T

Here is a list of some of the Recyclers and Decomposers you may find in your worm bin, helping to break down and soften the food for the worms. These organisms naturally appear in worm bin due to the organic environment.

Beneficial:

White Worms (Pot Worms)

Beetles

Millipedes                                                     

Sowbugs /Pill Bugs/Roly Polys

Spiders

Springtails

Collembola

White Mites

Nuisance:

Ants

Flies

Maggots

White Mites

Slugs/Snails

Carabid Beetle

Bad:

Red Centipedes

Red Mites

Stirring up the worms in their bin is a bit stressful to the wigglers. In my case, I have no choice but to stir them up when filling a worm order. This gentle disruption in their bedding will slow down their mojo but not kill them. Luckily for worm enthusiasts, the worms and the beneficial microorganisms do most of this work. In a healthy bin the multitude of microscopic critters and worms are aerating by creating pockets of air while they move throughout the soil looking for food. This natural mixing of the soil and air allows the beneficial microorganisms to grow and flourish prior to becoming food for the worms, which in turn help the worms make wonderful vermicompost.

If your bin starts to smell bad, it will be necessary for you to gently stir and aerate their soil in order to keep a healthy, active and thriving community of worms and microorganisms.

Gardening ideas we picked up during their gardening program

The main thing to remember is that worms breathe through their skin and their environment must stay damp/wet. They may take a week or so to adjust to a new home. Generally they will want to escape during the settling in period. I recommend keeping a light on in their new surrounding with the lid ajar on the worm box for a few nights to keep them down in the bed, this should keep them from migrating out as they are very sensitive to light.

A worm box contains many critters once it gets established. Flies are the biggest problem most people deal with periodically. There will always be some flies but an excess of flies is generally caused by over feeding. It is best to underfeed versus overfeeding. I feed my worms once a week with stuff I save up during the week. The appetites of worms change with the seasons; they are not very active in extreme cold or heat and will eat less. My biggest indicator of the wellness of the worms and their soil is my nose. If the box smells bad, there are several things to consider. Is the soil too wet or dry? Is there too much food? Is the soil compacted and need air? Stirring up the soil with a garden fork or spading shovel might help; the worms will survive a little stirring. A healthy worm bin smells like rich and wonderful soil

One very noticeable critter amongst the worms and compost is a tiny earthworm called a Pot Worm (Enchytraeid). It looks like a small piece of string and many people think it is a baby Red Wiggler. Its job is to help break down the food for the Wigglers. A Red Wiggler hatchling looks creamy white to pink. They are nearly transparent, the blood vessel running through its body causes a light pink to red tinge coloring.

IF YOU ARE THE KIND OF GARDENER who buys vegetable seeds or seedlings (including tomato plants) from a local garden center, as I sometimes do, beware the varieties you select. Otherwise, you could very well be putting money into the hands of the wretched Monsanto Corporation. Forewarned is forearmed, right? Here is the list of Seminis/Monsanto home-garden vegetable varieties, and yes, it even includes zucchini:

I’m going to print out this list, and keep a copy in my wallet. This way I won’t be caught off-guard the next time I decide to impulse-shop at a big-box garden center:

Beans: Aliconte, Brio, Bronco, Cadillac, Ebro, Etna, Eureka, Festina, Gina, Goldmine, Goldenchild, Labrador, Lynx, Magnum, Matador, Spartacus, Storm, Strike, Stringless Blue Lake 7, Tapia, Tema

Broccoli: Coronado Crown, Major, Packman

Cabbage: Atlantis, Golden Acre, Headstart, Platinum Dynasty, Red Dynasty

Carrot: Bilbo, Envy, Forto, Juliana, Karina, Koroda PS, Royal Chantenay, Sweetness III

Cauliflower: Cheddar, Minuteman

Cucumber: Babylon, Cool Breeze Imp., Dasher II, Emporator, Eureka, Fanfare HG, Marketmore 76*, Mathilde, Moctezuma, Orient Express II, Peal, Poinsett 76, Salad Bush, Sweet Slice, Sweet Success PS, Talladega

Eggplant: Black Beauty, Fairytale, Gretel, Hansel, Lavender Touch, Twinkle, White Lightening

Hot Pepper: Anaheim TMR 23, Ancho Saint Martin, Big Bomb, Big Chile brand of Sahuaro, Caribbean Red, Cayenne Large Red Thick, Chichen Itza, Chichimeca, Corcel, Garden Salsa SG, Habanero, Holy Mole brand of Salvatierro, Hungarian Yellow Wax Hot, Ixtapa X3R, Lapid, Mariachi brand of Rio de Oro, Mesilla, Milta, Mucho Nacho brand of Grande, Nainari, Serrano del Sol brand of Tuxtlas, Super Chile, Tam Vera Cruz

Lettuce: Braveheart, Conquistador

Melon: Early Dew, Sante Fe, Saturno

Onion: Candy, Cannonball, Century, Red Zeppelin, Savannah Sweet, Sierra Blanca, Sterling, Vision

Pumpkin: Applachian, Harvest Moon, Jamboree HG, Orange Smoothie, Phantom, Prize Winner, Rumbo, Snackface, Spirit, Spooktacular, Trickster

Spinach: Hellcat

Squash: Ambassador, Canesi, Clarita, Commander, Dixie, Early Butternut, Gold Rush, Grey Zucchini, Greyzini, Lolita, Papaya Pear, Peter Pan, Portofino, President, Richgreen Hybrid Zucchini, Storr’s Green, Sungreen, Sunny Delight, Taybelle PM

Sweet Corn: Devotion, Fantasia, Merit, Obession, Passion, Temptation

Sweet Pepper: Baron, Bell Boy, Big Bertha PS, Biscayne, Blushing Beauty, Bounty, California Wonder 300, Camelot, Capistrano, Cherry Pick, Chocolate Beauty, Corno Verde, Cubanelle W, Dumpling brand of Pritavit, Early Sunsation, Flexum, Fooled You brand of Dulce, Giant Marconi, Gypsy, Jumper, Key West, King Arthur, North Star, Orange Blaze, Pimiento Elite, Red Knight, Satsuma, Socrates, Super Heavyweight, Sweet Spot

Tomato: Amsterdam, Beefmaster, Betterboy, Big Beef, Burpee’s Big Boy, Caramba, Celebrity, Cupid, Early Girl, Granny Smith, Health Kick, Husky Cherry Red, Jetsetter brand of Jack, Lemon Boy, Margharita, Margo, Marmande VF PS, Marmara, Patio, Phoenix, Poseidon 43, Roma VF, Royesta, Sun Sugar, Super Marzano, Sweet Baby Girl, Tiffany, Tye-Dye, Viva Italia, Yaqui

Watermelon: Apollo, Charleston Grey, Crimson Glory, Crimson Sweet, Eureka, Jade Star, Mickylee, Olympia

* Marketmore 76 is a very old cucumber-variety.  If you are ordering it from a seller of heirloom veggies,  check with the dealer to make sure the seeds were not purchased from  Seminis/Monsanto. If you buy the seeds from a big-box garden center, odds are they were purchased from the evil empire.

Microorganisms living on organic waste nourish the worm rather than the original waste we provide for the worms. Think green mold, white powder and soft, smelly rotten stuff.

As the earthworm eats the organic waste and microbes they promote further microbially activity and produce a richer fragmented product than the original waste they consumed. As the waste is consumed, plant nutrients particularly N, P, K and Ca are released and converted into forms more soluble and readily available to plants. This all happens quite rapidly by passing through the gut of the earthworm in just a few hours. Vermicompost is ready to use when you can no longer recognize its original form. Finished vermicompost should have a dark consistency and smell like clean, sweet and wonderful soil. Remember you only need to add 5-10% vermicompost to your new and existing plants.

**information compiled from Vermiculture Technology edited by Clive Edwards, Norman Arancon

and Rhonda Sherman. c2011  (pages 80-81)

It is necessary to use organic substances that will hold moisture, be suitable for the worms to live and function while providing a place to bury garbage. Bedding may include shredded newspaper, shredded office paper, leaf mold, non aromatic sawdust, coconut coir, 2 handfuls of soil and/or compost. This small amount of soil/compost is added to the original bedding, helping to provide grit for the worm gizzard and by adding a diversity of microorganisms, bacteria and fungi necessary for breaking down the food. Be sure to thoroughly moisten the bedding mixture being careful that it is not wringing wet. To be continued--- Earthworm nourishment, plant nutrients…N, P, K and Ca

Do not confuse the excess moisture or liquid collected in the bottom of a worm bin as 'worm tea'. This leachate is the  undigested liquid and excess moisture that has passed through organic material that may contain pathogens or excess nutrients that may be harmful to plants. It is best to use this leachate on unwanted plants such as weeds.

information supplied in VERMICULTURE TECHNOLOGY, 2011.  page 70

Rhonda L Sherman, North Carolina State University

Worms are available for purchase now at our Worm Farm or Van Winden's Garden Center in Napa. You can start your worm composting system now. It's also time to start pruning your Roses, Fruit Trees and plant seeds indoors. Spring is on it's way. Yipee

This is a wonderful site introducing Vermicomposting facts, food, bins, light, moisture etc. The end of the article includes numerous References. This was compiled by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Hope you enjoy it.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/10-009.htm

Vermicompost has the potential to protect crops from disease and fight plant infections

caused by pathogens.

DO FEED:

• Coffee Grounds & Filters
• Tea Bags (no staples)
• Egg Shells
• Fruits & Vegetables (fresh or rotten)
• VEGETARIAN Animal Manure
• Natural Fibers (cotton/hemp)
• Cardboard, Shredded paper & Newspaper
• Yard Waste (healthylleaves/clippings)

DON'T FEED:

• Dairy Products
• Meat, Bones
• Oily, Greasy Food
• Glass, Plastic, Metal, Foil, Rubber Bands, Ties
• Glossy Paper, Photographs, Colored Ink
• Diseased Plants, Clippings, Leaves, Ivy

Worms will consume their food more quickly the finer it is chopped up, soft and rotten, covered in microorganisms.

Beginning January 3, 2012 thru February 2012 your neighbors and community members will be out with petitions requesting signatures for our June Ballet. You may be wondering what this is about...please checkout:   www.labelgmos.org/

We are asking to have Genetically Modified foods labeled, It is our right to know what we are eating.

The following species 5 species are most notable for their natural ability to process organic waste, including life cycle, reproductive rates, endurance and tolerance of handling.

1) Eisenia andrei

2) Eisenia fetida

3) Dendrobaena veneta

4) Perionyx excavatus

5) Eudrilus eugenia

There is much more detailed information in VERMICULTURE TECHNOLOGY edited by Clive A. Edwards, Norman Q. Arancon & Rhonda Sherman on pages 29-35.

Shop Local and Give the GIFT that keeps on gRoWiNg. We have Vermicompost which is live with microorganisms to add to your garden anytime of year. Live NUDE Worms. Worm Condo, Worm Barrel, Starter Kits for the Worm Farmer 'wanna be'. Aerated Worm Tea can be used on Houseplants and in the Garden. Need a Gift Certificate...we have them.

Here is our latest Worm Bin Design created by Dan. Stackable Worm Bin includes 4 trays for $150.

We just picked up several tons of Harvest Compost from Upper Valley Disposal & Recycling (http://www.uvds.com/compostsales.htm). This is the time of year to get your Lasagne (Layering) Compost spread out into your garden and yard to reduce weeds. The layering of Compost now, helps to restore your soil for Spring plantings by adding nutrients, microorganisms and worms. The lasagne method suggests that you wet the soil and then apply cardboard or newspaper over the entire area, do not leave any soil uncovered. Spread 3-6" of compost over the entire area and let nature do the rest. Next Spring you will be glad you did this.

Contact us prior to a Farmer's Market or Special Event to reserve your worms, worm tea or vermicompost. Are you looking for a Worm Bin or Worm Barrel? We are happy to accommodate your requests. Looking for new ideas*****what else would you like us to offer?

Remember to keep your Worms  WET & COOL in this weather.  Be extra diligent in the plastic bins as they may absorb the outside heat and cook your worms. Keep these bins in a cool place, elevate for better air circulation and open up the lid for more air circulation. The wood bins and barrels are not as prone to cooking the worms in this heat. Keep the soil as wet as a damp sponge (until you squeeze it and 1-2 drops of water are squeezed out).

This reminder is referring to weather above 75 degrees. Worms prefer temperatures of 55-75 degrees, they are most active in this temperature range.