Why I always put kitchen scraps in my raised beds

[@Darkfyre755]

I do this with buckets with holes drilled in the side so I can have a lid and protect the compost and worms from rodents

[@dnmurphy48]

Rodents would be my concern with an approach like this, your approach makes a lot of sense.

[@moonpaints4090]

Worms are invasive to USA. Stop using them.

[@harreetteB477]

Yes, the concern about veggie scraps buried in the garden would be attracting rodents! Your bucket idea is great!

[@heartoffloridayoga]

Thanks!

[@6648rome]

Where do you find that basket. Ive been looking for onelikethat

[@scottweeks5448]

That is the coolest idea I've heard. I have worms in my raised beds, but I never considered feeding them regularly

[@catacocamping874]

Don’t worry they will eat your crop roots so no need to feed them

[@shebawildcraft7752]

Horrible idea. It'll attract unwanted animals including rats and mice. worms are good, scraps aren't.

[@kathyphilmurphy5517]

I love this. Myy father helped me build my first worm bed in an old refrigerator. Feed them with chicken mash for young baby chick's. And cardboard. Didn't understand the cardboard at first, but later on I read that cardboard is mostly sugar. No wonder they love it! Buy it at your local feed and seed.

[@Shana349]

They love cardboard and banana peels most

[@terribenson3998]

I have a big worm bin. Feed them food scraps top with shredded newspaper and water well. The bin is 4 round sections on top of each other. At the bottom, there is a spigot so I can fill used plastic milk jugs with worm tea. I mix 1/2 tea and 1/2 water in the jugs. It makes an amazing fertilizer! In the 2nd and 3rd sections, there will be a ton of worm poop. More great fertilizer! I do not put my red worms in the garden! They will not survive! The normal garden worms and more will eat them and I worry about them freezing in the winter.

[@SusanBayly-hb4ck]

I have started chopping my scraps prior to adding ingredients to compost. Happy gardening

[@jIlLiAnganz]

Refreshing to see someone recommend this without needing to buy an expensive "system" !

[@reviewer_random]

why make it hard for yourself XD

[@grannysweet]

Yes😂. Dollar store basket for $1.25 plus tax. FABULOUS idea.

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

@@grannysweet I have a couple dozen of these baskets and use them mainly to cover small seedlings and protect them from squirrels. I never thought to use them to make a worm bin. Hope I remember this video when spring rolls around.

[@grannysweet]

@@sbffsbrarbrr I have 30-40-1 gal. Crystal geyser water jugs ( had lousy water so I bought water). I'm going to put them about four feet apart and make the worms journey from one to another to help fluff the soil. Growing in the jugs and going to use them in raised beds. But that basket set up looks sweet. 👍😏

[@jbland7683]

I have a wooden womery. I find myself asking if they are ok when I feed them. I will worry when they answer me. Happy veg growing, everyone

[@Ariessunfairy81]

😂😂😂😂

[@care7663]

😂😂😂

[@nnekababy]

I worry about the outside worms during the winter months. Are they freezing? 🥶

[@rachaelditta4224]

😂😅😂😅😂 🪱 🐛 🤔 💭

[@jbland7683]

​@@nnekababy no they go into the polytunnels but I still water and feed them

[@maxwellspeedwell2585]

“Red Wigglers. The Cadillac of worms. Available in fine worm stores everywhere.” -Dr. Johnny Fever

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Gotta love WKRP :)

[@nk-dw2hm]

@@GrowingInTheGarden why would you advise people to put these in their garden when they're an invasive species that can do significant damage to the ecosystem? Anyone who lives in area without hard frosts should NOT do this. Keep them in a bin and use the castings on your soil after waiting at least a month for cocoons to hatch. Unfortunate to see influencers spreading harmful information

[@TheSassitude]

Dang it! You beat me to it😅

[@felicitywoodruffe4087]

​@@nk-dw2hmcan you please give the information concerning the damage you say they cause as I have not heard anything about this before

[@nk-dw2hm]

@@felicitywoodruffe4087 you can Google it for easy sources because many species of worms including red wrigglers can be invasive. The damage they cause is basically decomposing materials too quickly, they eliminate the mulch layer which is necessary for many species of plants and animals. They also outcompete against native species because they're voracious They're awesome for vermicompost, but better to do a bin instead of in ground

[@OrganicGarden1810]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen something this unique on KZbin. Keep creating - you’ve got an incredible gift!

[@Yarcman6245]

Someday, this knowledge will be Gospel for the hungry

[@royalacity]

Amen. Very wise words.

[@nk-dw2hm]

Except this is mostly bad advice

[@Aquiwer]

@@nk-dw2hmwhy?

[@nk-dw2hm]

@@Aquiwer every word she said about feeding them was wrong, you don't go by depth you go by total volume, and you never want to put more scraps than they eat in a week or they'll spoil and kill the good bacteria (and worms), there's no benefit to putting a cage in, and depending on your climate that type of worm can be highly invasive and cause serious environmental harm if you put them in the ground. Check out captain Matt's yt channel for good worm knowledge, he and others actually know what they're talking about. He focuses on the worm side and not on the gardening aspect. Particularly if you live in an area that never or rarely freezes please do not put these in your soil, keep them in worm bins in your garage or home.

[@nk-dw2hm]

@@Aquiwer red wrigglers can be invasive, you shouldn't feed by "depth", you should never feed more at a time than they eat in a week (so start small and build up), and with this method the castings aren't even dispersed through the bed. Check out captain matts worm farm for better worm info

[@jacquelinenicole6013]

I love raising worms! This wire bin is genius!

[@phoxgames5800]

If you like feeding rats instead of plants it iz

[@camilleespinas2898]

The holes in the bin were large enough for the worms to escape; is that ok ?

[@avaander2065]

​@@camilleespinas2898that's the purpose. They can crawl all through the bed. Worms are just like any other species. They know where dinner is. They are the best to use.

[@SoCalgardener]

I was doing something similar to this then wanted to put wood chips over my 8’x8’ bed so I took the bin out just dumped the worms on the soil, spread em with my hands, nd covered with compost and wood Chips. The worms cam up to just under the mulch and I just move the wood chips and add food scraps or chop and drop weeds then replace mulch over and the worms do they thing I have so many worms in my bed now lol but all my plants thriving

[@rosemaryryan6455]

Yep. I made worm hotels for every vege pod and never add chemical fertiliser. Every day a different one gets fed with our scraps n I've never dug em out etc. I just give abt 500 worms to friends as they need for new hotels. I make my hotels from 8 inch food grade pipe, drill 5 rows of 5/8 inch holes around bottom area, leave about 15 inch plain, that's the feeding area. I use Hessian or cardboard to cover the scraps as they eat or breed there and I use q terracotta pot saucer upside down as a lid. If any slugs r around they stay on the terracotta n d magpies get wonderful breakfast n my greens don't get eaten. 7 years now n still feeding worms, n they feed my soul.

[@TerpyTen]

I took the castings from my vermihut and put them in all my potted plants and now each one has worms in it. I'll hear movement in the pots on really quiet nights. There must have been cocoons in there! Unintentional good ❤️

[@Bratzilla1966]

The swirl/strainer technique is amaxinf!

[@fionafiona1146]

Rats love the way you build those, keeping a tight lid is important

[@SpartanChick316]

Maybe if it's an open enough area. It'd be a high risk to get to it? We have owls in our area. Love seeing them in the evening.

[@fionafiona1146]

@@SpartanChick316 A digging resistant lid should be enough, especially when the mulch is returned on top anyways. I was thinking about the ones that have extendable prongs (locking in ) in one of those wired garbage cans. It can be lifted from the handle, move the mulch, lock in the compost and lock out rodents without disturbing plants. There is a reason graves are 6ft deep, given the easy pray corpses make, it's worth it to some animals to dig 4+ft

[@rswow]

Racoons dig up trenched dirt-topped food scraps. Endless mice and some rats roam the the neighborhood. We got opossums, skunks, rabbits, squirrels, muskrats, wasps, ants (o the ants!), and ghosts. Well, at least the ghosts won't dig up the ground and garden.

[@MaryHernandez-lq8kq]

If you have a neighborhood hawk or kite , you could be fine, they love rats​@@SpartanChick316

[@14ToeBeans]

@@rswowyay for possums

[@Strutt111]

I wonder how many other growers are kicking themselves for not thinking of this... Beautifully simple and perfect common sense especially when working to disturb the soil as little as possible

[@tomwhitler7281]

Castings are EXCELLENT fertilizer 👍

[@LGGGlove]

I do the same thing but I just dig a hole in the dirt I will upgrade to a basket bin. I do not have to add worms I got millions in my soil. They duplicate them selves rapidly it blows my mind how active they are all over my garden beds and pots

[@jodilea144]

I kept my little granddaughter (6 years old at the time) busy last spring by “challenging” her to dig a handful of soil and not get at least one worm in it. She loves a challenge, and had amassed a growing “family” of earthworms in no time at all. I got my work done and she had a blast - getting dirty, and finding worms and bugs. We put them back in the beds afterward to find again later. We had rocky, hard-compacted dirt, full of red clay when we bought our place 5 years ago - and we had to walk out into the woods and search under the leaf matter to find a few earthworms. Within two years, by adding quality compost and then our own as we made it, we now have loose, almost black, rich soil and so many earthworms it’s crazy! 😊

[@kevina1084]

You don’t need to bury a basket. Just put the scraps in the dirt.

[@La.Summer]

Basically you have a successful worm bed and you want to add a metal basket for no reason.

[@LuzRojas-z1d]

​@@La.SummerHave you considered selling them. Might be a great way to make some extra money. Just a thought.

[@rayoflightgeneral7988]

what the point of the bin?

[@SN-sz7kw]

Great idea. Went to source the basket & remembered I have a ton of chicken wire in the shed. Too easy to make my own - custom sized. Perhaps double layered for smaller holes. 😊

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

I have a couple made out of chicken wire - that works very well. I love making them deep.

[@amberathillsidehomestead4831]

I did this in two of my beds and those beds had the best food production over my other beds. I’m adding them to the other beds this year

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Love hearing that, thanks for sharing.

[@patriciatinkey2677]

Excellent, smaller scale, readily available to the plants!😀👍

[@shannoneg2000]

And I'm pretty sure you can get those wire trash cans for $1.25 are dollar tree, so cheap too!

[@elisabethjones4917]

That's exactly what I was thinking lol​@@shannoneg2000

[@jimbattista1120]

Guess what I'm adding to my raised beds im the spring. Thanks for sharing.

[@joseph-zr1xn]

Every growing season i make over 5k in worm juice aka liquid from decomposing food and worm slime. And thenworm dirt. I take 3 55 gallon drums the bottom collects the liquid middle is the worms andtop is the dirt that accumulated. My shed has 5 of these and each one makes me 1000 a month

[@customsolutions7167]

Black gold ...😂

[@elw6150]

WHAT? YOU SELL WORM JUICE? Finish the story. How do you bottle it, who buys it, what do people who buy it do with it, do they drink it?

[@joseph-zr1xn]

@elw6150 "worm juice" is the by product of the worms eating the compost, heat humidity causes moisture that is collected at the bottom. This "juice" people put in their gardens, has alot of minerals and all the nitrogen potassium needed for gardens . I have a small pump I use to take it from the bottom drum and goes into a gallon container that I sell for 20 bucks, they actually sell it at tractor supply google is

[@FC2ESWS]

Is there any sort of testing to prove that it's high quality worm juice?

[@nk-dw2hm]

@@FC2ESWS not at all, since it's low quality leachate that he has to call by a different name to sell it

[@elihuthompson626]

I DO THE SAME THONG IN ALL MY BEDS AND I HAVE VIGOROUS PLANTS BUT FLOWERS OF VEGETABLES GROW EVEN MORE VIBRANT OR VIGOROUS AROUND MY BINS THEN AT NEW GROWING SEASON JUST SPREAD IT ALL OUT OVER THER BED AND START AGAIN !

[@GardeningwithDave]

2024 is going to be an incredible year gardening friends. My wife and I are going to make different a version of this at home.

[@FloridaGardeningdiva]

Me too I'm praying all 100 of my tomatoes make it. Last year I only ended up with 4 plants so I planted more

[@dathip]

@@FloridaGardeningdiva how many tomatoes out of those 4 plants did you get?

[@music2flyful]

This spring I actually planted several seeds in my 3 worm bins (red wigglers) - the seeds come up and are so healthy looking! Not to forget I save lots of space for at least 4+ weeks (until I have to seperate the plants and put them in their own container);

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Love that. What a good idea. I've done that accidently but it's brilliant to do it on purpose.

[@CannabisCuh]

Guys the bucket isn’t necessary for native worms. Just add food scraps in a whole daily and you will see life come.

[@bonniesessley2252]

What about rodents eating the worms

[@dingdongchingchong8659]

Rodents are still going to be able to dig through regardless of a mesh or not

[@klee88029]

Good old Dollar Tree 🎄 wire waste basket 👍

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

The best!

[@Cherryparfait41]

Right! But I’m not sure they are still selling them. I did see epic gardener trying to market them at an astronomical price. 🤦‍♀️

[@klee88029]

@@GrowingInTheGarden Great for encouraging root growth via the air pruning method for young plants also. These and the $1.25 Laundry Baskets for larger specimens for the first 4-12 months. 👍😘🧓 from a Luna County New Mexico follower.

[@klee88029]

@@Cherryparfait41 I just bought a few more of each a few weeks ago at the Dollar Tree in Deming NM. They also have a website where you can order in bulk quantities online.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

They still have them at mine @@Cherryparfait41

[@rachelbutler790]

Do the nutrients from the compost disperse throughout the whole garden bed? Or do you have to move the worms around to different squares periodically?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Definitely adds microbes to the bed - but I do move the basket to a new spot each season

[@sherryhunton8841]

Is Amazon only place you can buy red wigglers?

[@nk-dw2hm]

@@sherryhunton8841 sometimes you can get them locally, you can also go right to the source with worm farms that sell online. Be very careful you don't get a "red mix" or anything that uses the word mix. You don't want nightcrawlers or blues, you want pure red wrigglers

[@erinperez4450]

​@@sherryhunton8841 No. I bought mine from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm. They came really quickly and were nicely packaged.

[@ES-pc8kf]

I mostly do container gardening and I am amazed every time I find a worm in my containers. I just image them crawling across my deck in the dead of night, then up through the drainage holes along the bottom of the container, and underneath the landscape fabric up into the soil. They are Olympians and when I find them I relocate them to my flower beds where they can have friends.

[@MatthewSmith-kd3mu]

I think what your doing is awesome but for anyone just starting you may be taking in a lot of information which can be overwhelming. Don’t overthink this. Worms will naturally be in your garden. Dig a hole in your beds and throw in scraps. Within a week at most if you dig it back up you may come across eggs shells but everything else will be unrecognizable. I even throw food scraps and rabbit manure at the base of my fruit trees. Mushroom compost, food scraps, weed water and rabbit poop for a lush vibrant garden. Mother Nature doesn’t need much help if any thriving on its own. We can all farm and share. We have everything we need in abundance. Much love to all. Thank you for posting pure love and helping others!

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Good points.

[@tiredVeteran1984]

How do you acquire 300-600 red wigglers? I have a hard time collecting a dozen to go fishing

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

I get them from Arizona worm Farm

[@reneemullins7499]

What do you do with the worms when it gets too cold?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

They burrow down in the beds

[@polinana56]

I have a question i never seem to get an answer to, If i add thwsw worms to an already existing raised bed,wont they eat the already plannted crops there? Mainly vegetables like carrots and radishes

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

They only eat dead and decaying items in your soil. They don't eat the growing vegetables.

[@rogerrathbun444]

They LOVE Watermelon and cantaloupe rinds

[@seanhenderson8870]

What is the best way to separate the castings from the worms.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

kzbin.infoeQOvUEcdTf4

[@seanhenderson8870]

@@GrowingInTheGarden thanks

[@slvice14]

I dig a post hole one gallon pot deep. Place my worms and food scraps on top and then over mulch the way you did. Then I don't have a rusty metal bin to retrieve at the end of the season.

[@RICorruptionBusters]

What kind of basket it that your using as the worm farm?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Dollar tree garbage can

[@mr.muhammad-1724]

Wow first time i heard this method thanks for sharing ❤

[@gibby6996]

Is this prep for future planting? Or do you collect the casting, after some time, and apply them evenly to the bed?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Yes, I harvest them and then spread them around. kzbin.infoeQOvUEcdTf4

[@jeffwalker3751]

@@GrowingInTheGarden

[@Funnyvideos2023ad]

@@GrowingInTheGarden

[@courtneyegelhoff]

I did this last year but unfortunately it brought ALOT of pill bugs to my raisedbeds and they became over run with them eating all of my seedlings and they even started attacking my mature plants. I pulled out the wire mesh,stopped putting fresh veggie scraps in and let the worms just adventure back into the raised beds as normal and the pill bugs have pretty much gone now. I still compost but learnt that keeping it separate for my situation was best. Maybe it’s because my raised beds are too small? I’m not sure. I really wanted this idea to work for me, damn pill bugs!

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

I've had pill bugs in some beds as well. When they gathered in the bins I disposed of them and that seemed to help.

[@marybaldwin9135]

The pill bugs have never attacked my plants as long as you feed them They are great for cleaning soil of heavy metals

[@ogadlogadl490]

I love my pill bugs, I do a deep layer of leafs in the fall and they help chew that all up and return it to soil, I’m sure they are leaving behind them some type of good stuff just as the worms.

[@toniasilvas5422]

Love this method. I don’t have a drill for a bucket and the chips on top get rid of the smell

[@nattydred2593]

This is a pretty nice technique. By being in the ground, the worms have easy refuge if something goes temporarily wrong with the food scraps. They get rain, and can escape Frost. Is the wire mesh to protect them from moles, or to make it easy to remove uneaten did or mulch?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Wire mesh makes it easier for me to harvest castings and keep track of where to feed the worms.

[@cherylb.9766]

Where do you get the worms to start off?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

I got mine from Arizona Worm Farm.

[@mrunalawati8225]

I did this hack. Love that’s it no work after u set it up. I wanted to compost always but it’s too much work and I expense to buy a composting bin and all. This way the works automatically spread the nutrition

[@FrostiestFrontier]

Subscribed this is what I need good information no music you and you explained composting easily for me thank you

[@AnthonyLester-m4u]

I got them growing in a 45 gallon flower bag doing good so far

[@afrocraft1]

How do the nutrients move across the bed from the one bin?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

The worms

[@doralevitt2879]

So fascinating!! 🤩🤗💖🌿

[@emoc1902]

Does the choice of a wire basket have a specific purpose? IE; can they wiggle thru the openings to get to the dirt in the garden?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Yes, so they can migrate out or in

[@chrissandoval9459]

I have a regular composter made out of wood pallets where I throw all non-meat organic material in, and it's full of worms. I guess what I have is a hybrid composter.

[@JohnSmith-il4wi]

Super valuable info. Liked/subscribed

[@pinschrunner]

How do u keep the rats and wildlife away from the food scraps?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Hasn't been an issue where I live - they have a thick layer of wood chips on top.

[@griffin7352]

We have an small private army of outdoor cats that patrol the area

[@robertdouglas8895]

Can you use that for potting soil or just to propagate worms?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

I use it to fertilize my garden.

[@robertdouglas8895]

@@GrowingInTheGarden I use mine for potting soil. I'll be uncovering some from 3 layers of hay and plastic sheeting next week to start my peppers. I didn't need that much insulation this year. 25F was the coldest but last year it got down to -30 F

[@Kim-FP5]

I have a 24 inch tall 4x8 bed that has about a foot of crappy soil on top. We transplanted it there after planting trees in our yard. I think this may help soften up that soil a bit!

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

It absolutely will!

[@indayorang8323]

How do you harvest vermicast fr ur basket?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

lift up the basket once the worms have eaten all the food scraps - they will be in the basket

[@claudetteglapion9528]

What is vermicast? Thanks so much for educating us!!

[@mitch315]

Such a great method. How do you keep the soil from falling into that hole though?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

The moisture in the soil keeps it in place.

[@lunainezdelamancha3368]

I was told not to add cardboard or paper because they have loads of chemicals. Does anyone know if this is accurate?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

It's hard to avoid all chemicals. Cardboard is the most heavily used packaging material, and feeding it to our plants and trees is the best way to make use of a very valuable resource. The benefits of feeding it to our worms (and then our plants) dramatically outweigh any other option. If it’s painted with colored ink from overseas, it is very remotely possible that it has toxic heavy metals. Almost all the inks used in the US (something like 99.3%) are made from soybean oil and are completely harmless.

[@spartacus3015]

Do you cover the food scraps every time?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Yes

[@kevinhipps1236]

Do the worms live through the winter?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Yes, here and somewhat cooler climates they do as well.

[@gardenthoughtfully]

Great tutorial!

[@VickyYoung-qg7fd]

what do you do about mice in the compoust

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Hasn't been an isssue

[@perfesser944]

Very interesting information, thank you. Myself, I think I'll go to the supermarket.

[@MrzWill]

I'm so slow...can someone explain this whole concept and what it does. I've never seen this and am pretty new to gardening. Thanks in advance.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Vermicomposting. I have an article on my blog and a video on my KZbin chanel about how I do it. growinginthegarden.com/vermicomposting-made-easy-in-bed-worm-composting/

[@AmysAttitude]

​@@GrowingInTheGardenYou keep leaving links to videos but YT won't allow that so none your links work.

[@cdavid0624]

Please make a part two. How do you harvest it?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Here you go: kzbin.infoeQOvUEcdTf4?feature=share

[@toridismuke5791]

Do you get gross bugs like roaches though?! 😬

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

yes, some. I find there are less if I don't use a cover and use wood chips instead.

[@katrynlord6516]

I have a warm bin inside with red wigglers but am wondering if this would work outside in the heat of Texas because I would think the Red wiggler worms would get too hot.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Yes, this allows the worms to be outside. They find cool spots in the beds over the summer. They come back into the bins when temperatures cool in the fall.

[@yanirisencarnacion04]

I been wanting to get some worms to do something like this but worms are so pricey. Will this method work in the winter?? What will happen to the worms once it starts snowing??

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

I've heard from gardeners in colder climates that the cover the beds with a thick layer of mulch and they survive the winter.

[@yanirisencarnacion04]

@@GrowingInTheGarden thank you

[@Chris-Hill]

Even if the worms don't survive the bitter cold, their eggs last a year. Those eggs will hatch once weather warms up and start the process all over again. Generally worms will bury themselves and cover themselves with slim ( mucus ) helping survive cold.

[@yanirisencarnacion04]

@@Chris-Hill thank you

[@chrisramage5581]

Wicked ,I'm astounded by this understanding, it drips rich,

[@wordvendor1]

What a great idea!

[@chrisp2916]

What happens if u forget or feed to much? Don’t feed in winter? I’m new. 😜

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Worms will leave the bins if the conditions aren't good (too cold/no food, etc) but if you put food back in they will come back.

[@TimForber69]

How's does the compost nutrient get spread around the rest of the bed? The worms?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

You can get more info here: growinginthegarden.com/vermicomposting-made-easy-in-bed-worm-composting/

[@melissacarolangouffray8634]

If you do the same and compost without adding worms first, Will regular garden worms show up?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Probably, if you have worms in your soil. Red wigglers are best for this type of composting but most worms in the soil are beneficial.

[@katyzimmer9644]

Where would I purchase red wiggler worms? 🪱 Great idea!

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

I get mine at Arizona Worm Farm - local sources are best if possible. If not, you can get them online amzn.to/4aE0W5m

[@AshaSharma-b6j]

Can we do this with a pile of fall leaves contained in a multiple hole 4ft. rubber round structure in the corner of our back yard?Will it convert leaves into compost?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

You probably don't need worms to break down the leaves - they should break down on their own into leaf mold. Great for the garden.

[@thomasdavey1513]

This is a great idea. I was told to not use onions tho for worms. I don't know why, I didn't do my research, so maybe it's just a myth.

[@Wazupu]

If I remember correctly….worms just don’t like it.

[@WarmFuzzyVibes]

Onions aren't a popular food for worms but eventually they will eat them, so onions are ok in small amounts.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Mine don't seem to mind small amounts - if there are uneaten scraps you can take them out the next time you feed them.

[@Eric-gi9kg]

A must do if your soil doesn't have a lot of worms to begin with. I don't have that problem.. I gust add 'Ocean Forest' potting soil, and top with 3 - 4 inches of shredded straw. Within 3 - 4 weeks, 30 - 40 worms per cubic foot.

[@ruthmiale1239]

1. This looks really really cool / I so want to copy this in my garden. 2. What about the issue of worms as invasive species which disrupt an environment? I’ve read how historically that changed the northern forest of the Eastern Us - and more

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

No, red wigglers aren’t native. Worms were wiped out during the Ice Age, and the red wigglers we use today are not considered invasive, especially in Arizona, where they remain localized in their composting area.

[@gardenx5574]

Your advice has really helped me in my low desert garden 🏜️

[@sharonritchie6365]

I live in Canada and I’m starting raised beds this size. What happens to feeding/lifecycle of the worms in the winter? Zone 3

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Worms work essentially everywhere in the United States. (not sure what part of Canada you are in) You must add a six-inch layer of compost or food waste covered by six inches of mulch before the first hard freeze and then leave them alone. They will be fine all winter and will come back strong in the summer.

[@mishellekochel4510]

This is amazing! All new to me

[@nickfeilmeier8586]

Red wigglers are the best to catch perch through the ice!

[@hector012672]

Question? What do the worms do to help?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Here's a list: Vermicompost improves soil texture and structure and aerates the soil. Vermicompost increases the water-holding capacity of soil. The nutrients in vermicompost are immediately available to plants. Worm castings contribute to faster plant growth and higher production. Worm castings are dense in microorganisms and nutrients. The chemicals in worm castings help prevent “damping off” and other diseases. Read more here: growinginthegarden.com/vermicomposting-made-easy-in-bed-worm-composting/

[@TrekieGal]

How do you stop the fire ants from invading the scraps?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Keeping it more moist can help, but you can also use ant baits.

[@BumbleBee666-u5t]

Fabulous idea. Thank you!

[@Sam-mr8kh]

I always interested know how safe to use cardboard is not have any nasty chemicals?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Cardboard is safe for worms and a valuable resource in composting. Most cardboard produced in the U.S. uses non-toxic inks, such as those made from soybean oil. Even if there are trace amounts of chemicals, the benefits of using cardboard in vermicomposting far outweigh the risks.

[@gunthermann8634]

Is that an irrigation grid ?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Yes, I use the garden grids from Garden in Minutes in all of my raised beds. Use code Angela10 to save $10 off $100 or GITG5 to save 5 percent on any size order shrsl.com/3yanv

[@ms.lgraves4147]

I'd like see an updated video when you go to refill next month.👀

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

kzbin.infore3qGj01uz0

[@kamaljitsingh-qp6dj]

Can worms escape the mesh ? Will the gonna eat plant roots too ? I usually feed my worms outside yard and then pour compost afterwards in plants

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Yes, thats the idea - but they will come back for food. There are a lot of ways to make this work.

[@glendagraves1637]

Do you remove the woodchips when you put in new food scraps?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Yes

What about the paint on the cardboard (basically plastics)? 😊

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Cardboard is safe for worms and a valuable resource in composting. Most cardboard produced in the U.S. uses non-toxic inks, such as those made from soybean oil. Even if there are trace amounts of chemicals, the benefits of using cardboard in vermicomposting far outweigh the risks.

[@AndreLuis-ij7jb]

Nice vegetable garden idea. Sou do brasil e te acompanho.

[@MidwestFastest]

What are the benefits I would like to learn about this more in depth

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

growinginthegarden.com/vermicomposting-made-easy-in-bed-worm-composting/

[@MidwestFastest]

@@GrowingInTheGarden thank u!

[@H_A_L_7]

I was surprised how many worms I have in potted plants when I repotted them circa spring Small patio quite high yet I get slugs infestation too How’s that possible?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Worms eggs could be in the soil. Slugs are larvae - bugs lay eggs on soil.

[@ДенисЗаика-к7к]

Are there items that one should avoid when feeding worms? In the video, onions are put in, is it okay for the worms to eat them? I heard citrus peels are not welcome.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

I would avoid citrus. Small amounts of most other fruits and vegetables are fine. If the worms don't eat them, you can take them out next time you feed them.

[@Prepare2Prosper]

Cool idea. Thanks for sharing

[@aphillips5376]

What material did you use for your square foot gardening grid?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

They are watering grids. I use the garden grids from Garden in Minutes in all of my raised beds. Use code Angela10 to save $10 off $100 or GITG5 to save 5 percent on any size order shrsl.com/3yanv

[@deangullberry2420]

What's the bin for? Won't the worms wiggle out? Or do they come back to eat?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Bin is so you know were to put the scraps and harvest the castings. Worms will come if there is food.

[@bobbiehansen1747]

How is this beneficial? Keeping the worms contained like that - or are they able to move through the mesh easily?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

They can move through

[@BARZUKABRAND]

“ THX FOR THE GREAT INFO “🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@mykindpharm]

How will this over winter in harsh conditions?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Add a six-inch layer of compost or food waste covered by six inches of mulch before the first hard freeze and then leave them alone. They will be fine all winter and will come back strong in the summer.

[@mykindpharm]

@ awesome! Thank you 😊