New garden and Vermicompost question?
hummersteve
9 years ago
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nexev - Zone 8b
9 years agosbryce_gw
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Looking into vermicomposting, some questions
Comments (9)I agree.I started with the three tier and have had excellent results.Just for kicks decided to try the homemade rubbermade bin taught at the ext office. I love the little bins and so do the worms! I keep moist shredded newspaper on top at all times about 2-3 inches. That keeps bugs out and is insulating.By the way I saw a site on tiering the rubbermaid bins I think it was called Oscarjr. Mine is in the garage but would not have any trouble with it in my pantry,unfortunately hubby does not feel the same way I do toward my pretty pink pets! Also cannot help with the winter question sice we Floridians are more concerned about them being TOO HOT!...See Moreduration of vermicompost in garden?
Comments (11)Thank you for the good advice. I'm used to composting which I used to build up gardens in two previous homes. But I thought that VC would (1) break down compostables faster; (2) add more nutrients to the soil than regular OM. That's why I started my worm bins, and that's why we put a LOT of worms into the big outdoor compost bin. We generate a lot of kitchen waste and it is taking forever to break down. As we're rebuilding the garden, we're putting big piles of leaves, stalks, twigs into the bin as well. Now it sounds like I should treat my VC as something very rare and precious, not to be wasted digging into the soil as I would treat regular compost? I'm not being argumentative, just trying to understand. A bit OT, but my RM bins are going like gangbusters. I started with 3 pounds last spring. I've harvested VC 3 times. The most recent time I was picking up big wiggly handfuls of worms at the bottom of the bins. I would guess that we put around 10 lbs of worms into the outdoor bin where they are happily tucking into the hundreds of pounds of apple waste we had after last year's crop. I extracted pectin from the thinnings of about 300 lbs of green apples. I still have around 4-5 lbs of worms in bins which we keep indoors, in case the outdoor population is wiped out. Cheryl...See MoreVermicomposting garden waste esp. leaves
Comments (6)PK, I think the list of leaves that should NOT be added to a worm bin is very short. You mentioned eucalyptus because of the oils. I've read that leaves from certain oak species (don't know which ones) take a very long time to get processed, but don't seem to harm the worms. Pine needles take 6-12 months, but the worms love them. I use camphor tree leaves all the time and the worms love them. I tested by adding a small amount in one corner and watching to see if the worms avoided them. I've added freshly fallen leaves (not yet decomposing) as top bedding. It does no harm, but the worms won't really start processing them until they start decomposing a bit more. I collect leaves through Fall & Winter and leave them in the bags. I then use them throughout the year as bedding for my worm bins. Within a few weeks they start to get moldy and/or slimy depending on moisture content - perfect for the worms. If I was in a hurry or wanted to save space, I'd put the leaves through a shredder....See Morevermicompost windrows question
Comments (16)[[Hello Paul pskvorc, Thanks for your reply. My replies below in brackets.]] Posted by pskvorc 3 (pskvorc@biopar.com) on Wed, Jun 18, 14 at 12:43 I like your operation, advait! It's a bit 'intensive' with the concrete slab, rim wall, and shed, but it's not what I would call "industrial" either. Should be easy to do for a "cooperative" or someone very serious about their personal worming operation. [[Our vermi compost operation will get more industrialized once we get our rotating worm harvester machine. That will allow us to separate out the worms faster with much less labor.]] I would caution you regarding "theoretical" concepts that are supported primarily by "research" and not "real life". My point being the nitrogen and other nutrient "sink' that undigested wood might represent. There is no doubt that someone has demonstrated "scientifically" that undigested wood "attracts" bacteria that in turn "use" nutrients - particularly nitrogen. That is "scientifically" "proven". However, as an example of how science is SO often mis-applied, consider the following: Throughout the world agricultural community, it is WIDELY acknowledged that crop rotation is practiced FOR THE PURPOSE OF INTRODUCING NITROGEN-FIXING BACTERIA INTO THE NITROGEN-DEPLETED SOIL. I would urge you to use the "data" regarding nitrogen "starvation" VERY cautiously. Consider the nitrogen 'flooding' you are providing with the cow, pig and other mammal dung slurry you are providing. There is no shortage of "free" nitrogen in your system. [[I hadn't looked at it that way. I think you're right on target. The UBM from our piles have been soaked for two months or more in cow dung slurry, so I think you're correct that is has lots of nitrogen. So even when bacteria appear to eat the wood, there may be plenty enough N around for the bacteria and any nearby roots. That helps me understand the process better.]] In addition, individual bacteria don't live for years. [[Yep, I think they only live for a day or so...? Something like that.]] When one bacterium dies, all of the nitrogen it "fixed" will be available to the "system". Just as millions of bacteria are produced per unit time, so are hundreds of thousands dying. This is the foundation of the REAL LIFE concept of crop rotation with plants that encourage nitrogen-fixing bacteria. [[I'm in the process of locating some nearby soil testing labs. Then I'll test the UBM for NPK, C/N ratio and some other parameters. That will tell me if the UBM is more of a mulch or more like finished compost. Then we'll know how best to use it. I assumed the UBM was just a rich mulch but I need to do the tests to see what it really is. And we also plan to use the UBM in some potting soil mixtures with seedlings to see how they grow. I love doing experiments! Thanks for the great info.]] [[Cheers, -Advait]] Regards, Paul...See Morechuckiebtoo
9 years agoCharlie
9 years agobarbararose21101
9 years agobarbararose21101
9 years agoequinoxequinox
9 years agonexev - Zone 8b
9 years agonexev - Zone 8b
9 years agoCharlie
9 years agohummersteve
9 years ago
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