I spread a layer of leaves to partially block the holes and then filled with Potting Mix...no Mix leaked out. I situated the fairly heavy Pots on the ground, planted Seeds, watered in and waited. Rain fell and no sign of anything sprouting.....and the Potting Mix started looking too soggy. After a few weeks of inactivity I gave up and emptied the Planters. The leaves at the bottom were still fairly intact and to my delight a healthy number of FREE worms were busy 'doing their thing' among the moist contents. I plan to test a similar arrangement in a larger container but with access to a drainage bucket situated underneath one end.

[@MikeKincaid79]

That's awesome, thanks for the video. I think I'm headed for the feed store to buy a water trough.

[@bobbrawley2612]

Did you ever get your water trough?

[@skylarm.6030]

Have you made a soldier fly bin yet? The grubs that form naturally in the worm bins produce rabidly and are full of protein, perfect for ducks and chickens!

[@BackyardFood]

I'm not sure if Peter has made one...But, that sounds great! My flock would love that!

[@elynnrodregues7970]

Thanks your sharing I try also this style ihave farm in philipines

[@MrGilcano]

I like this idea, the only problem will be harvesting the worm casting but I think what @Morgrim X said is the best suggestion to move the worms up to another bin. The "worm tea" is very beneficial to any plant and the worm casting could be mix with potting soil. Thumbs up

[@christopherlee3606]

You could add a 2 inch layer atop of your potting mix and that will be sufficient for a season. Mixing it in would also do the trick I think. Have you had luck with mixing it?

[@TheCondor300]

Dude... I'm just looking into this and I like your system. I see a problem with taking your worm dirt out and seperating the worms from the dirt. New wormey dirt is on the top... so why not have a long door near the bottom to take your good processed dirt out that has no worms in it. You keep adding you food and compost materials to the top... worm juice still comes out the bottom and the dirt is harvested near the bottom too. Just makes sense to me! Let me know what you think...

[@bertlaforge9535]

George Adams k

[@TheOnlyKateslate]

I was using my worm water like he did until I saw a video that taught it had to be aerated and not anaerobic. So, I am not the expert on the topic, but thought I would throw that out there. The person making the video said that some essential chemical processes occur when air is introduced to "worm tea." I am currently looking for an inexpensive air pump (like an aquarium bubbler) to put in the bottom of my worm water bucket.

[@homesteadinarental]

Thanks for the interview and the great idea....we have been making manure tea for years for the garden .... worm tea will be a NEW one for us....thanks again.. greetings

[@HBartinHannnahBartin]

Great stuff. Wonderful idea. Plastic stock tanks may be a better choice.The consensus between several compost buddies is that galvanized metal tubs may not be the best. Acids created in the compost may react with the galvanized metal and you may get undesirable things in the worm juice / compost. Anyone have thoughts about this?

[@yuetoobseabass]

This matches what my eesear h has found while reading up on plumbing for aquaponic systems. Once the ph drops to a certain point the oxide layer strips off into the food stream.

[@jamestomlin5525]

Then use an epoxy, simple as

[@libraryofpangea7018]

@8:08 As a former safety instructor I would highly recommend purchasing a funnel to reduce waste & contamination. You should also invest in rubber gloves, apron & safety goggles handling any kind of anerobic liquid material or fertalizer. You can also do Vermacomposting directly in your garden bed by building a worm tower. This has similar benifits as wicking beds, as it directly feeds the worm juice into the soil so you don't risk contaminating your produce & allows you to directly sow your worm castings in the bed without extra hauling & work.

[@smb123211]

I have never had a bin or box or turner. I have an 8 X 8 area within railroad ties. As a cook there is a continual supply of scraps. (This is so simple and cheap.) I added a few bags of topsoil, some sand, lots of rotten leaves and mix. Then, all year I dig a hole, pour in scraps, cover and move over 2 feet for the next time. After several swirls I have incredibly black soil so acidic it must be mixed with topsoil. I added worms 3 years ago and have never had to augment them.

[@silasaiken8282]

smb12321 hi Do you cover your pile in winter? What about freezing temperatures or snow?

[@christopherlee3606]

+BusyBees Garden. You can add meat. Most people don't because of the smell and it can attract other things like flies, mice, rats or other unwanted organisms to your bin. If you do add meat it's suggested to mix it with carbon (sawdust) to avoid unwanted critters. Worms will eat decomposing meat. Check out the book "Worms Eat my Garbage".

[@walkingmonument]

Where you get your meat is also a consideration. A lot of meat today is pumped with antibiotics which will make your worms sickly

[@jaimieharrington7101]

+christopher lee "other unwanted organisms like... Bears? :D)

[@christopherlee3606]

+Jaimie Harrington lolololol

[@Keepskatin]

Meat can host microscopic parasites when it rots and disease. Animal manure ,even compost chicken manure contain parasitic worms. If left in a warm moist location compost chicken manure will actually turn into a pile of parasitic worms.

[@chop98]

Five months later... yes you can feed the manure to the worms. The manure must be composted first though. The heat will kill those parasitic worms no problem. I've used horse manure for two years now and the worms are healthier than ever.

[@allykatblue]

This will be so he can harvest the castings (worm poop) to use on the garden. He will separate so that he can put them worms back into the farm. I have found it much easier to put in a divider into my bin and simply stop feeding one side, eventually they migrate to the side with food.

[@ToxicVortex8]

i would start it in your house and then have a small bucket with them in it wilth little compost bucket and when theyr going crazy dump them in a bigger one and use the small compost bucket as your dump bucket so you caempty it in the big container every so often. and if there are too many take some and use them as fishing bait :D

[@ToxicVortex8]

obviously when u have enough put the big bucket outside

[@boonedog1457]

Love it! We want worms!!

[@okieking8503]

I like the holes at the bottom idea. Mine is pre drilled about an inch up so I'd miss about 3 to 5 gallons of juice

[@TheOnlyKateslate]

I live in the Northwest and my worms have survived freezing winters outside with a piece of carpeting wrapped around the bin, but ours are probably not as prolonged freezing as your winters. They can also go in the garage, or even the kitchen if you use an asthetically pleasing setup.

[@margaretcorbett5176]

Thanks for making this video! I'm really glad to hear that you can put in meat scraps. How do the worms do in colder winter weather?

[@dawneyekeen3415]

Tomato plants 7 feet tall!!?? Wow!!

[@superslyfoxx1]

Excellent! Wow... giving me some great ideas on a smaller scale to try. thanks!

[@JohnThomas-nn6qt]

Have watched this many times (goood work) but now I am thinking airation (thank you Dr Johnson) would be a great addition to this to cut down on possible smells and a better way to build a fungal base in the soil. (Johnson-Su bioreactor)

[@ouhouhcflo]

Great worm farm!! Thanks for sharing.

[@atye04]

I think what he could do for compost is let it sit without feeding for awhile let em till it good then only feed on one side and basically shovel some primo dirt from the other, use a bait or cricket food after starving em out for a week or 2 then after 2 or 3 days of feeding in one side every worm would be on one side posibly a few lame or slow worms one the other side. Then just shovel em out.

[@jeep4ron]

So informative. Looking forward to mine. Thanks for sharing...

[@BackyardFood]

Sure thing !!! Good luck!

[@greensurvivalist4102]

Great video! I will add this to my list of things to do!

[@josephtermeer4595]

Thank you! i am going to start this weekend!

[@Imacfix]

It is now becoming spring here in Central Oregon High Desert and I'm wondering how to use the "juice" from the worm bin. Is it to be diluted before use or used straight from the bucket? The winter cold (mostly below freezing nights) didn't seem to slow the production of the "juice". I recently had surgery and have not been able to turn the compost to see what is happening near the bottom of the bin, but I am impressed with the "juice" production. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@TheBushdoctor68]

Compost Worms are often called Tiger Worms, or Nightcrawlers, or Red Wrigglers, or Manure Worms, or by their proper name Eisenia Fetida. You can probably get them fairly cheap at your local fishing store where they are sold as bait. Ask for 'the red ones' and check if they have a bit of striping on their backs. Regular earth worms will not do the trick. It's worth it to introduce compost worms to any compost bin. They will happily chew away at everything in there.

[@ArthurHau]

I dig a hole in the soil and dump my kitchen scrap into it. I then use the soil for growing basil, cilantro, and what not in pots before they are transplanted to the ground. In fact, I can simple mix grass clippings with soil and compost it for a month or two in 1 gallon pots before I use them for growing anything. It is much better, cheaper, and simpler than a worm bin! Better yet, just dump coffee grind and molded food scrap from ktichen into your raised bed or top of soil where you are planting some vegetables, they will compost while attracting worm to gather around in your bed or soil. Again, there is no need for a compost bin!

[@Keepskatin]

You don't want molded anything in your soil,that mold can harm your plants and you. You are suppose to compost food scraps that have not yet molded. The heat will kill any mold spores before they can multiply. Or you can use worms to eat the food scraps before they grow mold. They healthier and fresher your food scraps,they safer and more fertile your compost will be. Which in return makes for healthier worms.

[@ArthurHau]

Keepskatin Mold cannot survive inside the soil for long! There is an entirely different ecosystem inside and outside of the soil! That's why you don't see mold thriving inside the soil (even if you bury an entire body into the soil)! BTW, 3 months will be more than enough for all mold infected soil to become almost mold-free. I have tried it so many times with orange peels which were originally full of green mold. I even buried chicken skin and fat and the soil turned out to be perfect for planting anything!

[@adreanlinerusher]

Your method isn't bad but vermicomposting allows you to compost things that animals might get into. We have racoons, possums, and chickens here. I don't want anything getting into stuff they shouldn't be and leaving open food on the ground is asking for it.

[@Phelan666]

Get a dog.

[@Keepskatin]

@Arthur Hau Mold thrives in soil,even if not visible to the naked eye,the spores live on. Mold love moist dark areas,especially when it is warm. You are posting complete ignorance,delete your comment.

[@Thaneii]

If the worms and flies devour everything, has anyone seen his mother-in-law since this was posted? Just Kidding. I've recently starting a similar method myself, and found this to be very helpful. Thanks.

[@1d1hamby]

Okay there are a lot of comments to read. I do have to some things to add though. First you'll need some way for the bottom of the pile of the pile to get air. If you were to put some holes 3-4" up the side that would be plenty. But if you put some pvc through the pile with holes in it that would be better. Worms are aerobic creatures and when they don't get enough air they die. Black Soldier Fly is the larva that eat meat. They maybe even better at consuming garbage than worms, but no castings.

[@suburbanroots4857]

I have a question about the application of the worm juice. I would love to hear suggestions as to how people use the juice, whether it's sprayed on the soil or worked in? thanks

[@ashtanga2000]

The worm juice is not a good byproduct. The bin is too wet and not enough carbon.

[@OldGuitarMan58]

Can't find the video now but there was one from England where a man used old bathtubs to grow his worms. Underneath where the old drain pipe use to be he had spigots. when he turned them on out came the juice which he bottled up and sold

[@joshslackslack8115]

I'v got rabbits and feed my worms the rabbit droppings and left over hay and alfalfa and rabbit feed from the cage when I clean them the worms also get vegetables and fruit that is going bad I freez it before I feed it to the worms it helps it break down faster in the worms can eat it quicker

[@PossumPityParty]

+M Akhtar It's a livestock water trough, usually found at farm supply stores. They are pretty expensive in my experience though. But last a very long time. (Sorry I can't link to you, I just now found out what's been going on with YT comments)

[@Michele0403]

It's called "worm tea". And, if you feed only one side, then the worms will gravitate to that side. So, the other side will be worm free and ready to take the compost out and use.

[@ToxicVaccines_HivHoax]

+Michele0403 Great idea. How often do you need to take the compost out of the worm box? I just got a worm farm yesterday.

[@VaughnMalecki]

KZbinSearch ToxicVaccines ToxicFuoride, HIV Hoax I hope it's doing well. Something I learned late is a cover of leaves or newspaper... Keep the moisture in and keep it from drying out.

[@AlexHop1]

Thanks, Marjorie. Very helpful!

[@ezyjack826]

great video. I live in the northeast US. do you think it will be to cold in the winter to use this setup outside? it get's below zero here. I have access to a tub, trampoline and blocks so if it's ok I'm ready to go. thank you.

[@lucidspotlight]

IF you have chickens and or rabbits you can put that waist in there would be even better compost tea and better for your garden. However I have never heard anyone putting dog doo in your compost don't do that is my suggestion even if the dog is healthy or taking any thing like meds. The compost tea is most great for any garden. This is wonderful idea thank you I already have every thing I need getting started right a way.

[@tomcondon6169]

A good start is to bury some compost able materials, and the worms will find it, and you can add those worms to your bin as you find them, slower, I know, than finding and buying a whole bunch of worms. Re: fly maggots. I discourage wild flies, I feel they are very unsanitary. I am interested in soldier flies. They are great at breaking up compostables, and are great food for chickens. I garden in my mind; I don't have the space to garden yet.

[@laconflo1613]

Take an avocado and score it with an x.. Bury it just below the surface in the soil. The fats in the avocado attract the worms..they are hermaphrodites.. So the contact they make while consuming the avocado they procreate much quicker.

[@tomcondon6169]

@@laconflo1613 COOL!

[@johnfreeman9766]

I just started a bin and i'm not really getting any worm juice. I used peat moss and garden soil though. Maybe the moisture is being trapped there. I initially started it for worms to feed my chickens. I wasn't really concerned about harvesting castings or worm juice.

[@martinbernal5693]

Worms really like corn cobs.

[@muhammadshafiquezahid7714]

What is the difference between worm casting and worm juice ? In the above bin ,how would you collect worm castings ? Can you get worm casting and worm juice from the same bin ?

[@whodat80]

Nice video. Very informational. At the end of this video though, he says that he spends some time separating worms from the compost. What is the reasoning for that?

[@aaronm.3398]

This guys cool flawless design here tho! Highly recommended

[@Dollapfin]

They need a grit. Sand- coffee grounds, or blended eggshells are the best. You can crack the eggshells, just blending them is easier.

[@dv6272203]

Hi Marjory, like you I live in Texas east of Dallas. We get beastly hot summers will the worms survive? Do I use the worm urine directly on the soil or do I mix it with water before adding to my garden? Thank you for the amazing information you provide

[@texaspatty4697]

Dilute it. Don't use if it smells. There is a way to make worm tea using a fish tank pump and bubbling air through it. Better for the plants.

[@larrypowell3151]

What state do you love in. Wondering about freezing the worms

[@TheBushdoctor68]

Actually they are not, or very closely related, just originating from other countries. We are told they are different species because it helps sell them. Here's a Wiki quote: Eisenia fetida (older spelling: foetida), known under various common names such as redworm, brandling worm, panfish worm, trout worm, tiger worm, red wiggler worm, red californian earth worm, etc., is a species of earthworm adapted to decaying organic material.

[@AllGrowing]

Interesting, thanks for the video. As I've never done this before, can you explain the part about separating the worms (everyone of them?) in spring? What then, do I start from scratch again? Thanks

[@rhonda6004]

I sure would LOVE to see him harvest the soil out of that big bin. I want to keep my bin going so I have to pick the worms out by hand before putting in the garden- sure is time consuming. Does anyone have a faster way to harvest the compost soil from your bin w/o throwing all your worms in the garden & having to start over? Many thanks.

[@nancywebb6549]

If you feed from one end to the other the worms will follow the food and you can remove the compost at the end with no food or worms. If you get worms just put the compost in the sun on a tarp. The worms will move inward and you can remove the compost layer by layer until you just have a pile of worms that you can put back into the bin.

[@TheWormeryLLC]

Interesting video but it should be noted that liquids from the worm bin is not vermicompost tea and I personally wouldn't apply to any plants but I'd rather add to a compost pile

[@DaleGuinn]

Thank you so much for this video! I made my own worm bin exactly like Peters. It worked perfectly. Since Feburary they have produced about 50 gallons of worm juce which I have used on my plants in the greenhouse and in my garden. I however have ran into a problem, once the weather hit around 90 in Oklahoma along with the heat of the composting scraps in the worm bin my worms started to die. I asked the people I purchased them from and they said that 84 deg. groung temp. Any ideas?

[@abelramirez1235]

Does he separate the worms/flies etc from the compost? He mentioned doing it during the spring, what does he do with the bugs?

[@SurvivalNerd]

My bucket of worms has surface worms that are beginning to break down (bleeding liquid/goo). But, the worms at the bottom/middle of bucket are alive. How do I keep them from doing that? I keep them in my screened-in porch in a bucket. I add water from time to time. I trim trees in my yard (with my 12amp Dewalt Sawzall with 12 inch pruning saw blade) and have a lot of left over saw dust. Is the saw dust good to give them? How often should I change the bedding and what should it be made of? Walmart sells $3 bags (+30lbs per bag) of manure/compost for gardening without any additives (a no name bag). Is this good to use as food/new dirt to feed the worms? One of the videos I watched said to feed them cricket food ($4 for a small container of dusty stuff with corn, soybeans, vitamins and minerals, and other stuff; but, that gets pricey after a while). Are there better, cheaper items to feed them? If I feed them organic table scraps, how fine should they be cut up/processed before mix it into the worms or should I just pour the cut up table scraps on top (if it's a viable feeding option)? What does worm bedding such as newspaper, woodchips, sawdust and/or wet leaf mulch do for worms that regular dirt/manure can't do (why use one as a bottom layer?; would it work better if they were mixed instead of layered?)? What temperatures should I keep them at (and where depending on season/climate: spring, summer, fall, winter, autumn?)? How thick should the layer of dirt/bedding be for worms inside the bucket/bin (and does it differ between red wrigglers and huge nightcrawlers?) (I'm more interested in having more red wrigglers and only a few nightcrawlers; can you grow them together?; Do the species have problems living in the same bin/home together?)? Do I have to buy organic dirt to give them or can they thrive in environments with artificial additives like in common bags of soil (I ask because I live in North Georgia, USA)? Detail answer's would be great and most appreciated. Thank you for your time and effort! Sincerely, Jacob SurvivalGeek (KZbin) kzbin.info/door/fRsUPToBXp4ZIre__dJg4A

[@scott98390]

Did you really just say "Peter Paul is Married"?? LOL... that's awesome.

[@thorsaquatics6310]

I am going buy one like that and redo my worm again

[@KaoticPearl]

We live in Illinois---gets very cold. I saw no reply to the guy from Detroit, so what would need to be done to keep the worms alive in the winter? Also I didn't see anything about adding grass clippings, would that be too rich for the worms to live in?