Hi from a newbie in eastern NC full of ?'s

Hi,

-I have been lurking and learning tons in this terrific forum! Too much maybe as it is addicting. I have a copy of ANSFG. I am trying to hurry up and get my boxes set up, because I feel like I am behind. I have my vermiculite, peat moss, and three kinds of compost. I know where I can get 1 more kind. What should I do if I cannot find the fifth? I have mushroom, cow, and forest products ( with no peat listed) and I found out where I can get chicken.
-I plan to get worms for my bed and a bin. Any suggestions for how many?
-I am ordering a small two chamber composter. I scored a clearance composite box that is 4x8x6 and by 12 with a 4x4 green house cover and drip irrigation system included. I am considering making it 4x12x6. I didn't get it put together because it has rained like crazy the last two days here.
-I had fresh eggs for the first time a couple of weeks ago and now I am hooked!! I am considering getting a couple of easter eggers. Nothing like doing it all at once
-I hope to 'meet' some others in my area.

thanks,
Angela

Welcome Angela. I do not know that I can answer any question but I understand about the eggs. Vary tempting. Need to find a place with no neighbors or more rural.

Not sure about worms. If they are happy, they will multiply and if you are doing this right on the ground they will find you too.

Good luck.

Worms, yes worms, If your boxes are on the ground I would not add red wigglers to your box as they are not native to north america and as Chopper has said "they will find you" the native guys. I know this from my old SFG that was on the ground. Now I have a table top garden and guess what? Red wigglers have magicaly appeared . Ok not magic I am sure there must have been some eggs in the worm castings I used as part of compost combo.

It sounds like you found some great deals. Looking for compost can be a bit of a challange but try freecycle, craigs list and your local agriculture extension office you may even run into some for free. Good luck and to your new garden.

Where along the NC coast are you. If near Wilmington I can give you some contacts.

I garden in both the northern coast and the southern coast.

Kay

You may be able to pick up some Black Kow or Black Hen(Lowes or other supplier). Check the contents before you buy. I live in MD and can't get it. I had to go to VA. to get some.

Worms -- you have several options.
--worm bin: you can buy composting worms in amounts of 500, 1,000, 2,000+ online, findworms.com or something similar to that name, will help you locate close sources, another source is where I purchased - Uncle Jim's worm farm.com In addition there are lots of resources online. Red wigglers are not native but they are suppose to be very productive. I just became a worm mom myself about a week ago. Have a plastic indoor bin.

-- or if you just want to corral the earthworms outside to add to your boxes you can try this -- https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t10588-corral-earthworms-for-your-garden

--if your boxes are all going on the ground the native worms should find your boxes, I found native worms within the first year. They either came up from the ground below and/or when I added backyard compost.

Welcome Angela, look forward to hearing about your experiences.

As others have stated, if your beds are to be on the ground the native worms will find that nice loose soil in your SFG boxes and get to work without any more effort on your part.

Depending on how close you are to the beaches and how sandy your soil is, you may not get many native worms. My son who lives on mostly sand doesn't. Even I don't get that many and I'm much further inland. Of course I'm using tabletops and he is using self wicking "pond" beds for the most part. But even in the flower beds, no or few worms. So I started a worm bin a few weeks ago. I bought 12 worms from the bait and tackle shop because I was impatient. They are now very fat. Then I bought a baggie full from Progressive Gardens in Wilmington (on Oleander). They are doing well also. I expect in 3 months I'll be able to top dress my gardens with small amounts of worm poop. My goal is to get 2 bins going.

Kay

I just have to mention here, that I was born in Wilmington and lived for several years as a child on Oleander Drive. (we were next to the MilJo drive in which is now most likely long gone. When we didn't live there, we lived with my grandparents at Carolina Beach... well, actually Wilmington Beach. My paternal grandparents lived and owned a restaurant at Wrightsville Beach for many years.

My grandmother had a cottage on 3rd street, Carolina Beach. My mother had a place on Canal Drive. My son now lives about 5 miles from Carolina Beach.

Kay