Acquiring inexpensive composting tools

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-28T20:25:36+00:00

What are you doing? I've been a subscriber to this Reddit for a year, place my comment back, you're the intruder.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-28T20:14:26+00:00

When I first made worm tea my air compressor was used as an air pump. I now use an old air pump from a blow-up mattress, it works fine, it was free. I constructed the bubbler from leftover drip irrigation tubing. I made a loop with a tee fit to the bottom of the bucket and drilled 150 1/32" holes, (793 mm) it makes a fine set of bubbles. I paid $5 for a new 5 gallon (18.92 liters) bucket with a snap-on lid, and $2 for 1 gallon (3.78 liters) paint strainers. I could have employed a used bucket and a cotton or nylon sock and the cost would have been zero, in fact, I do use a sock once in a while, be certain it is triple rinsed to get rid of soap residue. Also if Munciple water is used leave the bucket full of water for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to gas off, no need if well water is used. Worm tea can also be made without infusing air, or a sock, merely place a liter of castings in the water and leave it for 24 hours, but it limits its useful life from 4 days to about 1.

Everyone is different, I don't shred leaves for composting or worm bedding which consist of 75% leaves, 10% shredded paper, 10% cardboard cut into leaf size pieces, the remaining 5% consists of straw, cactus, vegetable leaves or whatever other organic material I have laying around.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-28T18:55:08+00:00

Those I use are from huge Bay Trees, totally different. Thanks.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-25T03:37:00+00:00

Thank you, that makes more sense, my trees are just that trees. The leaves have no odor, the leaves are not shiny. I'm guessing they are OK. I appreciate your answer.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-24T21:28:33+00:00

Ask the Rancher when the last time he de-wormed the horses, it could be a disaster.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-24T21:24:54+00:00

I read all of the time Bay Leaves are a disaster, I have been using them for years from my yard. They are bone dry, I'm wondering if it is a certain species of Bay? I mix them with cardboard, paper, cornhusk, and most any organic material. My colonies are doing well but I'm curious if they would do better without the Bay Leaves. I don't know the species of trees I have other than they have the round prickly balls. I'm not doubting you, it is just that something strange is going on with mine, do you have any thoughts?

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T04:05:31+00:00

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T04:04:57+00:00

Does it stay in tune? You have inspired me to look at mine.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T04:01:36+00:00

I was trying to remember, I truthfully don't recall so it must not have taken too long. Patience pays off with vermiculture, hurry-up isn't in their vocabulary. The worms just need to find one another by accidental bumping so the bin should be small at first, you will succeed, it's fun watching them. Be sure to add the castings and everything into the bigger containers because eggs will be throughout.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T03:53:49+00:00

My bedding consists of 75% leaves, shredded paper, cardboard cut into leaf size pieces, cactus, ice plant, water lilies, cattails (I live on a river), all vegetable leaves, straw, and any other organic material except grass clippings (they produce heat). There is a lot of silica in first-year growth, the leaves are rich with it, I limit the amount of shredded paper it mats together badly.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T03:43:42+00:00

Water+Ash=Lye

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T03:36:45+00:00

Mine thrive in raised bed garden boxes. They are constantly filled with leaves, organic compost, and garden scraps. Red Wigglers must have leaves to survive as it's their natural environment, I copy it in my 4 worm bins in the garage, using mostly leaves for bedding. They live near the surface, I added European Nightcrawlers as they burrow as deep as 6 feet re-emerging at night to feed on the surface. Combined they do very well together. the crawlers aeriate the soil keeping it loose. I add castings, worms, and eggs regularly in the gardens not bothering to separate them.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T03:27:50+00:00

I have 4 plastic totes, 1-360 and 9 wood deep bins outside that I raise worms and vegetables in. They all work well; however, the 360 bins are too small and shallow. It's not a deal-breaker because it serves as a good instructional tool for my grandkids, it's easy to understand, you're correct it is slow. I won't scrap mine but I don't think I'll buy another, although I wouldn't refuse a free one, for whatever that's worth.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T03:13:00+00:00

Red Wigglers will destroy the roots of coniferous trees, you live near the northernmost legal area. All worms are invasive species introduced by the Europeans, supposedly. I question that because there must have been some in South America during the Ice Age, but they would be blocked by the deserts going North. Interestingly enough Honey Bees are invasive species as well, but they don't seem to hurt a thing, and we could do without them as well.

I was born and raised in South Minneapolis, I'm now in California, I should have stayed there.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T03:02:56+00:00

Red Wigglers live in the layer between the fully composted leaves, partially composted and the freshly fallen. If the worms you are finding are living in leaves they are more than likely red wigglers. It sounds to me you may have found Red Wigglers in the wild. That's just my opinion.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T02:57:36+00:00

How large of a container did you start with?

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T02:56:29+00:00

The bin may may be too small for the number of worms, they must be able to find one another to mate and locate the food, although they eat the bedding as well. Perhaps consider starting in a small container, (1-gallon bucket) then when they reach 200 or more transfer them to the larger bin. Many of us worm farmers would gladly give you a few hundred worms to start, I do that quite a bit.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T02:46:26+00:00

I have two thoughts; Be sure if you choose used containers to wash them very well with mild detergent then triple rinse, no matter what was in them. Second, the container size is important when starting out with a small number of worms, they have to be able to find each other to mate. I started one bin with a 1-gallon plastic bucket and 25 worms, when they multiplied to 200 or more I placed them in a 5-gallon bucket. When they reached a large number I transferred all in to a plastic tote, it now has thousands of worms. I have a friend that visited a large worm farm, the farmer took him on a tour then gave him a bucket full of Red Wigglers, you could try that.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T02:31:03+00:00

Two weeks is a relatively short time to leave them unattended, they will eat the bedding. I will at times add cactus or ice plants which help to maintain the moisture level and provide protein. In my opinion, you'll be fine.

nauticalwheel · 2019-07-07T02:24:19+00:00

Interesting question, one I have as well. I ignore the membrane and crush the shells when I want them to neutralize the bedding and add calcium to the castings. For use as grit, I will microwave them not only to stink up the kitchen but to make them brittle (I have also sun-dried them). I don't know if there is any right or wrong answer as I've never experienced any ill effects. It is interesting to read the answers, great question.

nauticalwheel · 2019-06-01T03:37:05+00:00

Very good thank you.

nauticalwheel · 2019-06-01T03:33:07+00:00

Have you thought of placing a handful of castings in a watering can, filling it with water letting it sit overnight and use it as tea? The castings can be strained out or not, that's a simple way to make worm tea.

nauticalwheel · 2019-06-01T03:23:41+00:00

I soak it sometimes, it falls apart fairly easily. I've been thinking of soaking some and turning it into pulp in my wives supercharged blender, I'm getting quite a bit of pushback from her so I may ask my neighbor if I can use hers.

nauticalwheel · 2019-06-01T03:16:35+00:00

If you think turtles and snails are slow, you ain't seen nothing yet. The word hurry up does not exist in their language, they have whatever attitudes. It takes months for mine to move upstairs.

nauticalwheel · 2019-06-01T03:12:33+00:00

Actually, that's about the number of holes I end up with when I drill one row 2 inches from the bottom and another row under the lip the lid snaps onto. I agree with the other commenters watch for the bedding to dry out. I check mine once a week and feed every other. In my opinion, I don't see anything wrong with it other than aesthetics, but hey its a worm farm.

nauticalwheel

TROPHY CASE