Worm Composting Interview, Part Two
Red Wiggler Worms
The following interview is the second and final part of an interview I conducted with Gary Turner, an experienced worm composter. If you missed part one, I highly recommend beginning with it. This is the continuation of our conversation. We were just getting into the environmental aspects of vermicomposting.
In addition to being more environmentally-responsible, what are other advantages your family can gain by composting with worms?
Our main advantage is in the garden. We use no fertilizers or pesticides. The high nitrogen content of worm castings helps make the plants grow strong, grow fast, produce well, and resist bugs.
How often do the worms multiply?
From what I’ve read, every redworm, having both male and female functions, starts producing cocoons in about 10 weeks. Most cocoons have about 10 eggs and the eggs take 3 weeks to hatch. Each redworm can then produce another cocoon in about a couple of months. The math quickly gets complicated, but you can see why I tell my kids, “I’ve got a million in worms!”
If your worm population gets too large, what are your options? Can you use them as bait when fishing?
I rarely have too many worms. Despite the fact that red wigglers are small, we find some large ones in our piles and do use them for fishing. They are a good source of protein for chickens and ducks. My ducks love to root around in a pan and dig them out. Many people let them loose in their garden to enrich the soil. The downside of that is that it can attract moles or gophers to your garden. But worms in potted plants are great for fertilizing the plant.
What kinds of containers do you use for your worms? What is your favorite and why?
You can buy various types of marketed bins on-line or in gardening stores. But I use discarded “coolers” from yard sales or that I have found by the side of the road for my small bins. The large bins can be regular composting bins (usually 4 ft. by 4 ft. by 4 ft.) that can be purchased or home-made. The large bins are my favorite because they can produce 300 to 600 gallons of worm castings a year. You can also buy inexpensive plastic bins and drill a few small holes to allow excess moisture to escape. Since worms despise light, in general they will not come out.
What material (food, dirt, paper, etc.) have you found that really works well? Is there something that the worms really love to eat?
Don’t put soil into the bins. Make the beds out of shredded paper or leaves (preferably chopped leaves). Put the food in the middle of the bed. I have used a blender to chop the food up so worms can eat it sooner. Worms love fruit! I put a rotten pear in a pile years ago, and while turning the pile a few weeks later, found the pear completely full of worms. I have seen the same results with other fruit. A little fine sand sprinkled in the pile helps them digest foodstuff. Avoid meat and dairy as this attracts other pests into the pile (plus often smells as it is decomposing). Give meat and dairy to the dogs in the neighborhood.
If you are not supposed to feed them meat or dairy, are eggs shells acceptable?
Yes. Thoroughly crush the shells for them to swallow. The shells, like a chicken’s gizzard, help the worms grind and digest their food. Then the shells come out in the castings and add calcium to the soil.
Why do you think most people are unaware of worm composting and its benefits?
When I ask folks, “Wanna see my worms?” they give me a pretty big double-take. Some finally say, “Well, I suppose so.” However, I’m becoming a worm evangelist. I hope to convert a few more people this year and baptize them with the spirit. If you want to be converted, feel free to contact me.
Well, there you have it. If you have the spirit, you can e-mail Gary at turnertrainer@aol.com. I want to give a special thank you to Gary for agreeing to do this interview with me. Not only does he have many years of experience, but he is also a plethora of information on the subject. I hope that ya’ll enjoyed the two part interview. Feel free to contact me as well with questions and/or comments. Happy composting!
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Nice article! I would be very happy, If I could write like this. The more I see articles of such quality as this (which is not common), the more I think the web has a great future. Keep ‘em coming. Thanks
When I first started raising red worms I was using horse manure which was great. I have used shredded leaves before in all kinds of ways, one way was to shop them up really fine and screen it with 1/8 wire. This way the worms can eat it right away. I do like your article it is great.