Stop doing these 3 things to be a better worm farmer

[@A-V]

Great advice - I encountered the same exact pitfalls when I started. Now that I am a bit more experienced, I have a whole slew of new pitfalls that I constantly tangle with :)

[@PlantObsessed]

The struggle is real. Me and my vermi bag are a great example. It wants to be an only child I think.

[@3dp_edc]

tangle with, i see what you did there 😉

[@michaelsherron5750]

Yep! That’s life, learning all the time😂

[@rachaeld15]

Thanks. This is one of the best videos/info I’ve seen (plus a 23 min video of yours I just watched). My bin is WAY too wet and I have 2 layers and wasn’t sure what I’m doing. I only have food in the second layer! Going to watch more of your videos

[@PlantObsessed]

I'm glad you find it useful. I have made many mistakes so I hope to prevent others from the same. Good luck 🪱👍🏼😃

[@augustineschaefer5522]

I’ve been adding yard duff to my bins with the shredded paper. They LOVE the actual outdoor plant bedding. They’re on top right under the bubble wrap worm balling in the grass clippings and root matter. No weird smells, or temperature or anything different. The only difference is the addition of just enough yard duff to make the castings go black…and my babes are not disappointing. They’re just not as interested in their made to order food as they are in old garden duff.

[@PlantObsessed]

It's true. My worms love the fall leaves. I don't use it in the breed specific bins due to the _native_ worms in my yard.

[@AlvinMcManus]

I am working on patience. I have an Urban Worm Bag 2 and the 5-gallons of bedding I prepared for this bag back in late August makes for a real depth of material, about 10 inches deep. My worms seem happy so I am just checking in on them every 4-5 days and just monitoring the food consumption. So far so good just gonna practice patience and moisture control and feed only when absolutely necessary. No easy for a rookie to me patient but I seem to be okay.

[@PlantObsessed]

Every 4 or 5 days is very patient. I was peeking every day in the beginning.

[@michaelsherron5750]

You got this… wait a minute that’s two years ago, you’re probably a pro by now.😄

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

Sandra so sorry for your fall! Having seizures I know all about falls in awkward places! Much love and appreciation!

[@PlantObsessed]

Sorry to hear about Sandra's fall. I hope all is well now. 🪱👍🏼☺️

[@melodylamour6123]

It will take about 6 months for my bin to be working right with microbes, bugs, etc. I needed to hear that too.

[@PlantObsessed]

The biggest challenge is patience .😊

[@brianseybert192]

A lot of good advice. I know when I 1st started raising worms, I made every mistake in the book. Much of it was from watching worm videos that did not work for me. There is definitely a learning curve when it comes to successfully raising compost worms. The one thing I hate to hear, is people giving up when it comes to raising worms. You do not need fancy worm bins, or the contraptions many worm videos tell you to construct. I have found the best worm bin for me outside are the grow bags, and as far as inside, an open 17 gallon tote. The only problem for me is the totes take up to much room in my grow room, will have to figure something out or keep them in my cold basement. Enjoy your videos ! Stay Well !!!

[@PlantObsessed]

I need to give them a try. I just emptied them out from the plants. 👍🏼😀🪱

[@brianseybert192]

The thing I like the best about the grow bags outside is not worrying about the bins getting flooded like a plastic tote can.@@PlantObsessed

[@johnduffy6546]

as a fellow worm head, you've nailed ALL 3 points!

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you. 👍🏼😀🪱

[@sandyjoao4489]

Great info Ann. I once added ginger which had gone dry...obviously took a long time but I tell u the castings smelt sooo gd with the gingerly flavour. He he....Great bin u have there. Good worms.

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes, I added ginger and it took 9 months. Crazy stuff. I love ginger so not much makes it to the bin thankfully.

[@cynthiaedwards726]

Hi, really like your videos - just found them. I'm starting with European Night Crawlers but am going to use my two long halves of a 55 gallon drum for red wigglers soon. Believe I'll follow your wedge method.

[@PlantObsessed]

It works great. Good Luck!!

[@amypeterson7463]

I have a bioactive leopard gecko tank, so I already have colonies of springtails and isopods. Should I add some to my worm bins? My I have had my worms for years, in a VermiHut, and never had those critters in my bin before.

[@PlantObsessed]

They help process the food faster for the worms so you can get castings faster. Sometimes they do get in a population boom and are annoying. 🪱😃👍🏼

[@csaw4u]

Do we have to have layers? Not possible to mix everything?

[@PlantObsessed]

You can just do it in one tote works absolutely fine.😁👍🏼🪱

[@g.esmith6216]

Is it ok to introduce diferent types of worms in the same bin?

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes, they all work well together 🪱👍🏼😃🪱

[@percyblok6014]

You make a GREAT and critical point about the "ecosystem" and biology necessary to really cycle through material. I'm curious, have you ever played around with different local innoculants when starting new bins? I like grabbing a couple handfuls of dirt and leaves from where I've had compost piles in the past and seed bedding with it.

[@PlantObsessed]

I only used local dirt once when I started my first bin. Now when I make the bedding I use finished castings.

[@tommcg7564]

Is there a reason why my castings are darker?

[@PlantObsessed]

If you used leaf bedding or fed lots of coffee that could be the reason. I often see a difference when I feed leaves. 🪱👍🏼😃

[@amosremy7454]

Great😊 question

[@brianseybert2189]

I keep all of my worms outside in the spring, summer and fall in 25 gallon grow bags. When I bring them in in the winter I put them in 27 gallon plastic totes. I use shredded leaves and compost as bedding over shredded newspaper or cardboard to bring in a wider array of bacteria and to introduce beneficial fungi into my worm castings. I have never had an issue with pests associated with vermicomposting since I made a switch to natural bedding. I also go a step further when feeding my worms, I freeze, then thaw their food before placing in their bins. The freezing process breaks down the cellular walls in their food and makes it easier for bacteria to invade it, thus making in available faster for the worms. I do get lazy with melons, bananas and squash, it disappears frozen or not. I have also learned to keep my bins on the dry side. For a while I followed the University Of Illinois suggestion of about a 70% moisture level. I ended up with fugus gnats, springtails and mites. I believe natural bedding along with a drier bed makes for better indoor vermicomposting. Just me.

[@PlantObsessed]

Wow that is a lot of work bringing them in and out. I agree with the dry side. I see in the cool season springtails go nuts if it is too wet.

[@brianseybert2189]

@@PlantObsessedWell I live in WI, do not have much of a choice. Actually it is not that much work, I consolidate everything into 3, 27 gallon totes for the winter, I usually harvest castings in Feb then in May when I take them out for the summer. Click on my red B to see how I separate my worms from their castings.

[@dianeconway293]

What are springtails and are they good or bad for the worm bins

[@michaelsherron5750]

Great helpful tips for us beginners! 😁

[@PlantObsessed]

Glad it was helpful!,👍🏼😃🪱

[@DaddyF2P]

I see that you put some unfrozen food in there. Will that lead to a big fruit fly problem? Even my bin has fruit fly problems though I freeze everything a few days prior to feeding

[@PlantObsessed]

I do put Frozen and unfrozen food in there. The key is to cover it with enough bedding that the gnats that might be living in the area don't smell it and lay their eggs on it 🪱👍🏼🙂

[@joleaoshman8731]

Great video...why am I so confused on my two layer bin?...I put everything paper, coir in tip bin and tub in bottom with newspaper. I then added worms to that top bin....I'm feeding them worm feed for now. I had water little daily its just damp. Am I doing ok so far?🤔

[@PlantObsessed]

Sounds good. Unless your area is very dry you won't need to water every day. 👍🏼🪱😃

[@tinguspingus295]

Hey ann, how would you say is the best way to efficiently help make the presence of microbial life active and ecosystem stable in a new bin?

[@PlantObsessed]

If you have people you know with bins that are running longer than 6 months get some castings. That would be the best way. I started off with a handful of my outside compost. That was less than ideal but still took months to get it stable.

[@tinguspingus295]

@@PlantObsessed aw that sucks, my oldest bin is only a month old

[@cynthiaedwards726]

How often do you fluff/aerate your bins?

[@PlantObsessed]

About monthly. :)

[@mary-kayperris4876]

mY bin is very wet - I never water. Add shredded paper and sometimes cardboard. Cardboard gets wet but does not get eaten. I feed them mainly greens. What am I doing wrong?

[@PlantObsessed]

How many worms do you have and how old is the bin? This can make a big difference.

[@mary-kayperris4876]

@@PlantObsessed Thank you for responding to me. I have a few hundred and it is about 5 months old. It smells good. They are in a plastic container 6in deep, 10 in wide and 15" long. I dont have space for anything bigger. I am constantly donating my worms to others that want to have a small worm farm.

[@PlantObsessed]

@@mary-kayperris4876 a few hundred worms is not many. 5 months is also pretty young for a bin with very few worms. Most people start a bus bin sized container with 1,000 worms. I would add only enough food that they can eat in a week off to one corner. It is ok if it is wet right now, you want them to breed.

[@mary-kayperris4876]

@@PlantObsessed Thank you so much!!

[@jaluprayoga]

Do worms can break down bones? If do, how long does it take for worms to break down bones?

[@PlantObsessed]

I have some bones in my largest bin. They've been there for a couple of years so I think they don't really break them down very quickly. At this point I'm thinking a decade. That's chicken bones though. 🪱👍🏼😃

[@1huzlives]

Thanks for all the videos. Ann, Is there any such thing as too much bedding?

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you. No I don't think there can be too much bedding. 🪱👍🏼😃

[@GardeningwithBarchuckin]

You explain everything very well Ann. Definitely need to listen to what the worms are telling you with the feeding or adding more bedding.

[@PlantObsessed]

Worm farming is not exactly intuitive. I also would like hard fast rules to follow but there just are not. Thanks for watching Rick.

[@livingtherufflife]

Thanks super helpful i have tons of frozen tomatoes, good idea to feed the worms for winter!

[@PlantObsessed]

They will love it.

[@theleadlifereloading5742]

I live in New York, and I'm coming into some very cold sub-freezing weather, and the wife won't let me bring in my 40gallon bin with 4lbs of mixed worms. I puree, and freeze all my food. Then I defrost, and mix with shredded cardboard and start a hot compost and put in the middle of my bin. Keeps my bin at 60 to 88 degrees while freezing outside. Your thoughts? Oh and I also make my own Worm chow, with various grains and flours. I also use wet dog food.

[@PlantObsessed]

That is great. How many winters have you gone through? I have not figured out what I'm doing with my outside bin yet.

[@theleadlifereloading5742]

Had freezing weather this past few night, bin was at 90'. Never had an issue all these years. I experiment all the time with mini hot compost feedings. Keep the entire bin toasty.

[@dennisjohnson4228]

hey man I'm in similar situation. I'm in my and my wife is grossed out also. Do you keep it in a garage or enclosed non heated area. Do you have air holes in bin? thanks.

[@TheFarmsLife]

9:08 Here’s the translation in English: "Wish the garden continues to thrive and bring in bountiful harvests!"

[@PlantObsessed]

🪱👍🏼😁

[@TheFarmsLife]

@ good luck🍎

[@katherinedaniels317]

Can I pls ask how long can I leave my bin without harvesting it??

[@PlantObsessed]

This bin size as I have here I harvest every 6 months. If the castings start getting sticky it becomes more urgent.

[@katherinedaniels317]

@@PlantObsessed I've had my bin for bout 6months now but I don't really need the castings atm so was wondering if it's possible I leave it for another couple months what do u think ?? My bin is like 3/4 to the top now

[@sandy5149]

@@katherinedaniels317 You can store the harvested castings until you need them. I guess the worms will be happier in fresh bedding😊

[@jophermans]

I’m impressed with how dry your worm bin is. I have a worm hotel with a little tap on the bottom, and holes in each layer so the worms can migrate up and down. But it never is as dry as this… should that be my goal? I use straw as a bedding. Would you recommend that?

[@PlantObsessed]

I run on the dry side. It is not ideal if you are trying to expand your population. It is good to get a faster harvest. If your goal is to get more worms then keep it wetter. I would think straw is fine. Mine eat paper and cardboard because that is what I get for free.

[@jophermans]

@@PlantObsessed thank you for sharing! And that’s actually a very helpful insight. Wetter bin for population growth. A more dry bin for faster composting. I guess paper and carton breaks down faster than straw, especially when it’s wet. For the last two years I noticed the straw I use hardly gets eaten by the worms. There are some pretty big and strong worms in my bin, but I guess that is because it’s been pretty wet this last year (and loads of eggs). Very different to the smaller worms I could spot in your video. I will try to dry out the hotel this year and see what happens

[@sansarsingh2716]

Why frozen material is used for feed

[@PlantObsessed]

The act of freezing the food makes it easier for the worms to eat it. For fruit and vegetables it makes them eat faster. It is best to warm it to room temperature before feeding.

[@thisnthatwithYaya]

Just now watching these awesome videos.. about to go outside to get some dried leaves!!

[@PlantObsessed]

I'm glad you still have some left!! They will make your worms happy 😁

[@fullcircle4723]

Great testimony and info. Thank you.

[@PlantObsessed]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MaishYoung]

What's the growth rate

[@PlantObsessed]

The worms will double every 3 months . The size of the worm depends on the food provided. I find mine stay small unless I go heavy on the worm chow. 👍🏼🪱😁

[@MaishYoung]

Ok but it seems like am working on Patience for far too long....their expansion rate seems to be wanting....

[@jerrycallison6125]

spot on! Impatience is a real danger. Too many on KZbin and FB have channels and happen to raise worms. Others raise worms and happen to have a YT channel. (Such as yourself.) There is a HUGE difference. A good rule of thumb is to discount what you see/hear by 90% and take the last 10% as an exaggeration. "Evaluate and then act." Again, spot on. It's much too easy to act and then evaluate, but by then, it's too late. Thanks so much for continuing to educate and encourage.

[@PlantObsessed]

There are so many new worm farmers that are desperate for hard fast rules. I know I was. Thanks for the kind words.

[@jerrycallison6125]

@@PlantObsessed As was I. The difference is, I am trying to do mine on a commercial scale, which has commercial scale repercussions when I mess up. 🤪 I appreciate being able to refer my "newbie" customers to your channel, for I know they will get good honest information without a lot of self-serving bloviation some other channels provide. I'm still learning, and know that I will continue to do so for a long time. There are no "hard fast rules." But, there are some "hard fast principles" we need to abide. Thanks.

[@PlantObsessed]

@@jerrycallison6125 sweet. Some day I would like to scale up when I retire in about 15 years. Right now the biggest issue I see is Illinois legal system and waste management.

[@brianseybert2189]

I started raising worms 3 years ago, basically off of KZbin advice WRONG !!! I raise worms to feed my seedlings, to improve my garden beds and to give my transplants a boost when placed in the garden. I made all of the mistakes, until I did it my own way... By letting worms be worms. No more shredded newspaper or cardboard. I use compost and shredded leaves as bedding, I freeze their food then thaw to make it more readily available and #1 I do not make them live in a swamp. I have a video you may want to view how I separate my worms from their castings. Just click on the red B.

[@amosremy7454]

​@@PlantObsessedI guess I'm the odd ball out because I didn't expect anything yesterday. I also didn't over feed them. Checking on them daily because I thought I'd mess up is my issue.

[@roundhousekickgirl4512]

I started worm farming last year and I’ve always went by the old saying, less is more with the food and I’ve yet to get a rouge bin. I have about 9 bins, 1 UWB, and a big one outside on my back porch. And I’ve always leaned more on the drier side vs sopping wet.

[@PlantObsessed]

Agree, I tend to let mine be more dry. In the case of the bag systems it isn't working so well. Live and learn. Thanks for watching 😃

[@mascatrails661]

Great tips! I think I got a bit of a jump start of my first bin as I used a good bit of leaf mold that had been at the bottom of my leaf pile in a pretty dense forest. Basically from minute 0 of my worm bin, I already had guests like rolipolies and would venture to guess a good blend of bacteria and fungi.

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes outside leaves and compost are great for that.

[@brianseybert2189]

In my opinion you are off to a great start! Keep using organic materials as bedding, Under the microscope you can really see a difference of life within your vermacompost using natural bedding over shredded newspaper etc.. Do not worry about the larger arthropods, they will not harm your worms or your worm castings. Great Job!!!

[@PlantObsessed]

@@brianseybert2189 I love looking at the bin critters under my microscope

[@brianseybert2189]

@@PlantObsessed I've noticed, since I started using natural bedding, compost, shredded leaves there is a lot more wild life under the scope. I will never go back to shredded paper unless things get to wet and I'm out of leaves.

[@GK.4]

What to do if worm tea is not collecting

[@PlantObsessed]

I don't use the stuff that leaks out. I mix finished casting with water. Is that what you mean?👍🏼🪱😃

[@amosremy7454]

You don't collect worm tea. That's Leache waste water. You make worm tea by soaking castings, molasses and aerate

[@lindalinda-ie3hw]

i think you would really enjoy pottery bc you use your hands creatively

[@PlantObsessed]

I have often thought about that. Maybe someday 😃👍🏼🪱

[@AJsGreenTopics]

I think many have done this when starting out. I know I have.🙂

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes I think we all have.

[@brat-rodnoy]

Thanks dear!

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you for watching 😃👍🏼🪱

[@mrhalfstep]

Are you saying that mites and rolly pollys are a GOOD thing in a worm bin? I started this about 16 months ago and I've got rolly pollys out the wazoo and little crawly white things and I thought I had a problem brewing. I would be great to hear that that's not the case!. I'm just doin' this and really don't know what I'm doin'! LOL

[@PlantObsessed]

We all start out that way. Yes they are good for the bin. They pre break down the food for the worms.👍🏼😃🪱

[@dianefields6056]

Oh good. I also thought the tiny white things in abundance were bad. I also have many wood lice and a shiny black spider that seems to have been able to produce babies even though she was on her own there for quite a while (spins a round white cocoon).

[@pcngo1]

Love the simple straight forward advice. Planning to start my first bin soon! A few questions if you would kindly help clarify : 1) T/F - Definitely no meat or citrus for feeding. 2) Did you not break up your food to slow them down because you're unable to produce feed if you were to break up their food? Thanks again and look forward to seeing rest of your content!

[@PlantObsessed]

#1 Citrus is ok to feed all the time. Meat will attract flies. So I won't. #2 I put it in one place most of the time so I can tell if they need more food. Does that help?

[@littlehouseontherock-wormery]

I am guilty of 3. Not overfeeding as I watched many videos before I started and knew to not overfeed but I had to check my worms every day. Now when I have more bins I give some of them a break. I don't like to make things complicated and I like to use what I already have.

[@PlantObsessed]

You and your worms are luckier than most. I am sure I did it all in the beginning.

[@littlehouseontherock-wormery]

@@PlantObsessed I am not sure if my worms would agree with you LOL I really had to check them every day

[@amosremy7454]

​@@littlehouseontherock-wormery same here

[@davidmalone3548]

Is it really necessary to manipulate the layers like that? I think it’s better to influence the bin as you add stuff to the top instead of shuffling all of it about.

[@PlantObsessed]

In this deep of a system it would become anaerobic if I did not mix the layers to introduce air. 🪱👍🏼🙂

[@ChuanfaBuddha]

New to channel, finding good info. Thank you. Do you make worm tea, or just keep it more dry?

[@PlantObsessed]

I use worm tea in the growing season but use most of my casting for add-ons when planting. I have a video on my tea and how I use it for a foliar spray.

[@ChuanfaBuddha]

@@PlantObsessed thank you

[@jerrycallison6125]

You found a great channel. Anne knows what she talks about. With respect, from the context of your question, it sounds to me like you are referring to waste moisture collected at the bottom of a bin as worm tea. This is not worm tea. Worm tea is made from castings. The leachate collected from the bottom of a bin system can be detrimental rather than helpful. Check out Anne's excellent video on worm tea to see the difference.

[@brianseybert2189]

@@jerrycallison6125 I completely agree. Worm bin leachate is anaerobic and not something you want to do a foliar spray with or even to put in your garden soil. I suppose you could aerate it to kill off the anaerobic bacteria.

[@RedWrigglerBklyn]

Great points--but how to be patient!

[@PlantObsessed]

Man, I wish I knew. Lol.

[@fredbristow742]

Is it ok to feed frozen foods

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes 100% I try and keep it off to one side so it doesn't shock them but they like it better than non frozen.😊👍🏼🪱

[@jamesduff6937]

are slugs ok in a worm farm?

[@PlantObsessed]

I would not like them. The eggs would hatch in the garden and eat my hostas. I don't believe they will hurt the worms.👍🏼🪱😃

[@jamesduff6937]

@@PlantObsessed thank you for your reply. Good to know they don't harm the worms. Cheers.

[@LazyLizy6071]

The reason they don’t want people looking at them is because they’re all naked😂

[@PlantObsessed]

For sure 😎👍🏼🪱

[@666bruv]

I place over 500grams to what was 500 red wrigglers, and that is consumed by about day, if not earlier, but I do have colemebela, woodlouse, millipedes, and some mites

[@PlantObsessed]

You feed the weight of the worms almost every day? How big is the bin and how long has it been going? I am very interested in hearing from you how you do it.

[@666bruv]

@@PlantObsessed it's just one of those 30ltr or so domestic stacker bins. I am a student studying Dr Elaine Inghams Soil Food Web course. The main material is an incomplete Bio-Complete thermophilic compost I have created a chow, there you go, using some of your lingo, a recipe and process to produce high end finished product for soil innoculation I live in the south of Tasmania, pure water and air, no industry, traffic or flight paths, nice

[@666bruv]

@@PlantObsessed and I bought the worms at the middle of winter, it was cold wet and rainy, brought it inside and placed it on a propagating hotbed, and still there, it is still quite cool and wet here

[@Mothobius]

Sorry for all these comments but also about not looking at your worms too much, I don't dig down in the bin. I just take the lid off and watch them. They don't really get bothered by it and continue their worm activities at the surface of the substrate. It would be different if I was constantly digging around messing things up.

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes true.

[@luisaguinigajr3385]

I live in Los Angeles there really no place to dig for worms do you know anyone that would mail out ten or 20 worms. I have a compost bucket. Ready to go. I love worms.

[@PlantObsessed]

You can probably go to a bait shop and get a few cups of red wigglers or European nightcrawlers.👍🏼😀🪱

[@NanasWorms]

Worm farming taught me to be patient! I’m still not patient enough- I’m a work in progress…

[@PlantObsessed]

Patience is not my best virtue either. Lol thanks for watching 😃

[@brianseybert2189]

My 1st year growing worms was the worse. Since then, I have learned to leave my worms alone and only feed them when the food was gone. Happy worms, happy me!!!

[@brentparks8524]

If I wanted patients, I would have become a doctor.

[@JonathanWill-p3b]

I raise in Kiddie Wadding Plastic. Pools add 5" soil, use only a 2 gallon sprayer to water surface, I keep covered in old news paper, spray it wet so soil surface is only spray watered every 12 hours, with coffe plastic containers, with bottoms cut out, stand up Three of them, in a pyramid style, stand up, place my potting soil around any type of container that allows the water, to evaporate off the bottom of the pool floor, may add 4 coffee creamer containers with bottom cut out, stand up in plastic containers, add soil, thats how, water can evaporate, from bottoms of pools full of soil, yet not wet at all, . ! I have been growing indoors for over 30 years and, add a insulation, a Styrofoam sheet, a 2" tick on cold winter floors, then put pools on top, as Potassium is locked up in soil, at 50 degrees or below, so add a Box fan to the Quail Egg incubator room, add, Aquatic Duck . Weed, it's full of B - 12 vitamins add to a 8 Texas a.m. Quail egg omlets, Duck weed needs top soil for a fertelizer, . No. Fish, . No Snails, if you are to Eat it, ! No Fish Snails, ! Colud kill your ass. Ecclesiastes 9:10 I raise, Duck weed in a Kiddie pool with a Air Stones, Sponge Filters, laying on sides, sense water is only, . 5" deep. a Aqua . Tech Water Filter, placed in a square 12" tall trash can, and place in center of a 5 foot wide, Duck . Weed Supply, I stir up, dirt, top soil off, bottom, several times daily, to fertelize thd Duck. Weed. Floating. Roots. System, grows faster, With a air stone, I use Aqua Tech 15 - 30 gall water Filter, cost $48.00 dollar at, Walmart don't use filters, you just want to splash, agitate, a water surface, and to keep Duck weed away from water fall, make a 1" square floating styrofoam shield floats, in the letter, . C keeps the Duck Weed out from in front of the water fall, ! Make anything that floats, use pin needles, 3" long, or super glue all three pieces togather, or pin together with a 3" long nails, then place in front of the Aqua Tech Water Filter, it splashes, control amount, by flow rate, by adding a wadded up, aluminum ball stick in Aqua Tech Intake tube, you control how fast it flows, as Duck Weed dont like moving water, only sitting ponds, high in B - 12 Vitamins and KAL Brand from, . Wond-r Labs. . in Tennessee, KAL Unfortufied. Nutritional. Yeast, a 15 oz. Can from, U. K. Full of energy, Unfortufied is natural yeast, if it says, Fortified, you don't want it, as it is, Synthetic, ! Get only, Unfirtified. Nutritional. Yeast, I grow in my living room Rocket Arugula and Purple Curly Kale and Dwarf Okra, under, a G. E. 4 foot long White lite a heavy duty frame at Lowe's for $78.00 a Shop Lite style, excellent never go bad, a G. E. 30 watt Grow Lights

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes excess aquarium plants are good food for the worms. The worms castings are great for growing food indoors 😃👍🏼🪱

[@JonathanWill-p3b]

Add a box fan on low speed on a timer with 30 minutes on, and 1 hour off, stop's the hot, & cold air pockets, in corner's of a cold, Quail, or a Chicken, Duck egg incubator room, add, at least 6 kitties Litter Boxes of Water adds moisture to your dry air home,

[@Towanda99]

I thought the bottom level was just for the liquid juice from their casting and only the middle level got worms to start with hmmm

[@PlantObsessed]

That was what I started with but the worms made it known they wanted to roam free. 😃🪱👍🏼

[@gladisbahena475]

Love the "good worms" ❤

[@PlantObsessed]

I feel encouragement is good for them. Like my plants. 😁🪱💕😊

[@benjamintaine4476]

Do you sell your grown worms?

[@PlantObsessed]

No I use all the worms and casting at home.

[@benjamintaine4476]

@@PlantObsessed sorry for being naive but what do you use the worms for? I have worm bins myself and I use the worm to feed my eels and soft shell turtles

[@PlantObsessed]

@@benjamintaine4476 I give them to friends for worm bins. The worms are self limiting so if the population grows too much they stop breeding.

[@benjamintaine4476]

@@PlantObsessed thanks for your reply. Cheers

[@Brandon31687]

I saw to not use onion. Just Looking out

[@PlantObsessed]

That is a common thing that people write in books and tell people I have not found it to be true. The worms seem to actually enjoy being in the onion. 🪱👍🏼😃

[@amandaschumacher3437]

Can worms (red worms) eat rasins? I’m new to worm farming (I started 4/8/23 so I need some good tips plz!!)

[@PlantObsessed]

I would soak them in water. I found all dehydrated food needs to be rehydrated to help them eat it faster. I would only feed a few spoonfuls and see what they do in a week. Very new worm bins work slower and are more likely to have problems. Good luck.

[@freeasabird5187]

I chop everything up before putting it in the worm farm. I have been told not to put citrus in the farm.

[@PlantObsessed]

I have heard the citrus thing too. It is not true. A mature bin over 6 months old can process citrus no problem. 😃👍🏼🪱

[@Lild777]

Me too and I don't use citrus either. My son and I collected about 6 dozen worms from our forest floor for fishing and I decided to make them a home. Used the same leaf liter they were in, some mulch that was in my garden, shredded paper and some compost. They have been in a tote with holes for 2 almost 3 weeks and have had babies already. The top 2 inches out of 8 is all castings. I noticed today while feeding that the bin has broken down a lot and isn't as light and fluffy as it started out to be. I'll probably collect the castings and add some more material.

[@michaelfoster8530]

You can't expect the worms to eat their weight in cardboard. Try some peat moss, leaf mulch and pureed food scraps. They will eat through that in no time at all.

[@PlantObsessed]

Exactly

[@richardway3761]

I haven't bought any worm feed since I started over 8 years ago just saying, it's gone up in price and you really don't need it.

[@shaggyd00kale58]

I puree all the food scraps and they go through that in no time.

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

What is the 3 biggest differences / changes between when you started and now? topic for discussion.

[@PlantObsessed]

I would say that I am less anxious about the worms now. I don't feed twice a week. I don't look in on them and handle them daily.

[@minkoil00]

She touched every worm in those bins lol

[@PlantObsessed]

Some of them twice😁

[@techzone2009]

Mommy touch 😂

[@gulfcoastbean]

Why are your worms so small?

[@PlantObsessed]

High population causes them to decrease in size. In the beginning I was talking some out to promote growth. I ended up with 23 worm bins. Too much to care for with the resources I have. Now I let them self regulate.👍🏼🪱🙂

[@amosremy7454]

​@@PlantObsessedyou're doing amazing à

[@winstonsmiths2449]

I fuss with my worm bin probably too much. I trim the scraps, remove moisture from the scraps, do not use hard parts. I do not bury the food much if at all. The food must start to decompose before the worms can actually start to feed on it. I do not want too much rotting scraps in the bins, will attract flying insects.

[@PlantObsessed]

If you have the time I say do what works for you. Always. 👍🏼🪱😃

[@janecarver9672]

Good Worrmms!!! love it : )

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you

[@kaburam24]

they say that there are three foods not to feed the worms with 1. onions, garlic, and so 2. citruses off all kinds 3. meet of all kinds (mainly because it smells real bad) thus … are you sure it is ok to feed your worms with onions?

[@PlantObsessed]

Because I have been doing it for years with no bad effects.😃🪱🪱

[@elizabethhoude5913]

Oh onions? 😮 I thought onions were not good for worms

[@PlantObsessed]

Onions are just fine. I have been feeding them forever. I would use them sparingly in a new bin. Any bin over 6 months old can eat just about anything.

[@PrototypeB]

I’ve been trying to kill the springtails and mites smh

[@PlantObsessed]

I did in the beginning too. Live and learn.

[@Mothobius]

I keep my worms in a bucket with a lid so I just throw old rotten fruits and vegetables on top and they eat them pretty fast. And breed alot.

[@PlantObsessed]

Sounds great!

[@JoshDanloor]

9 minutes of good advice and severe earthquake for your worms. 😂

[@PlantObsessed]

🪱👍🏼😁

[@AgabaMwesigwaYofesi]

Is good to add I.M.O in a warm bin

[@PlantObsessed]

What is IMO?

[@juanitanoble3190]

Everything you say makes perfect sense. But I have to wonder, how do you keep your worms alive (not starving) while you wait those first 6 months for the ecosystem to stabilize?

[@PlantObsessed]

The bin still gets fed but just not as much. In reality the worms are not the ones eating their own body weight a week. The bin ecosystem is doing half the eating. The worms then reprocess the material when they are done. Worms can reprocess the same castings many times before it looses its nutritional value.

[@juanitanoble3190]

Seems my notion to feed them half-finished compost may have been a lucky accident! Now I'm going to start collecting pill bugs to put in the bins. Anything else free or cheap I can do to expedite the process?

[@brianseybert2189]

@@juanitanoble3190 I have completely gone to compost and shredded leaves as bedding. It introduces a new dimension of biology into your worm castings.

[@juanitanoble3190]

@@brianseybert2189 I've read a few places where people who did this ended up with a mite overgrowth. How long have you been using this mix for bedding?

[@brianseybert2189]

@@juanitanoble3190 I started using natural bedding two winters ago. Perhaps I've just been lucky, or a combination of luck and keeping my worms on the dry side. Unfortunately my luck has worn out. I discovered jumping worms in my potato bed and leaf mold pile this year. I had to take all of that beautiful leaf mold and cook in my pellet grill and most of it I ran through hot composts to kill off the cocoons. I encourage everyone who gardens to check with their DNR to see if jumping worms are in their area. I was oblivious to jumping worms until I discovered them this fall.

[@TimeSurfer206]

2 quick observations to a great video: She's right, it's better to underfeed your worms than to overfeed them. And yes, it is quite possible to have enough worms to take care of all of your edible wastes. Expect it to take a few years to populate about half a garage's worth of Worm Bins.

[@PlantObsessed]

Yep I started with a few pounds and now ... They take up my basement.👍🏼😊🪱

[@Dobromir_Chodkowski]

Maybe giving onions and potatoes to the worm bin is not the best idea? Since after six months only those two are left i start to think that worms dont like neither potatoe peels nor onion ends.

[@PlantObsessed]

I think like is a strong word. The bin critters just have not made them soft enough for them to eat yet.👍🏼🪱😊

[@iwax64]

What strikes me most, is that your hands don't end up covered in real dirt.

[@PlantObsessed]

Sometimes if the bin is super muddy they are pretty dirty. Thank you for watching.

[@craigmerryfull7704]

In my exp worms hate onions and pretty much anything in the Allium family.

[@PlantObsessed]

That is unfortunate, I hope the compost pile takes care of it.🪱👍🏼😃

[@LordMondegrene]

Worms can't eat hard foods that havn't been cut up, like avocado pits, and that dry bottom layer looked too dry for worms or decomposition. Are you composting kitchen waste, or mummifying it?

[@PlantObsessed]

Composting 😃🪱👍🏼

[@cherylhowker1792]

@@PlantObsessedthink maybe you been doing it long enough to see what you are doing and act on it … that’s what I believe Ann- having watched ya for 6 months or more, I would trust what you say over a lot of others

[@LarryWileyWormFarm-ey8lp]

What is a DIY bin

[@PlantObsessed]

Do it yourself=DIY made from stuff at the home Depot

[@Mothobius]

Also to add the worm bucket has lot's of springtails, millipedes, and mites in it, but the majority of the food gets eaten by the worms. Most people say not to put food directly on the top but I don't know I'm just good I guess. That's how they get food in the wild.

[@PlantObsessed]

Mine are inside, if I put mine on top I would have bugs everywhere. So I bury it to prevent a pest explosion. Lol

[@sludgegulper]

Piece of advise do NOT put onion or lemon peels in your worm bins.

[@PlantObsessed]

That is not true. Literally everyone I know adds onions and citrus and all the worms are fine.

[@ryankelly5426]

I feel like the recommendation comes from an oversimplification of the real issue. Acids. If you have enough buffering capacity in your bin, it may not cause issues. I'm putting my money on people throwing too much for the processing capacity of their farm, crashing the PH down too far and killing the worms with acidity. Just a guess as a guy interesting in keeping worms that usually keeps fish. I assume a stable-ish ph is just as important in these ecosystems as it can be in aquatic ones. A better way to give the advice might be to say "limit addition of acidic food items like tomato, onion, citrus, etc, or eliminate completely while setting up or learning. They can be added but should be done more carefully than many other items that can be fed to your worms" maybe something like that? But lazy folks just say "don't put them in there"

[@waynetadlock9719]

Yup!!

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you 😊

[@sheezy2526]

Whats wrong with loving my wriggly little minions that do my bidding

[@PlantObsessed]

Absolutely nothing. Just don't show your love by over feeding. 🪱👍🏼😀

[@carmenortiz5294]

I thought onion and garlic were NOT recommended, same as the citrus and tomatoes. They are not good for the worms even if they eat them, as the last part, that was a lot of person moving few worms around.

[@PlantObsessed]

I believe you have bought into what us science based people would call a worband legend. A healthy worms bin ecosystem can absolutely eat anything you do... in moderation.👍🏼🪱😃

[@carmenortiz5294]

​@@PlantObsessed Even many humans eat things that are not good for them, because they are hungry, that doesn't make them healthy, which is why most people in the US have some sort of medical condition. Used to work for top health insurance company in the US can mention the due to non-disclosure papers I signed. You would NOT ever find me taking any medication, asides from the occasional aspirin made from the bark of tree. Stupid people fall for anything. I guess PlantObsession has affected you ability to comprehend. Just because you say so, doesn't make you an expert, just one of hundreds if not thousands telling us complete nonsense.

[@kawai99100]

Need some water.

[@PlantObsessed]

Yep👍🏼😃🪱

[@H2oRiz]

I think you are guilty of harassing the worms. Just leave the bin alone. They don't need a massage. Feeding them insane amounts.

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you for watching

[@CamdenMade]

I don’t give mine citrus, onions or peppers

[@PlantObsessed]

Question, is it because someone told you not to or did you have a bad experience? 😃👍🏼🪱

[@tombrunner8181]

What I see often and irritates me a lot, since I myself consider the compost to be as valuable as the worm. There is chemistry in a colorful newspaper and there is often a lot of poison in the peel of a purchased fruit. Why voluntarily contaminate such a valuable product?

[@PlantObsessed]

The solution to pollution is dilution.

[@tombrunner8181]

@@PlantObsessed That's a possibility, If the given circumstances do not allow otherwise. Where I come from, a lot of things go wrong. But one thing is a value that is so great, I can just drink our tap water. It is not treated and cleaner than from a PET bottle

[@Antmanwald0423]

I really doesn’t get any easier, leave them alone and feed them a little once a week. I have to many buckets someone stop me.

[@PlantObsessed]

Worm farming is a bit of an addiction. It may be incurable lol 🪱👍🏼🪱😃

[@ms.es.fabulousfirsties4055]

You say three layers but it looks like one bin

[@ms.es.fabulousfirsties4055]

It looks like you have 1 bin but you keep saying 3 levels. I dont understand.

[@PlantObsessed]

This was the DIY stacked bin. There were 3 different identical totes nested together. I hope that helps. 👍🏼😁🪱

[@sedoniadragotta8323]

​@@PlantObsessedwhat do you use to top it up leaves carded can you also use compost ?

[@damianchronoisseur]

Yes newspaper shredded on bottom works, then dark soil, compost on top with some worms

[@RubenTejeda-ug5wt]

Yes you can use compost😊​@@sedoniadragotta8323

[@erikkayV]

I got the 3 things within the first 35 seconds and then clicked off the video.

[@PlantObsessed]

You type fast😀👍🏼🪱

[@djfckya]

I have a place, i dig holes each one new spot i have it just barn on top and can keep it going none stop, every time i can not see what put there before wtf i put there before no/yes cleaning up no 😂 and no shity buckets 😂 the worms that find this is just luckiest worms on the planet if (found) there like kings of the underground been feed probably in there birth place😅 till the day they get cut in half or bie free not in a worm centipede 😂

[@PlantObsessed]

You have the best system. Win win.😃👍🏼🪱

[@jamessanders4310]

Worms love watermelon...

[@PlantObsessed]

For sure they do.😀🪱👍🏼

[@gregbutler9873]

I’m out … I will just stay as executive producer , btw one half kilogram is 1 .1 lbs.😂😂

[@PlantObsessed]

Hum I suppose I spelled something wrong too

[@gregbutler9873]

@@PlantObsessed spell check is working 😂😂😂😘

[@Paula_T]

😂

[@slhemp3556]

@@PlantObsessed 😂

[@raten2791]

You lost me at "is this a tomato".....

[@PlantObsessed]

Ohhh but is a worm farming favorite game. 🪱😁👍🏼

[@evil7529]

Eww. She's touching it. 😮 Staahhp!

[@PlantObsessed]

lol

[@evil7529]

@PlantObsessed can I have recommend some stylish rubber gloves? I have red/leopard print ones.

[@allendobbs4154]

Is it just the lighting and or age of your vermipost that makes it look so light brown? Mine is always black as night once the castings start building up? Also what species of compost worms do you use, Red Wigglers? Ive been using Euro reds for about 3 years and never had a problem with how fast or slow they produce castings, i actually have just the opposite problem. Not only do i have a ridiculous amount of castings compared to what i sell, but i literally have to depopulate my smaller bins and move a hell of alot of worms to my big outdoor bed. I also collect eggs because i thought maybe i could sell some of the excess and use one bin as what i call the nursery. I guess i cant complain beacause having the problem of to much should be a blessing but i went from the newbie overprotective worm parent the first year to damn guys take it easy, your supposed to be the bigger slower family member. 🫣😬 P.S. sorry for my bla bla bla, i honestly didn't mean to turn my comment in to a bookment. 😆🤐😬

[@PlantObsessed]

My vermicompost is representative of the bedding I use. If there is lots of cardboard it is lighter. More leaves then it is darker. My 55 Gallon bin is a mix of reds, blues and euros. I make an actual ton a year and don't have enough to sell due to the size of my garden and landscaping. Maybe someday 👍🏼😃🪱

[@Joe-hu7lx]

Your demeanor is abrasive. Whether or not this means it improves the farming, I don’t know. Could be the perfect personality for the task, or other tasks.

[@PlantObsessed]

Hahahahah 🤣🤣🤣🤣😂

[@AHSP483]

👍👍

[@PlantObsessed]

😀👍🏼🪱