Worms / Compost

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Worms / Compost
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wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 9:15 am Post subject:
The worms might do better in something porus - they need to breathe, and more so if its warm. Mine came in like a woven plasticy mail bag type bag (like the mail sacks, only small!) Maybe you could put them in a material bag, and then pack that in a cardboard box in straw or paper or something, so they don't get thrown around too much.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 10:00 am Post subject:
I'd wonder about whether you can legally send worms to France though. It might not be a problem with the EU thing, but they are alive, and it might be worth checking. Simon, are you sure you don't have some already? Putting some old compost bags or something similar, over wet leaves, compost type stuff etc, for a few days, always seem to yield several for us, and we're not even looking for them!

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 8:24 pm Post subject:
Surely you know by now that you only find things by not looking for them. Alison had loads - ask her nicely!

Goxhill

Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Posts: 245
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 05 10:46 am Post subject:
I only mean that the condensation made the sides wet, the worms go up the sides & out the lid. often falling out onto the concrete path below. I'd rather they were in the wormery! Yes I do use the 'tea' as a fertiliser. I'm never quite sure about dilution, because it's hard to know what strength it is, so I either guess or feed something like the roses or the fruit trees with it.

boff

Joined: 23 Mar 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Still alive and kicking

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 05 10:52 am Post subject:
I was talking about my gardens lack of worms to my neighbour, who promptly overturned his "grass cuttings only" compost bin and proceeded to pick out several dozen! Seek and ye shall find ! ( or dont ask,dont get!) He does think I'm barking by the way..........

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 05 10:54 am Post subject:

boff wrote:

He does think I'm barking by the way..........

He may be right, but that's why we like you!

boff

Joined: 23 Mar 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Still alive and kicking

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 05 10:57 am Post subject:
You say the sweetest things............... Who's actually got a worm bin thats been running for more than a year ? I'm keen to know what results you've had. (Sorry about the duck - I'll resize it !)

Goxhill

Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Posts: 245
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 05 11:08 am Post subject:

Me; it didn't seem to work well at all when I followed the instructions that came with it. Then I got a litle booklet - from HDRA I think, for about 50p, turned everything out, started again with new worms from the local angling shop, and it seems fine now apart from the condensation & the flies. I think I should have cleaned it out this spring but I'll do it before it goes back in the greenhouse in the autumn. The compost went into a big bag & I think he who must be obeyed used it when he moved one of our bushes recently. [We have quite a small garden on a modern estate & he likes everything 'just so' which is unfortunate because I'm the opposite!]

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 05 4:24 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

Simon, are you sure you don't have some already? Putting some old compost bags or something similar, over wet leaves, compost type stuff etc, for a few days, always seem to yield several for us, and we're not even looking for them!

Yes but I think they would be the wrong type of worms. Need red manure worms as far as I am aware. I did try garden worms last month but they all legged it (maybe a tighter lid but then I wouldn't want to suffocate 'em)

With regards to posting none of our parcels have arrived opened so far - do you think they have sniffer dogs in the mailroom???

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 05 4:25 pm Post subject:

Goxhill wrote:

Yes I do use the 'tea' as a fertiliser. I'm never quite sure about dilution, because it's hard to know what strength it is, so I either guess or feed something like the roses or the fruit trees with it.

You didn't fancy tasting it then?

Goxhill

Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Posts: 245
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 05 4:34 pm Post subject:
No, I only drink coffee!

SparklyWellies

Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 88
Location: Oxfordshire

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 8:01 am Post subject:
Don't know if this is of any use to anyone https://eclectech.co.uk/compostbin.php

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 9:20 am Post subject:

The HDRA booklet is very good, although the one that came with the bin is OK too.

My worms did originaly try to escape out of the lid - mostly when it rained (apparently its s defence mechanism - stops them getting flooded out!) so I covered the bin with a plastic bag and a weight (no where near airtight, by the way) and that solved the problem. I might also be that you're bin is too wet - if so (you should get moisure is you squeeze a handful but not dripping) mix in a load of shredded paper or cardboard to absorb some moisture. That should keep them in. Then they'll find something new to amuse you with!

Goxhill

Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Posts: 245
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 8:39 pm Post subject:
Yes it's noticeably worse when it rains. I'll try the newspaper; thanks Wellington Womble!

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 8:56 pm Post subject:
Hope if works! Put something over the top if not - I used an old dustbin lid, foraged from the park after the snow!

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