How To Manage Food & Moisture In A Worm Bin | Vermicompost Worm Farm
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- Опубликовано: 4 авг 2024
- Determine the amount of food scraps & moisture you need to add to your worm bin each time you feed your compost worms...And then they will make you the most rich natural organic fertilizer & soil amendments for your garden in the form of worm castings!
In this video we'll dig in & see how much of the last feeding my 5,000 red wiggler compost worms devoured & what steps I take every time I feed them to keep my worm bins running at peak efficiency!
Epigeic worms or composting worms are fascinating natural composters & fertilizers that are in most homesteaders bag of tricks to make free organic fertilizer & soil amendments as well as fishing bait. If you've ever thought about vermicomposting or composting with worms to make organic fertilizer & natural soil amendments with your plant based kitchen scraps or food waste, this is the channel for you. I have 4 worm composting bins which you can watch from start to finished worm castings on the 4 playlists following each worm bin. If you haven't started yet, get started now and vermicompost with me!🪱🪱🪱 Visit my Channel at / @vermicompost
Happy Vermicomposting Everyone!!!🪱🪱🪱
Below are some of the items I use for vermicomposting & my channel's videos. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you if you use these links. Thank you for supporting this channel! / @vermicompost
Worm Bins I use:
Vermihut 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin amzn.to/3w15lQt
Urban Worm Bag V2 amzn.to/3XE9QsT
20 Gallon Fabric Grow Pots amzn.to/3EBYhdr
3 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck tote amzn.to/3eKDLhO
Other Worm Bins:
Worm Factory 360 3-Tray Version amzn.to/3AHnjqK
Worm Factory 360 5-Tray Version amzn.to/3tYfWY4
Bus bins amzn.to/3fd8AvP
Equipment I use:
12 Sheet Cross Cut Micro Shredder (I use it to shred cardboard) amzn.to/3xYZKYu
Magic Bullet Small Blender (to pulverize egg shells) amzn.to/3gwEzb4 or amzn.to/42SQ4w9 (with extra coffee bean & nut blade)
Mesh screen patches for DIY worm bins amzn.to/3xJjK4r
Indoor Outdoor Wireless Thermometer for worm bin amzn.to/3wIdXbO
Additional thermometer sensors 433 MHz amzn.to/41juD7v Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz
Additional thermometer sensors 915MHz amzn.to/3WTFgua Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz
Wrigglebrew Worm Casting Tea amzn.to/46PhV2A
Food Dehydrator amzn.to/3O5Uj2H
Mosquito Dunks 6 pack amzn.to/3Oe4Sl0 granular amzn.to/42KDtM0 or 20 pack amzn.to/42Br4Kf
Kitchen scale to weigh worms & food: amzn.to/3HnOQjg
Blue gloves amzn.to/3XsBg5n
Spray bottles to mist bedding amzn.to/3Fq23rN
Digital handheld Thermometer amzn.to/3EWfC2j
Compost Tea Bags amzn.to/3fCb5o1
Solar powered light amzn.to/3nOucAq
Reusable Keurig Coffee K-cups amzn.to/3FNXvt6
Other useful equipment for worm farming:
5 stackable sifter with different sized mesh: amzn.to/3S2k184
Cameras & camera equipment I use:
Insta 360 ace pro amzn.to/3vgdmR8
Flexible Tripod amzn.to/3CGTjcF
Insta360 GO 2 camera amzn.to/3oxCc80
Insta360 One X2 camera amzn.to/3nqV6hp
iPhone 13 Max Pro amzn.to/3nq52aU
Canon EOS Rebel T8i amzn.to/3HcBuX6
4 Ocean bracelets I wear
Multiple colors to chose from bracelets amzn.to/3HMbHEx
Books on worms & worm farming
Worms Eat My Garbage amzn.to/3L4FXN2
Where to buy worms: www.TheGardenAndWormLady.com
/ @vermicompost
#Vermicompost #wormfarm #vermihut #redwigglers #selfsufficiency #homesteading #vermiculture #wormcastings #baitworms #wormbin #compostworms #compost
00:00 Intro
00:34 Recap of last feeding
01:18 Digging in
01:55 Worm close ups
02:13 How to evaluate moisture levels
03:50 Great food to help add moisture
04:19 Testing worm castings for moisture
05:43 How much to feed & at what interval
07:39 Apple sauce feeding & amendments
09:06 How to evaluate your worm bin
10:19 Wrap up
Below are some of the items I use for vermicomposting & my channel's videos. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you if you use these links. Thank you for supporting this channel! www.youtube.com/@vermicompost?sub_confirmation=1
Worm Bins I use:
Vermihut 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin amzn.to/3w15lQt
Urban Worm Bag V2 amzn.to/3XE9QsT
20 Gallon Fabric Grow Pots amzn.to/3EBYhdr
3 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck tote amzn.to/3eKDLhO
Other Worm Bins:
Worm Factory 360 3-Tray Version amzn.to/3AHnjqK
Worm Factory 360 5-Tray Version amzn.to/3tYfWY4
Bus bins amzn.to/3fd8AvP
Equipment I use:
12 Sheet Cross Cut Micro Shredder (I use it to shred cardboard) amzn.to/3xYZKYu
Magic Bullet Small Blender (to pulverize egg shells) amzn.to/3gwEzb4 or amzn.to/42SQ4w9 (with extra coffee bean & nut blade)
Mesh screen patches for DIY worm bins amzn.to/3xJjK4r
Indoor Outdoor Wireless Thermometer for worm bin amzn.to/3wIdXbO
Additional thermometer sensors 433 MHz amzn.to/41juD7v Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz
Additional thermometer sensors 915MHz amzn.to/3WTFgua Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz
Wrigglebrew Worm Casting Tea amzn.to/46PhV2A
Food Dehydrator amzn.to/3O5Uj2H
Mosquito Dunks 6 pack amzn.to/3Oe4Sl0 granular amzn.to/42KDtM0 or 20 pack amzn.to/42Br4Kf
Kitchen scale to weigh worms & food: amzn.to/3HnOQjg
Blue gloves amzn.to/3XsBg5n
Spray bottles to mist bedding amzn.to/3Fq23rN
Digital handheld Thermometer amzn.to/3EWfC2j
Compost Tea Bags amzn.to/3fCb5o1
Solar powered light amzn.to/3nOucAq
Reusable Keurig Coffee K-cups amzn.to/3FNXvt6
Other useful equipment for worm farming:
5 stackable sifter with different sized mesh: amzn.to/3S2k184
Cameras & camera equipment I use:
Insta 360 ace pro amzn.to/3vgdmR8
Flexible Tripod amzn.to/3CGTjcF
Insta360 GO 2 camera amzn.to/3oxCc80
Insta360 One X2 camera amzn.to/3nqV6hp
iPhone 13 Max Pro amzn.to/3nq52aU
Canon EOS Rebel T8i amzn.to/3HcBuX6
4 Ocean bracelets I wear
Multiple colors to chose from bracelets amzn.to/3HMbHEx
Books on worms & worm farming
Worms Eat My Garbage amzn.to/3L4FXN2
Where to buy worms: www.TheGardenAndWormLady.com
www.youtube.com/@vermicompost?sub_confirmation=1
Pork chops and applesauce 😂
Good way to help get rid of expired food. I think the sweetness is going to have a big affect on the tray. I would figure the bacteria and worms will love it, plus the drippings going into the lower tray will be an added bonus. Great feeding Patrick!
I love pork chops & applesauce!! We must have forgotten the applesauce last time😁 When I found it in the back of the pantry I got a little mad at myself but also excited to give it a try in my VermiHut!! Worm farming definitely helps me to come to terms with wasting food!! Thanks so much for watching Rick!!🪱🪱🪱
That feeding was almost good enough for me to eat.
😂 Sometimes I wonder if my worms are eating better than me!! Thanks so much for watching Joe!!🪱🪱🪱
Hi Patrick and Autumn,
This May has been hot 🔥 and dry😨 I hope the afternoon showers start soon.
Your bin and worms 🪱 look great 👍
Watching 👀 completely with ads💪
❤Peggy❤
Thanks so much Peggy!! Yes, it has been a hot one for us as well just a little further west of you! My garden has mostly gone to seed besides the tomatoes, peppers & kale...It's time for sweet potatoes & okra!! Can't wait for the rains to start!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱
Hey Patrick, I wonder if that applesauce will go through a mini heat cycle before the worms can get into it? You said it was already starting to go off in the container. That wet bread will likely be gone in a few days! I saw a video of a close-up on a worm sucking down bits of moist bread - fascinating!
~ Sandra
Great question, I just checked it and although it felt slightly warm, there were worms on top of the paper towel...So luckily I don't think it went through too much of a heating cycle before the worms got to it (I'm writing this 4 days post feeding). The apple sauce actually looked better on film than in real life...it seemed to be a darker shade then usual but there was no breaking of the seal, so that brings up a good question...could we have eaten it 2 years after it expired with no ill effects?? Maybe some canning experts could let us know!! I think the worms went right to it so I got lucky it didn't heat up! That worms eating bread video would be a great video to show folks who don't think worms eat food directly!! Thanks so much for watching & thanks for all your support Sandra!!🪱🪱🪱
I just harvested 20lbs of castings from my Vermihut after 6 months of intense composting. The biggest surprise was the 2 drip trays that turned into castings.
I shredded a bunch of cardboard, i loaded it with watermelon rinds , bananas, a bad avocado. I opened it up and woah 😱 that watermelon got that cardboard so moldy and there's just layer upon layer of tiny tiny worms there. There's just so many. And i only fed 2x a month but i give them a decent amount.
I still technically have 1 more tray to harvest but it needs to be broken down a bit better. Still lots of bigger pieces but with that watermelon rain, that process has sped up significantly. Probably another 5lb of castings there. I❤️❤️❤️ this Vermihut
The VermiHut is such a great worms tower!! Especially with how we run it having dry shredded cardboard in the bottom trays. It sounds like you have really been getting the most from your VermiHut with the least amount of effort!! Great job!!🪱🪱🪱
😁 I'm so glad you love your VermiHut as much as I do!! Thanks so much for all your support!!🪱🪱🪱
They are going to love the applesauce and bread. I don't feel as bad for forgetting food in the fridge, it's just really expensive worm food. 😀🪱👍🏼
😂So true!! It's just really expensive worm food!! Thanks so much for stopping by to watch Ann!!🪱🪱🪱
The way they hollowed out that yellow squash was crazy! :)
They took it down to the "bone!!" I couldn't believe how crunchy it sounded! Thanks so much for stopping by to watch AV!🪱🪱🪱
Those worms got a yummy feeding! 🙂🪱🪱🪱
Lucky worms benefiting from my crowded pantry!! We're still adjusting from having 3 hungry teenaged boys in the house to being empty nesters!! Thanks so much for watching Ann!!🪱🪱🪱
Hi Patrick and Autumn, another good video. It's having that critical eye on your bin that always pays off. Have fun, Mark : )
Thank you Mark!! When I'm in transition with my hands out of the bin Autumn gives me all kinds of pointers or lets me know if I forgot to say something...usually it's her imploring me to stop feeding!! Like all worm farmers I can get too excited as I'm feeding them😂🤣😂 Thanks so much for taking the time to watch & comment!!🪱🪱🪱
some good camera angles, good teamwork. I remember my worms flying through squash like that..... I'll have to wait till the fall.... Have a great day.
Thanks Mikko!! I'm testing out different camera angles and cameras so I appreciate the feedback! My garden scraps are gonna be slowing down as we run out since my garden is dying off for our hot summer garden break. Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱
Always love to see a new video! I do have a question. I always bake my eggshells before i put them in the blender for the worms. To make sure all the bacteria are dead. Do you do that to? Or is it unnecessary. Greetings from Holland!
I do that too!
Soooo, I will never discourage sterilizing, but I just rinse mine off to get rid of the slime and leave them in the sun or out on our counter to dry off. The reason is they will go in a worm bin, then in my garden for months before they touch any food I eat, so I’m not too worried about any bad bacteria or microbes surviving in any great clustered amounts. Basically I assume any microbes get balanced out over that amount of time in those various environments. I do wash my hands after anytime I’m in my worm bins, but again keep doing what you’re doing …it’s working! I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching & thanks for the kind words!!🪱🪱🪱
😁 I think it's pretty common!! Thanks so much for watching Ann!!🪱🪱🪱
The idea is to protect your worms from incoming bacteria. The answer you got lacked meat. Some salmonella can kill humans, and worms destroy some of those, but tuere are many un studied types of salmonella that you want to protect the worms from. Lacto bacillus can live at 206°f and the temps you want to bake at is above 360°f to kill pathogens.
Just keep baking, and grind the shells to dust, worms have no teeth, and cant break down chips. I have a mortar and pestle to grind with. Also, add some un cooked coffee grounds into the used stuff, its going to break down slower and will provide a little more kick to the worms.
Side info: eggshells absorb the organic acid created as they break down, and worms hate acid. Adding eggshells actually removes stress from the worms, as they love the coffee, but it irritates them. I like cream in my coffee personally 😂
I like cream in my coffee as well 😂 Thanks so much for jumping in passing on your knowledge!! And of course thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱
I truly hope your worms appreciate the presentation of their buffet.
Awesome points on moisture and the amount of food to feed the worms. You can only go by how quickly the food disappears, and how frequently you feed them.
Another good point to make is frozen over fresh foods. Unfrozen foods take a lot longer to break down for the worms to feed on them. The fresh trimmings I was giving the worms in my grow room bin would be around for quite a while, even lettuce would be in the bin for over a week.
I need to do a video on how I harvested the castings from my 50 gal grow bags, and do a CFT bin update.
Nice informative video Patrick! Stay Well!!!
.
😂🤣😂 I try to make it look pretty for them!! So true about frozen versus unfrozen...in fact I'm not sure when the last time I fed unfrozen food was...We would love to see another CFT bin update!! Thanks so much for watching Brian!!🪱🪱🪱
I have the same issue with the AC sucking all the moisture out of the air. In my Vermihut, I spray the top with mosquito duck water, and put the paper towel on, and a sheet of bubble wrap over that. It seems to help, so far.
That is a great technique for recycling the moisture back into the bin!! It's funny my son's relatively new VermiHut had liquid down in the basin when we just rotated and harvested but now it's looking dry...I think all from the sudden change of barely having the AC on to having it run for most of the day! He may need to spray and do the bubble wrap technique in there. Thanks so much for watching & passing on how you run your VermiHut!!🪱🪱🪱
@@Vermicompost I don't think I'll have to worry about moisture in the basin just yet. I vastly overestimated how much bedding I would need when I set up my bin, so any moisture has to go through all 5 trays before it gets to the basin. 😅
I used the bubble wrap hoping to keep the moisture down, rather than going up into the lid. It's really disconcerting to pull the lid off and have a whole bunch of worms hanging from it! 😀
@@gambrell8186 Yep the lid was weird for me to adjust to...I did a few videos on it that you may have seen but here they are: ruclips.net/video/KqaBwGM3AFk/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/WCFwG1MWVAY/видео.html
Be interesting to see if you get potworms. When I put that much coffee grounds I always get potworms. Great update
Thank you!! I had a few blooms of pot worms early on in this and my Tiny Worm Bin: ruclips.net/video/V5N_0cfXAyU/видео.html But I have not seen too many in a long while. If I check in early enough & there is still food and coffee left, I'm sure I'll see some too! Thanks so much for watching Eric!!🪱🪱🪱
👍
Thanks for stopping by to watch!!🪱🪱🪱
I think I unfortunately had a MAJOR die off of worms this winter. Brought indoors and had a box covering with some weights to keep the cat out and think I may have restricted airflow or was too cold by the back door 😢. Just not seeing the same activity/population like last year!
Oh no!! The good thing is, if there are even a few worms left, they will find each other and reproduce back into a good population for you! You are probably right about the restricted airflow. Carbon dioxide is heavier than oxygen so in a closed off or semi closed off still bin, there can form a noxious layer of air making it hard for the worms to be able to exchange oxygen. I hope you try to resurrect the bin agin!! Thanks so much for watching Chris!!🪱🪱🪱
Greetings, What do you use for bedding? Do you buy the worm chow ?
Hello!! I use shredded cardboard boxes for bedding. I have an abundance of them and I've found the worms break them down quicker than most other bedding I've used. I use a 12 sheet cross cut MICRO paper shredded and it just pulverizes the corrugated cardboard! Here is a link to the newer model of the 5 year old shredder I use: amzn.to/3xYZKYu For my worm chow, I just take expired grains from my pantry...really anything dried without too much salt, like stale ice cream cones, oats, corn starch, old cereal, flour, etc. and blend them up to sprinkle on top of my feeding. No need to really buy anything for your worms in my opinion! I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱
Question: What system is best for optimizing the space that I have? Bins or buckets? I want to be able to stack either bins or buckets to the ceiling in my basement. I would prefer not to build anything and have the bins or buckets separated by plywood between each stack. I’ve seen larger scale operations with 2.5 gallon buckets with plywood between each stack but wouldn’t bins be better because of more surface area? I am only using red wiggler worms. I was thinking of stacking bus tubs? Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! 🪱
So, let me start by saying I have not tried to do what you are attempting to do with high stacked worm bins, but depending on why and what you are planning on doing with your worms & worm castings (sell them, recover as much worm castings as possible for your own use, breed worms to sell them) should determine which system to use. There are several channels I watch where you can see folks try the different methods and why they like each: www.youtube.com/@TheGardenAndWormLady & www.youtube.com/@pachamamawormsLLC & www.youtube.com/@northeastworms/videos
From a logistical standpoint, I would select the method that allows you to get in and out of your bins the easiest. Sliding, lifting and putting your bins back and forth can be exhausting and take time. If I were to do it I would use mortar trays like you see under my Urban Worm Bag. They are deep enough for the worms, have great surface area and are easy to slide in and out. You can regulate the volume without wasting as much space as buckets and they provide easy access to the worms & castings without having to dig too far in. Anything with a lid you have to take off will create for a more time consuming process as well, so you may want to skip lids. Here is what the mortar trays look like if you haven't seen them before: ruclips.net/video/GF9qJOsSnnU/видео.html I hope this helps!! Good luck, thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱
@@Vermicompost thanks for the reply!
Is calcium sand safe to put in worm bins as grit if one doesn't have eggshells? Thank you.
The way I look at it is if you think it will help your garden then it is generally ok to use in your worm bins...But, I wouldn't use calcium sand in any great amounts (maybe a pinch each time you feed) in your worm bin if you think it might alter the pH of the bin. The worms do not need a whole bunch of grit and I don't like to put sand into my worm bins since our soil is already so sandy here in Florida. I dispose of my egg shells in my worm bins and I grind it up so the worms can use it for grit, but they don't need as much as you see me put in...it's just my way of disposing of them. I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱
How deep is your worm bin?
Great question! Each VermiHut tray is 4 inches or 10 1/2 cm deep. The top tray usually is full to the top but the next one down can compact down to about half to 2/3rds that. The bottom two trays are typically mostly full. So, my VermiHut, right now as I measure it is 12 1/2 inches or 32 cm deep. I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱