Dean, on eBay?

Ya, well, imagine! European nightcrawlers. 😕
How do you know what you're getting? (na, I think I got French crawlers...ha ha)

How many are in a pound?
If they're as big as they say, there might be a dozen or two?

I'm a long way from the 1,200 that website said.
And I think half of my 60 are on a diet 😆
Eat, you beggars, eat! 😈
Barb

Hey Barb,

No, not E-bay. I got them from Shady Creek Worm Farm. http://zencart.shadycreekworms.com/ They advertise Eisenia Fetidia. FRENCH NIGHTCRAWLERS! 😆

There will be more than a dozen or two in a pound. One pound is approximately 1000 worms.

Does your bin still smell? They are not eating, huh?

Dean

Dean,
A thousand worms! 😯

What'd you pay?
I'll get some Eisenia Fetidia (doesn't FETID mean rotten?) 😆 if I can find some locally.

The basement doesn't stink anymore since I added more shredded newspaper to the pail.
It's just a "little ripe" when I lift the cardboard cover, which is OK with me.

Husband hasn't complained again. 😀
Barb

BTW this looks interesting:
http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSA-6032.pdf

I see US sites charging $19.95 for 1,000 red worms.

As usual we Canadians get hosed by Cdn suppliers.
$73.00 for 1,000 👿

http://vermiculture.ca/store/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=16

unbloodybelievable!

Barb

Hey Barb,

Sorry, I didn't respond earlier I didn't recieve a message in my inbox? 😥

I paid $19.95. I don't know what the latin name means.

That's good your husband hasn't complained anymore.

Wow, I would google some more for prices. Lest you cross the border for worms. LOL! 😆 😆 😆

Dean

I could always send you some minus the soil. 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

Thanks Dean, will keep looking locally.
Barb

Yeah!!! I got my pound of Red Wigglers today!

Dean

Dean,
Cool...they'll make short work of those vegetable scraps and coffee grounds.
Hope they get along with the other ones. 😆 😆

I've struck out locally, but have the phone number of the B.C. supplier of my 5 dozen.
You're fortunate that U.S. prices are low.
Barb

Dean,
Have been busy so didn't get the worms ordered.
But looked in the bucket today...stirred a bit, tipped it to see where they are.

Didn't see one worm (out of 60!) in the top half of that 5 gallon bucket.
There's enough food in there to last until they each turn 100 years old.

How're your 1,000+ doing?
Are they converting the scraps into friable loam?
Barb

Barb,
My worms are working away. I gave them so old lettuce and it's nearly gone.

Dean

Dean,
Excellent!
Have you thought about how you're going to separate the worms from the loam?
Wonder how the professional worm farms do it.
Probably some kind of screen?

If and when mine do their job, a tarp on the patio will probably work for me with my small numbers.

You might be at it for quite some time. 😀 😀
Barb

Barb,
Yes, I was thinking of using a tarp or a garbage bag to seperate on. If I have a few scargglers they'll get dumped into the garden. 😆 I was amazed at the quanity of worms in a pound.

I think the worm farms use wire mesh to seperate the castings.

Dean

Dean, which plants will you be transplanting that'll get the worm compost?
If and when I have some compost ready, I'll do an experiment with two potted calamondin plants of similar age and size. Adding compost to only one should show some results.

I want to mix compost with fir bark for palms that like water, i.e. Cataractarum and Bamboo palms.

Are you going to keep going with the bucket method?
My neighbour warned me not to dump any worms on the grass.
Apparently a really bumpy lawn will result. 😕
Barb

Barb,
I plan on using the castings at first in my garden, outdoors. I'll use them on tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. I've seen pictures of various plants grown w/ different mediums. The worm casting medium always had healthier plants growing as compared to regular composted manure or sythetic fertilizers.

I won't mind the bumps in my vegetable garden I've used the castings before and would just sprinkle them around the plants.

I also used worm castings before on my houseplants w/ a very beneficial effect. I had to use little or no fertilizer on them since.

I guess I'll keep using the bucket method for now. Unless I buy a larger Rubber Maid type bin for them, later.

Dean