Vermicomposting (worms inside!)

Bummer - that's where I was looking at ordering from.

I've heard recommendations of Willingham Worm Farm in Georgia from someone (Joe Keyser) who was in a video put out by the Virginia cooperative extension.

To quote from Keyser's blog:

I've been doing wormy business with Sybil Willingham (chief worm
wrangler) for more than a dozen years, and Sybil has supplied worms to
hundreds upon hundreds of classrooms, where said wigglers were enjoyed
and studied by tens of thousands of students.

Here are the details:

<blockquote>Worms-$13.00 per lb.
Postage 1 lb- $8.00
2-5 lb in bulk postage $10.35

To order, said a check or money order to:

Willingham Worm Farm
74 S. Collins St.
Reynolds, GA 31076</blockquote>
This
is a low-tech, low overhead outfit; no fancy websites, credit card
orders, and the like. If you want those features, feel free to pay
twice as much and order online (chances are that Sybil is still the
woman providing the worms -- an industry secret I'll carry to the
grave).

Please note that Sybil will not ship in a week with a
postal holiday. And shipments are sent only on Mondays. Orders received
by Thursday will go out on Monday.

For more information -- but NO ORDERS -- contact Sybil directly: wworm@pstel.net

I just bought 1/2 lb. red wigglers online from gawigglers through ebay. They have 69 reviews, 100% of which are positive, no neutrals or negatives. I will report back on my purchase after I receive. He seems a tiny bit pricey, but shipping is included.
Sandy

Thanks for the ordering info. You can also buy red wigglers at most bait shops. They are a staple of fisherman and women. Just be sure you are getting red wigglers and not earthworms.

shoda wrote:Hello, I am new to the forums and live in the San Francisco Bay area. Last August, I purchased a Gusantio Worm Farm (5-stack trays with roof) off Ebay.


-- Lisa

Thank you for the info on this. What is the advantage of the 4 tray over the 5? Just more compost ready to be used? I can't believe I'm really thinking of doing this. However, in the late '70s vermiculture was the rage in Texas -- sort of like a "get rich quick scheme". I looked into then but the systems were large-scale and up-front costs very expensive. So this kind of system looks more manegable.

I am making "trays" out of cheap 7 dollar storage containers from Walmart. Very little to do to get them ready - really just drill a few holes, and I don't want to spend the money on a "worm farm" if I can make a reasonable facsimile. I've got better things to spend the money on - like seeds and plants hahaha

Sandy

Nidiyao, can you post a picture of your walmart bin trays? I am very curious! Thanks!

I will post a picture soon.
Here's a link to the "system" I'm using. http://working-worms.com/content/view/40/62/
It seems pretty straight forward, bought 3 bins yesterday at walmart. Waiting for someone (DH) to drill holes, I might use an icepick and do it myself today!
Gotta be ready for them worms!

Sandy

Wow, I really like that DIY system. Let us know what it ends up costing you to set it up.

-- Lisa

Nidiyao thanx for the heads up on Uncle jims after reading som eof the feedback i have decided i will lokk elsewhere fo rmy little wiggly buddies

Oh wow on uncle Jim's. That is where I ordered my worms from, 3 separate times with no hitches.

There is also a woman in Michigan who is very popular:

http://www.wormwoman.com/acatalog/Wormwoman_catalog_Redworms__Eisenia_fetida__43.html

I think my worms should arrive today - very excited. We are busy thinking up 800 names now!

Sandy

So excited to see this topic pop up here. I started worm composting last fall. Being in zone 5 they weren't very active over the winter because I kept them in the garage, but they are becoming quite active now. I did a DIY with the storage bins and they have worked out well.

shoda wrote:Wow, I really like that DIY system. Let us know what it ends up costing you to set it up.

-- Lisa

Well, I spent $4.50 per tote x 3 = 13.50
Then $22 for worms.
That's it - total = $35.50
There shouldn't be any other expenses in future, the totes should last about 10,000 yrs, right?

You can undoubtedly find worms at a local bait shop cheaper...

Sandy

I forgot to mention that I found my worms on craigslist and was very pleased! He was about 1 hour away and met me halfway and even checked in on "us" a few times since. Recently I found a local lady (in my same town) who practically was giving the worms away as she gets more than she can handle.

Maybe it's worth posting a "wanted" ad on freecycle for worms. That would be a great idea if the right person reads it!
Sandy

The worms arrived today in great condition, nicely packed. I'm sure they will be just wonderful. So thumbs up on this company.
Sandy

My redworms live happily in two outdoor bins. You can use just about anything that has reasonable mass, drainage, and at least some ventilation.

Every spring I spend several hours removing my worms from their old bedding. Then I use the bedding as compost/soil conditioner. My husband thinks I'm nuts because I try to separate all the living worms and their cocoons from the bedding, but it's actually kinda fun and very relaxing. And the old bedding is full of worm castings and makes great soil conditioner.

Has anyone tried buying from http://www.wormsway.com/
I live close to the KY store but I think they are shipped out of Indy.

I'm glad this topic popped up again! My source for worm castings moved away so it looks like I'm going to have to make some myself. I haven't decided how I'm going to make that happen yet...

I would love to hear from you worm folks how things have gone - I am wanting to try it. DH, usually so supportive, needs a little convincing, so the more info I have the more likely I am to win him over!

martha.....
I'm into my 3rd year with worms. I have a worm condo with 3-floors but in the winter I only use one floor because its inside and I don't have that many scraps to feed the worms and since they regulate their own numbers, more when more food, less when less food, I keep the condo in my bathroom.

They do NOT smell so they are fine in the house.
In May I put the condo out under the shade of trees to keep them out of the sunshine in the warm summer. They thrive and make compost. In Sept or Oct., depending on the temps., I harvest my compost and put in in buckets to use in my garden. No turning a pile, no layering with greens and browns, I just let the worms do all the work and this is the result:

You can't beat that. Kitchen scraps into divine compost with no effort on my part except to feed them kitchen scraps and shredded newspaper.

I just set up my worms in bins I made myself from rubbermaid containers. I've been having some escapees, and I am not sure I like this system yet. It is difficult to tell how things are going in there, but periodic checks show at least some of them are still in there!

We started out with a Worm Factory, original (bought from Amazon.com) with worms from a local worm "rancher" (good product! http://www.txwormranch.com/ ) a year ago December. Our colony of worms (or "herd" here in Tx ) grew so much we used a tray ready to harvest to start our Worm Factory 360 (also Amazon.com) this past summer.

We keep the "herds" inside in the laundry room. Both are happy. We needed the 2 systems to meet our Kitchen waste. We collect 2 types of Kitchen waste:
In- OK for worms, priority
Out- Stuff not for worms (aka, onion waste, citrus, etc), and overflow (worm collection pail full)- goes in outdoor compost system

The 2 Worm Factory systems work very well for us. Hubby wanted Worm Factory over Rubbermaid, and I accepted (in spite of cost) cause that got me the worms. He is an engineer, but don't be dazzled, he's an electrical engineer; so shuh, I just let him think he knew what he was doing, I wanted the worms
We both like the 360 over the original...better engineered

Hope our experience helps.
Worms are the best
Jane

quiltbea, that is some super poop!