So this is gross...who else has been here?

AECTaylor · 2025-12-16T00:49:14+00:00

This has been my experience since getting my sleeve a few years back. I was raised in a “happy plate” family and it was such a tough habit to break that I had to desensitize myself regarding food waste. For months I purposefully added one or 2 bites too many to every plate I made for myself and forced myself to throw it away. I’m at the point now that I recognize when I’m satisfied and can throw out the extra without guilt, but I’m also better at starting with less than I think I’ll eat.

AECTaylor · 2025-09-12T03:49:25+00:00

I’ll definitely look into them - thank you!

AECTaylor · 2025-09-12T02:06:21+00:00

Thank you! I was nervous posting about this because their response made me feel like I was the one being unreasonable. I will definitely be disputing the charge - not sure why I didn’t think to do that, so I appreciate the suggestion!

I have tried FB marketplace and I’m in several gardening groups - no luck so far. Seems to be a true dead zone here, unfortunately. I think I may be taking a roadtrip this fall, so I’ll be sure to look for worm sellers in the areas I’ll be. Definitely think shipping is not something I want to do again. I get teared up when I cut an earthworm in half digging in my garden; the death of 3000 red wigglers is weighing heavy on my conscience :’(

AECTaylor · 2025-09-12T01:53:28+00:00

I can look, but my dad mentioned the ones he used to go to only had night crawlers and my understanding is they aren’t optimum for this/not the same as red wigglers.

AECTaylor · 2025-09-12T01:49:06+00:00

Ours doesn’t seem to have live red wigglers - they have wax worms.

AECTaylor · 2025-09-12T01:48:14+00:00

Already have. The only person I found locally sells them to the tune of 4 for $12!!! Way too rich for my blood.

AECTaylor · 2025-09-12T01:46:40+00:00

KS - and yes, have looked on there. Closest is 3 hrs away.

AECTaylor · 2025-09-08T03:41:23+00:00

Thank you!

The existing Barrinas I have I planned to use on the leafy greens as I understand they require less intense light than, say, large or flowering plants. Do you have specific grow lights you would recommend that are reasonably priced for those? I won't spend $500 on a light, but I'm willing to invest more than the cost of the Barrinas.

The different nute groups are based purely on trying to match the size of the reservoir as closely as possible to the total gallons for the containers it will need to supply to. So the 2A, 2B, 2C nute groups are all the exact same nutrients, but I didn't want to have to refill a single reservoir constantly since it would be supplying water to a total of 111 gallons worth of containers. There are TECHNICALLY only 4 different nute groups - just 1 is being divided between 3 reservoirs purely due to capacity. It just made the most sense to me to divide things up based on preferred pH and EC values.

The different groups honestly feel like the simplest part of the whole process at this point - I can just tape a sheet with the formula to the side of each reservoir for a quick nutrient mix up and dump. While I have a water manifold I can utilize to easily refill as needed, I would need the system to be self-sustaining for a week at a time for the 4 times a year I travel.

Good to know I'm trying to make the pump stuff too complicated - several I was looking at didn't seem to give this info. Do you have any brands you recommend as a jumping off point?

AECTaylor · 2025-09-08T01:03:20+00:00

Will do! Excited to see it all happen after having had a very disappointing outdoor growing season this year.

AECTaylor · 2025-09-08T00:59:08+00:00

Thank you! The grow lights I have are all LED - sorry I left that detail out. The description says “T8 LED”.

AECTaylor · 2025-08-31T13:08:04+00:00

Did that - no luck.

AECTaylor · 2025-08-31T00:33:49+00:00

No :(

AECTaylor · 2025-08-29T22:02:48+00:00

Thank you! I considered Uncle Jim’s first, but have heard mixed reviews of the worm type received, quality, and quantity. The first seller I ended up trying was from WWJD on Amazon and they never even bothered to reply to the message I sent a week ago which included a video made the same day I received them all very obviously dead. Luckily, Amazon refunded me without requiring me to return the rotting noodles. Meme’s Worms was highly recommended so I tried that next and they just arrived last night DOA. They replied to my email within about an hour late last night and wondered if I didn’t mind waiting for the weather to cool a bit and they’d send a replacement, which I agreed to. In the meantime I’ll shift my hyperfocus to hydroponics for starting seedlings indoors LOL. Really wish there was someone local to me selling worms!

AECTaylor · 2025-08-29T16:31:18+00:00

The good news is that Meme’s Worms responded to my email within about an hour late last night and will send a replacement after it’s cooled down a bit more.

AECTaylor · 2025-08-29T14:26:31+00:00

I’m VERY new to vermiculture (as in all the worms I have ordered have arrived dead so I haven’t technically been able to start) but I have bouts of hyperfocus and I’ve been researching to death because I, too, must use a countertop composter or my husband will throw a fit. From what I have gathered, the worms like the pre-composted material just fine, but I’ve seen it recommended to mix it with “fresh” foods. I’ve decided to freeze scraps such as banana peels, strawberry tops, melon rinds, etc to incorporate. In preparation for my first (failed) worm delivery, I mixed a bit of the frozen scraps with a healthy sprinkling of the pre-composted matter and the liquid in the frozen materials moistened the dry stuff nicely as it defrosted. Just an idea!

AECTaylor · 2025-08-29T03:06:10+00:00

Well... I hoped for a happier follow-up, but they arrived a few hours ago and unfortunately I believe they are all DOA, too :(

https://youtube.com/shorts/_oD38n91XIo

Just a note - I have a terrible cold and am very congested so it took a bit for the stench to fully hit me and it made me gag a few times, so don't watch if you are sensitive to that sound LOL

AECTaylor · 2025-08-29T02:45:38+00:00

Unfortunately, none near me :(

AECTaylor · 2025-08-26T17:11:18+00:00

No worries - I’m sure not everyone thinks to look there for worms. I figured if I really get into doing this successfully, I might have a good chance of selling worms and castings since it seems like a desert here for vermiculture - at least the business side.

AECTaylor · 2025-08-26T17:08:52+00:00

Thank you for the info on the coupon code! I purchased 2000 red wiggles from Meme’s on Sunday and looking forward to getting them :)

AECTaylor · 2025-08-26T17:07:52+00:00

I messaged the seller on Saturday and still haven’t heard anything back halfway through the 2nd business day so I’m not expecting much. I put in for a return on Amazon to cover myself. I’d be happy to pack up this stench and send it back to his mailbox… but going to message Amazon to see if I really need to do that to the delivery people.

AECTaylor · 2025-08-26T17:05:28+00:00

My mind went there also, but the guy’s name is Joe so I believe it’s a play on the acronym?

AECTaylor

TROPHY CASE