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Garden Gate:  Worm Bin/ Farming  |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 31 2007 : 10:22:15 AM
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Happy worm ranchers! I've got earthworms already for the castings and fishing. It wouldn't be that big a step to get some red worms for composting too. Thanks for the info, it is very encouraging. (singing) I get by with the help from little friends.
We make a difference. |
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sleepless reader
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
CA
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2007 : 7:13:53 PM
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I'll try thr borax and cans of water for the legs. Do I need to worry about the ants already in the bin? I'll cut down on food too, but should I maybe water inbetween to keep it moist????
Thanks,
Sharon
Life is messy. Wear your apron! |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
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Buttercup
True Blue Farmgirl
1433 Posts
Talitha
Vermont
USA
1433 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2007 : 02:22:58 AM
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Rachel,
Thank you so much for this thread. I have enjoyed learning about this from ya'll and can't wait until I can have a little worm farm of my own!
Hugz!
Talitha
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
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happymama58
True Blue Farmgirl
1210 Posts
Patti
Missouri
USA
1210 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2007 : 08:04:45 AM
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Dh built a bin and we got our worms about 2 weeks ago. Once we put them in and they dug themselves down in the bedding, we don't see them unless we move aside some of the bedding to bury the kitchen scraps. My dd won't even look, but ds was home last week for Spring Break and thought they were interesting. He's a biology major (pre-med), so things like this are right up his alley, even though his area is cell/human biology.
Some people search for happiness; others create it.
Please visit me at www.marykay.com/pmiinch |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2007 : 4:12:37 PM
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Sharon!
I found my book! Mary says Borax and mineral oil in cans by the legs. She also says that bins with newspaper for bedding have less ants. I don't know if this is TRUE, but it can't hurt to try! Just tear your paper into strips, and wet them before you add them to the bin! Another thing that I would try to get the ants out of the bin that are there, is to put a bowl in your bin with some sugar water. This will attract the ants, and they SHOULD drown in it. If you put the borax and mineral oil at the OUTSIDE base of your bin, the sugar won't attract NEW bugs... Then I would remove the bowl after a day or two. Hope that has helped you!
~rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
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Cindy Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Cindy
Sparks
Nevada
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 4:19:00 PM
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Rachel.......I have to tell you that my worms are doing great! I am amazed at how much they eat! I am wondering how often you water yours and how much. Mine seem happy as clams and I don't add much water to them. I soak the newspaper and any cardboard that I add to them and throw in a glass of water now and then. I don't want to drown them but I'm not getting much tea yet and they have been here several months now. What do you think?
Cindy |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 4:26:47 PM
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Cindy,
So cool that things are looking good! My worm bin is wet like a potted plant that has just been soaked. They are fairly wet. My bin doesn't porduce mass amounts of tea, but it's so super concentrated. If you have a bin that has drainage on the bottom, so that your actual worm area is not sitting in it's tea, then I would say you could add water if you'd like.
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
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sleepless reader
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
CA
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 4:35:54 PM
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Oh, Rachel, I'll try the sugar water bowl idea. The bin came with a bedding fiber, but the next levels will have newspaper. I tried to get the "Worms Eat My Garbage" from the library, but the book is listed as missing. I've requested from another branch, but who knows how long that will take! Thanks for your help!
Sharon
Life is messy. Wear your apron! |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 4:41:00 PM
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Sharon,
You can put paper over the bedding that came with the bin. You actually SHOULD put a layer of it over the top. Then you just lift it, and put your food under that layer of paper. Be sure to wet it. This really helps to keep the flying pests and (I think) ants and the like also.
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
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Cindy Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Cindy
Sparks
Nevada
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 5:47:57 PM
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| I'll try adding more water. Mine does have a little spout at the bottom so it's easy to drain. I have just been a bit shy about over watering the little guys! Thanks! |
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livelife
Farmgirl in Training
45 Posts
Penny
Michigan
USA
45 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 3:49:35 PM
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Thanks for the link... I printed out a order form, It sure is a reasonable price!!!!
In His presence |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
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happymama58
True Blue Farmgirl
1210 Posts
Patti
Missouri
USA
1210 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 6:44:24 PM
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Since lots of folks here have probably been poring through various sites and learning about worms, would anyone like to share where they've found the best price on the bin system you decided to buy?
Some people search for happiness; others create it.
Please visit me at www.marykay.com/pmiinch |
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MustangSuzie
True Blue Farmgirl
634 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
USA
634 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 9:21:35 PM
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Hey Patti
I did finally get my bin from Trinity Ranch. I guess there was some miscommunication somewhere. I sent them an email saying to cancel if there was a problem and he thought it had already been sent. I rec'd it within the next 3 days. Now I'm waiting on the worms to arrive. I'm glad they didn't come during that awful cold spell.
Anyone have any good tips about what to first put in the bin to get it ready before they arrive?
Blessings....
Sarah
"In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." -From The Great Law Of The Iroquois Confederacy.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!!!!
http://mustangsuzie.wordpress.com
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 9:55:24 PM
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Patti, For the money and the ease of use, I recomend the bin that I put the link to in one of the first pages. I think it was a link to the Happy Ranch. Also check with your county and see if you can get a system there. Be sure that you have multi levels, and that your bin has a spout on the bottom. Bins get really heavy even just one layer full, and harvesting your tea can be really hard if you don't have a spout. Really messy too.
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
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MustangSuzie
True Blue Farmgirl
634 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
USA
634 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 12:37:06 PM
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It said something in the instructions about getting something to put on the bottom layer to keep everything from seeping out the bottom. ?????
Blessings....
Sarah
"In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." -From The Great Law Of The Iroquois Confederacy.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!!!!
http://mustangsuzie.wordpress.com
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 2:00:51 PM
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I used cardboard, then the last time I cleaned house so to speak on my bin, I judt put a ton of flat unshreded newspaper, but they eat through those things eventually. My next thought had been that I might use weed cloth (not plastic) on the bottom. But for now, you could just lay paper on the bottom. I would go for about 1/2 inch thick. That will last a while.
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
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Cindy Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Cindy
Sparks
Nevada
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2007 : 6:16:55 PM
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| Hey guys....I did get mine worm set up from Happy D Ranch and I was VERY happy with the service and everything. I got my order quickly and I am happy to say that my worms are doing great!! Give them a try! Cindy |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
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sleepless reader
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
CA
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2007 : 8:33:24 PM
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The ants were me. I put the legs in cans of water with a bit of oil. I also moved the bin from touching the fence so they couldn't get in that way. I think they've left on their own(?) as I have seen nothing but worms of late. I am wondering when to add the next layer. I haven't had the bin that long, so I think I'm jumping the gun on wanting another layer. I've been using the tea on my transplants. Makes'em happy. I finally got a copy of "Worms Eat My Garbage" from the library:)
Also, little article on earthworms in the new Countryside with a close-up picture of the mouth. Really cool.
Sharon
Life is messy. Wear your apron! |
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Garden Gate: Worm Bin/ Farming |
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Worm Bin/ Farming
