Hi Jayne, thinking on the fly is a critical success factor for any worm farmer! Using what we've got is important. I just fed Cinderella, my indoor worm bin, the stuffing that comes in the toes of new shoes! All my best to you and cameraman. ~ Sandra
Hi Jayne and Cameraman ❤ Thanks for the frugal tips. I make a delicious Cranberry relish that I soak with a layer of Port. I made it a few days ago so it can mellow by Thanksgiving. 🍂🍁🍂
A great customer friendly store in Spokane, Washington. I have shopped there, The General Store, Ace Hardware store! Great store! Great food preservation store! Thanks Jane at Rocking Worms!
@@LaureenChamberlin Oh thank you Laureen for verifying it’s a real store 🤩😎👍. I didn’t have any doubt but it’s super to get first hand confirmation from a Castings Crew! 🪱🪱🪱
@@John-qt5rs Thanks! I love it too 💕. I had the same saying on a different shirt and graphic and totally wore it out. I was so happy to find this in the store a few weeks ago. I bought several 🤣🤩🤣
I love your frugal tips! I have expired molasses in my cupboard that I forgot about. I used it when I had a go with pre composting in the summer. Cranberry sauce - I’ve never liked it. It’s fresh cranberry season now here in Massachusetts. I buy them and put them in muffins. Speaking of which- I’d better use the ones in my fridge or it will be something else the worms get instead of me. Your worms look very happy. Benign neglect isn’t a terrible thing at all. I “ played “ too much with my worms in the summer ( as a newbie, I poked around the bin way more than necessary but it was fun!). Now that it’s getting into the 30’s at night here, the worms are all inside. I’m doing my best to leave them alone and just go in the bins to mist them with water as needed and to check if they’re ready for more food scraps. I can’t put a plastic bag on top of the bins because my two cats are very attracted to plastic bags. They’ll get into the bins and chomp on the bags. I don’t need any emergency vet bills so no plastic. The bins need water more frequently than if I was able to put plastic on top. Thanks for the tips! 🪱💕
@@marymccusker8133 Hey Mary! Don’t be too fast with calling molasses expired - or I should say ‘bad’. It lasts a long time past its ‘best by’ date. Of course any bad smell or sign of spoilage means it’s worm food for sure! Cranberry muffins. I can see that. I can also see me picking them out 😝. I need to try cran-raisins or however that goes. 😎 It gets easier to leave the worms alone as you grow the clew. But red wigglers can take a lot of gentle abuse so to speak and be fine. Have you considered sidered using a heavier piece of cloth as a covering? Maybe the cats won’t be as attracted to it but it’ll still help keep moisture in? Sandra @NanasWorms uses burlap. Canvas or duck cloth might work well too. Thanks for watching Mary! 🥰🪱
Hi Jayne, Great tips today! Love the shirt, too! In the interest of being frugal, I am going to try chopped up SugarCane, I grow a lot of it here in Mims, FL. Good crop every year in the backyard.
@@terrywarburton6119 I like the shirt too. I had it in a different set up a few years ago and wore it out 🤣. I was happy to find it on the store shelf 👍. How are you thinking to use the sugar cane? Chopped up as bedding and food? There’s cane fields all around me. I can pick up a lot off the roads during harvest time but haven’t so far. 🪱🪱
Thank you! Going to look for those sifters. I will look to try the sugar spray idea too. I have been adding plain shredded cardboard at times too if the feeding looks like it will add in too much moisture
@@SusanMendez-o9u You’re welcome! The sifters are great and worth the money. It’s just nice to find them for a decent price 🤩. The sugar water / however you make it - will help that cardboard break down faster and the worms get into it faster as the biota will colonize it faster once it was moisture and nutrients on it. Faster!Faster!Faster! 🤣🪱
Yes, I’ve watched several of your videos, and my carbon/green ratio is about 60/40. Shred was pre-soaked in rainwater. Ingredients were thoroughly mixed in a large mason’s tub. Innoculent came from a pile of barn cleanout (unfinished compost/sawdust/mini goat scat). One blender full of sandwich making scraps that end up the consistency of wet oatmeal per bucket. Resulting in a black mix that I could almost squeeze two drops out of.
@@mikehansbrough8909 That sounds perfect Mike. Try the piling up to get mass and heat retention working for you. If you have a cover place that loosely on top to also keep heat in. Let us know if it works!! 🪱
@@RockinWormsI’m doing this in the kiddie pool already. 24”x36” pile with cardboard scraps on top, and four layers of commercial weed block fabric over the top. (It’s like a heavy felt blanket).
I love cranberry colour, but I'm mildly sensitive to them as a food. I make a cranberry sauce from frozen or fresh whole cranberries with orange slices for sweetening when we roasted turkey. ~ Sandra
@@NanasWorms Cranberry red is my second favorite color so I’m totally on board with you there 😍. I’ve heard of the cranberry orange glaze thing for turkey. I’m sure it’s delicious as a basting glaze! I wish I could remember the details but I read an interview with an Ocean Spray executive and he said how awful cranberries taste on their own! It was pretty funny. 😁
@@mikehansbrough8909 It is great! I love it for making pre/compost, for packing worm and cocoon orders, and as needed, to use as straight bedding when I’m in a pinch. And as you say, it can be used wet or dry depending on what’s needed in a worm bin. Fantastic stuff! 💕🪱
The only thing I might disagree with is the ketchup because it has high sodium and that’s not good for our plants typically. But I like the idea of using carbon sources around the house. If we’re being honest here, you could use plain white sugar and make sugar water. The microbes will feed on that just the same as the fancy ones, except the fancy ones at least bring along some small amounts of nutrition.
@@OG_VeniVidiVici You’re right that high salt isn’t good for plants - or the worms either. I’m thinking that the amounts used are small so the salt total amount is quite small too. If we collect castings and refresh bedding on a decent interval the salt concentration won’t build up. Would you agree with that? Absolutely! Simple sugar water will work too. I put sugar in my corn on the cob boiling water. I then use that water to make pre-compost. I could use it in appropriate amount in a worm bin as well. Nothing gets wasted! Thanks for bringing this up 😎🪱
@ yeah I was thinking in while I was writing out the comment that it might be low dose enough to not cause I problem. I think it would only become a problem if it was used all the time when moistening and even then it should be diluted enough I think. I’m just one of those people who are extra cautious and so I tend to overthink things a lot. But nice! Another trick to add to the book. Thanks. Been learning tons from your channel in the little bit of time I’ve found it. Thanks for all you do! 😁
@@OG_VeniVidiVici I’m all for giving things a good think before plunging in anyway 🤣🤩. Nothing wrong with being cautious 😍. These are worm loves on the line and we have a duty to care for them as best we can. Mistakes are made (ooh boy!) and we own that and do better going forward. 👍. I’m glad you will be able to keep these tips in mind and use them when it feels right for you and your worms. Having options is the best! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!! 🪱🪱
Jayne, you are a national treasure! I have watched so many of your informative videos, which are so helpful. I have made the pre-compost like you showed. I haven't purchased worms yet, but hope to real soon. What is the plastic sheet you have on every bin? It has "fritolay choose any 2 ...." i know they aren't necessary, but they look nice. Where do you get them? Thank you for all you are doing.
@@carenharris863 Hi Caren! Oh nice! You’ve got pre-compost going already. Very smart idea 🤩. Why not start off in the best way possible 👍. The plastic sheet covers I use are chip bags from BJs (like a Costco). You get 2 bags of chips for one price and this plastic bag has the upc code on it for the 2 bags. It’s a shame to have this extra plastic being used but at least I get a long 2nd use out of it. It fits my worm bins perfectly too so bonus prizes! 😆😍. Some worm wranglers use bubble wrap, heavier plastic bag material cut to size, or no plastic covering at all! Keep your eyes open to see what might be available that you haven’t recognized as a potential cover. Produce bags? Sandra at Nana’s Worms uses burlap. Of course eventually the burlap gets eaten or composts but that’s ok! Try a few different solutions and see what works best for you and your worms 😊🪱
@@mikehansbrough8909 We want to use unsulphered molasses in our worm bins. Sulphering is used to inhibit bacterial growth in molasses and we actually want bacteria to grow! So unsulphered molasses is desired 👍😍🪱
@@theresarothenberger2264 Hey Theresa. The best advice I have is to cook the food. You’re getting eggs in there somehow and food is the main vector. Sandra @NanasWorms says to open the bin, touch nothing and spray it with BTI. Wait a few seconds and then do your worm tasks. I’d suggest opening the bin outside if you can so any fliers are not in your worm work space. The other tip, which applies to all foods, is to bury it as deep as you can and cover with drier bedding. Ok? 🪱🪱
Hi Jayne, great video and tips. I'm missing your regular updates on your worm keeping, is everything ok? It's winter here in the UK now and the worms have slowed down considerably. I did check one of my breeder bins the other day and there were hundreds and hundreds of massive worms. It's my wettest bin of the lot, do you think that is the reason for them breeding so well. Anyway, I hope you and your family have a fabulous Christmas, and all our best wishes for the New Year.🥰🥰🎄🎄🎄
@@funnysods Hi Bill! Worm do love a very moist bin, that’s for sure 👍. Wetter breeder bins do get more cocoons than less damp bins. I’ve seen that many a time myself. Size is more dependent on food sources and adequate space for the worms. How many breeders do you have in what sized bin? I’m sure many worm wranglers would like to know your success recipe! 😍. If your bin temps stay above 45F (7.22C) the worms will remain at least moderately active. Remember to cut back on food-food a bit as they slow down. You can rely on biota food (pre-compost or prepared bedding) more to keep the worms well fed but not have to worry about food-food going anaerobic or too acidic. Snow! Ugh. Actually I like snow, it’s the cold o can do without 🙄😎. Yeah, I’ve not been making videos lately as it’s been a not so great past few months. Mostly a health crisis and a work change that threw the whole of this past several months into a big mess. I keep thinking things will get better but then something else happens 😡. I’m really hoping that the new year will bring a new normal and I can get back to making videos! 🤞🙏. Until then I’m answering comments and helping my worm wranglers as best I can. I hope you and yours have a great holiday season!!! 🪱🪱
@@RockinWorms Thank you so much for taking the time to reply Jayne. I had a feeling something wasn't right due to your lack of videos. In answer to your question, I put about 200 worms in a bin about 20" x 16" x 4" and I use your recipe for pre compost to start them off. Your luck will change, it always does, and next year can get you the normality you need. Have a great Christmas Jayne, take care and we look forward to 2025 being a better year.❤❤❤
@ Thanks for sharing your set up for the big monster worms 👍😎. Yes, life is constant change. I’m not worried about things, just have to get thru a tough time. It happens to all of us at some point. Have fun worm wrangling! 😍🪱
I’m pre-composting outside, and temperatures are in the 40s at night and my pre-compost is made up of shredded cardboard and coffee grounds with some blended veggies and the temperature is not really coming up at all.
@@mikehansbrough8909 Ho Mike! Drats! That can be frustrating 😡. Ok, let’s check the basics. You’ve got somewhere between 70:30 to 55:45 ratio of carbon to nitrogen? The higher the nitrogen to more it’ll hot compost, but you do need the carbon component as well. The blended veggies, are they liquid enough and plentiful enough to coat the materials? Coating the carbon shreds will speed up the biota getting into them and starting the process. Lastly do you have an inoculate? This is the starting biota. Adding starting biota jump starts the process vs waiting for biota to show up on its own (thru the air or in rain water for example). You can use soil, castings, activated baking yeast, moldy foods, etc as your inoculation vector. Giving your pre-compost a good aeration mix up as you tweak any of the above suggestions into your pre-compost will help too. Colder ambient temperatures will not stop a pile from heating up. The action starts in the center and quickly builds its own heat and make the cycle go around. The temperature difference between the pre-compost and ambient simply gives us a very good idea of how effective the composting system is working 🤩. Can you try some of the suggestions above? 😊🪱
Support small and local businesses when purchasing as much as possible IMO. I got my set of 5 sifters for $80 before tax from a small business on Amazon although I'm not really sure how it happened 🤣😅😂.
@@pandabear15214 Hey there Angel. That was a great deal too! Was it recent? I try to support local and independent businesses when I can too. Their prices might be a bit higher (they don’t have the bulk buying discounts the big boys have) but usually the service is outstanding! 😍🪱
I like the jelly sauce straight from the can. I like those special cutting lines too. 😂
@@scrapzwtf You and Cameraman can split a can😎. He likes it on the thanksgiving turkey sandwiches.
Those cutting lines are very helpful! 🤣
Hi Jayne, thinking on the fly is a critical success factor for any worm farmer! Using what we've got is important. I just fed Cinderella, my indoor worm bin, the stuffing that comes in the toes of new shoes! All my best to you and cameraman.
~ Sandra
@@NanasWorms Hi Sandra! I love it! Cinderella gets stuffing from shoes. Seems very on brand for her 😝. Thanks for stopping by! 🪱
Hi Jayne and Cameraman ❤
Thanks for the frugal tips.
I make a delicious Cranberry relish that I soak with a layer of Port. I made it a few days ago so it can mellow by Thanksgiving. 🍂🍁🍂
@@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920 Cranberries with a layer of port! WOW! That’s awesome 😍. Will the worms get the leftovers?? 😝🪱
@@RockinWorms there are never leftovers! It's delicious 😋
A great customer friendly store in Spokane, Washington. I have shopped there, The General Store, Ace Hardware store! Great store! Great food preservation store! Thanks Jane at Rocking Worms!
@@LaureenChamberlin Oh thank you Laureen for verifying it’s a real store 🤩😎👍. I didn’t have any doubt but it’s super to get first hand confirmation from a Castings Crew! 🪱🪱🪱
I love your T-Shirt!!!
@@John-qt5rs Thanks! I love it too 💕. I had the same saying on a different shirt and graphic and totally wore it out. I was so happy to find this in the store a few weeks ago. I bought several 🤣🤩🤣
I love your frugal tips! I have expired molasses in my cupboard that I forgot about. I used it when I had a go with pre composting in the summer. Cranberry sauce - I’ve never liked it. It’s fresh cranberry season now here in Massachusetts. I buy them and put them in muffins. Speaking of which- I’d better use the ones in my fridge or it will be something else the worms get instead of me. Your worms look very happy. Benign neglect isn’t a terrible thing at all. I “ played “ too much with my worms in the summer ( as a newbie, I poked around the bin way more than necessary but it was fun!). Now that it’s getting into the 30’s at night here, the worms are all inside. I’m doing my best to leave them alone and just go in the bins to mist them with water as needed and to check if they’re ready for more food scraps. I can’t put a plastic bag on top of the bins because my two cats are very attracted to plastic bags. They’ll get into the bins and chomp on the bags. I don’t need any emergency vet bills so no plastic. The bins need water more frequently than if I was able to put plastic on top. Thanks for the tips! 🪱💕
@@marymccusker8133 Hey Mary! Don’t be too fast with calling molasses expired - or I should say ‘bad’. It lasts a long time past its ‘best by’ date. Of course any bad smell or sign of spoilage means it’s worm food for sure!
Cranberry muffins. I can see that. I can also see me picking them out 😝. I need to try cran-raisins or however that goes. 😎
It gets easier to leave the worms alone as you grow the clew. But red wigglers can take a lot of gentle abuse so to speak and be fine.
Have you considered sidered using a heavier piece of cloth as a covering? Maybe the cats won’t be as attracted to it but it’ll still help keep moisture in? Sandra @NanasWorms uses burlap. Canvas or duck cloth might work well too.
Thanks for watching Mary! 🥰🪱
Hi Jayne, Great tips today! Love the shirt, too!
In the interest of being frugal, I am going to try chopped up SugarCane, I grow a lot of it here in Mims, FL. Good crop every year in the backyard.
@@terrywarburton6119 I like the shirt too. I had it in a different set up a few years ago and wore it out 🤣. I was happy to find it on the store shelf 👍.
How are you thinking to use the sugar cane? Chopped up as bedding and food? There’s cane fields all around me. I can pick up a lot off the roads during harvest time but haven’t so far. 🪱🪱
@@RockinWorms hi Jayne. I am gong to try a few different ideas. Will keep you posted as to results. Happy Halloween!
Great video Jayne🪱🪱🪱 Tell cameraman I with him on the cranberry sauce 🤤🤤🤤
@@nusoilwormfarm7980 Thanks Bobby! Cameraman says he knew you were a cranberry man 🤣
@ 🤣🤣
❤ Thanks for the Frugal Tips ❤
@@Tillettforct Hey there! It’s been a minute - how have you been?
Do you have any frugal tips you’d like to share? 🪱🪱
I love your shirt!
@@thompsonje23 Me too! I’ll be wearing it often 🤣
Fun video!
@@katiem9644 Thanks for watching Katie! 🤩🪱
Thank you! Going to look for those sifters. I will look to try the sugar spray idea too. I have been adding plain shredded cardboard at times too if the feeding looks like it will add in too much moisture
@@SusanMendez-o9u You’re welcome! The sifters are great and worth the money. It’s just nice to find them for a decent price 🤩.
The sugar water / however you make it - will help that cardboard break down faster and the worms get into it faster as the biota will colonize it faster once it was moisture and nutrients on it. Faster!Faster!Faster! 🤣🪱
Yes, I’ve watched several of your videos, and my carbon/green ratio is about 60/40.
Shred was pre-soaked in rainwater.
Ingredients were thoroughly mixed in a large mason’s tub.
Innoculent came from a pile of barn cleanout (unfinished compost/sawdust/mini goat scat).
One blender full of sandwich making scraps that end up the consistency of wet oatmeal per bucket.
Resulting in a black mix that I could almost squeeze two drops out of.
@@mikehansbrough8909 That sounds perfect Mike. Try the piling up to get mass and heat retention working for you. If you have a cover place that loosely on top to also keep heat in.
Let us know if it works!! 🪱
@@RockinWormsI’m doing this in the kiddie pool already.
24”x36” pile with cardboard scraps on top, and four layers of commercial weed block fabric over the top.
(It’s like a heavy felt blanket).
@ Great! Fingers crossed it works 🤞. Keep up posted please 🙏🤩🪱
I love cranberry colour, but I'm mildly sensitive to them as a food. I make a cranberry sauce from frozen or fresh whole cranberries with orange slices for sweetening when we roasted turkey.
~ Sandra
@@NanasWorms Cranberry red is my second favorite color so I’m totally on board with you there 😍. I’ve heard of the cranberry orange glaze thing for turkey. I’m sure it’s delicious as a basting glaze!
I wish I could remember the details but I read an interview with an Ocean Spray executive and he said how awful cranberries taste on their own! It was pretty funny. 😁
Cross-cut, shredded cardboard is great!
Dry, if your bedding is wet, and pre-soaked if your bedding is right.
May need to wring out excess moisture.
@@mikehansbrough8909 It is great! I love it for making pre/compost, for packing worm and cocoon orders, and as needed, to use as straight bedding when I’m in a pinch. And as you say, it can be used wet or dry depending on what’s needed in a worm bin. Fantastic stuff! 💕🪱
The only thing I might disagree with is the ketchup because it has high sodium and that’s not good for our plants typically. But I like the idea of using carbon sources around the house. If we’re being honest here, you could use plain white sugar and make sugar water. The microbes will feed on that just the same as the fancy ones, except the fancy ones at least bring along some small amounts of nutrition.
@@OG_VeniVidiVici You’re right that high salt isn’t good for plants - or the worms either. I’m thinking that the amounts used are small so the salt total amount is quite small too. If we collect castings and refresh bedding on a decent interval the salt concentration won’t build up. Would you agree with that?
Absolutely! Simple sugar water will work too. I put sugar in my corn on the cob boiling water. I then use that water to make pre-compost. I could use it in appropriate amount in a worm bin as well. Nothing gets wasted!
Thanks for bringing this up 😎🪱
@ yeah I was thinking in while I was writing out the comment that it might be low dose enough to not cause I problem. I think it would only become a problem if it was used all the time when moistening and even then it should be diluted enough I think. I’m just one of those people who are extra cautious and so I tend to overthink things a lot.
But nice! Another trick to add to the book. Thanks. Been learning tons from your channel in the little bit of time I’ve found it. Thanks for all you do! 😁
@@OG_VeniVidiVici I’m all for giving things a good think before plunging in anyway 🤣🤩. Nothing wrong with being cautious 😍. These are worm loves on the line and we have a duty to care for them as best we can. Mistakes are made (ooh boy!) and we own that and do better going forward. 👍.
I’m glad you will be able to keep these tips in mind and use them when it feels right for you and your worms. Having options is the best! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!! 🪱🪱
Great information on frungal 🇳🇿🪱
@@dnawormcastings Thanks! We can all save a few dollars here and there! And worms love it! 💕🪱. Thanks for stopping by!
Jayne, you are a national treasure! I have watched so many of your informative videos, which are so helpful. I have made the pre-compost like you showed. I haven't purchased worms yet, but hope to real soon. What is the plastic sheet you have on every bin? It has "fritolay choose any 2 ...." i know they aren't necessary, but they look nice. Where do you get them? Thank you for all you are doing.
@@carenharris863 Hi Caren! Oh nice! You’ve got pre-compost going already. Very smart idea 🤩. Why not start off in the best way possible 👍.
The plastic sheet covers I use are chip bags from BJs (like a Costco). You get 2 bags of chips for one price and this plastic bag has the upc code on it for the 2 bags. It’s a shame to have this extra plastic being used but at least I get a long 2nd use out of it. It fits my worm bins perfectly too so bonus prizes! 😆😍. Some worm wranglers use bubble wrap, heavier plastic bag material cut to size, or no plastic covering at all! Keep your eyes open to see what might be available that you haven’t recognized as a potential cover. Produce bags? Sandra at Nana’s Worms uses burlap. Of course eventually the burlap gets eaten or composts but that’s ok! Try a few different solutions and see what works best for you and your worms 😊🪱
Sulphured molasses?
Or, unsulphured molasses???
@@mikehansbrough8909 We want to use unsulphered molasses in our worm bins. Sulphering is used to inhibit bacterial growth in molasses and we actually want bacteria to grow! So unsulphered molasses is desired 👍😍🪱
Love your tips and your shirt. I have a problem with flies, gnats. I’ve tried everything. Will this great tip add to my problem!.
@@theresarothenberger2264 Hey Theresa. The best advice I have is to cook the food. You’re getting eggs in there somehow and food is the main vector.
Sandra @NanasWorms says to open the bin, touch nothing and spray it with BTI. Wait a few seconds and then do your worm tasks. I’d suggest opening the bin outside if you can so any fliers are not in your worm work space.
The other tip, which applies to all foods, is to bury it as deep as you can and cover with drier bedding.
Ok? 🪱🪱
Hi Jayne, great video and tips. I'm missing your regular updates on your worm keeping, is everything ok? It's winter here in the UK now and the worms have slowed down considerably. I did check one of my breeder bins the other day and there were hundreds and hundreds of massive worms. It's my wettest bin of the lot, do you think that is the reason for them breeding so well. Anyway, I hope you and your family have a fabulous Christmas, and all our best wishes for the New Year.🥰🥰🎄🎄🎄
@@funnysods Hi Bill! Worm do love a very moist bin, that’s for sure 👍. Wetter breeder bins do get more cocoons than less damp bins. I’ve seen that many a time myself. Size is more dependent on food sources and adequate space for the worms. How many breeders do you have in what sized bin? I’m sure many worm wranglers would like to know your success recipe! 😍.
If your bin temps stay above 45F (7.22C) the worms will remain at least moderately active. Remember to cut back on food-food a bit as they slow down. You can rely on biota food (pre-compost or prepared bedding) more to keep the worms well fed but not have to worry about food-food going anaerobic or too acidic.
Snow! Ugh. Actually I like snow, it’s the cold o can do without 🙄😎.
Yeah, I’ve not been making videos lately as it’s been a not so great past few months. Mostly a health crisis and a work change that threw the whole of this past several months into a big mess. I keep thinking things will get better but then something else happens 😡. I’m really hoping that the new year will bring a new normal and I can get back to making videos! 🤞🙏. Until then I’m answering comments and helping my worm wranglers as best I can.
I hope you and yours have a great holiday season!!! 🪱🪱
@@RockinWorms Thank you so much for taking the time to reply Jayne. I had a feeling something wasn't right due to your lack of videos. In answer to your question, I put about 200 worms in a bin about 20" x 16" x 4" and I use your recipe for pre compost to start them off.
Your luck will change, it always does, and next year can get you the normality you need. Have a great Christmas Jayne, take care and we look forward to 2025 being a better year.❤❤❤
@ Thanks for sharing your set up for the big monster worms 👍😎.
Yes, life is constant change. I’m not worried about things, just have to get thru a tough time. It happens to all of us at some point.
Have fun worm wrangling! 😍🪱
I’m pre-composting outside, and temperatures are in the 40s at night and my pre-compost is made up of shredded cardboard and coffee grounds with some blended veggies and the temperature is not really coming up at all.
@@mikehansbrough8909 Ho Mike! Drats! That can be frustrating 😡. Ok, let’s check the basics. You’ve got somewhere between 70:30 to 55:45 ratio of carbon to nitrogen? The higher the nitrogen to more it’ll hot compost, but you do need the carbon component as well.
The blended veggies, are they liquid enough and plentiful enough to coat the materials? Coating the carbon shreds will speed up the biota getting into them and starting the process. Lastly do you have an inoculate? This is the starting biota. Adding starting biota jump starts the process vs waiting for biota to show up on its own (thru the air or in rain water for example). You can use soil, castings, activated baking yeast, moldy foods, etc as your inoculation vector.
Giving your pre-compost a good aeration mix up as you tweak any of the above suggestions into your pre-compost will help too.
Colder ambient temperatures will not stop a pile from heating up. The action starts in the center and quickly builds its own heat and make the cycle go around. The temperature difference between the pre-compost and ambient simply gives us a very good idea of how effective the composting system is working 🤩. Can you try some of the suggestions above? 😊🪱
Support small and local businesses when purchasing as much as possible IMO. I got my set of 5 sifters for $80 before tax from a small business on Amazon although I'm not really sure how it happened 🤣😅😂.
@@pandabear15214 Hey there Angel. That was a great deal too! Was it recent?
I try to support local and independent businesses when I can too. Their prices might be a bit higher (they don’t have the bulk buying discounts the big boys have) but usually the service is outstanding! 😍🪱