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compost for worm food?

18 years ago

Hey everyone.

The worms are doing good. Laying lots of eggs and Still not eating like I would have hoped, but thats a differant post.

I plan to feed my worms my compost pile or more like partial compost pile this summer, but am not sure if I may be bringing on anarobic problems.

I emptied the compost pile last nov so all its contents are fairly new. Especially with temps cold all winter.

The pile has only been turned once about six weeks ago. When I put it back together I added layers of green horse manuer and lots of fresh potatoes that I chopped up before throwing them in. The rest of the pile is kitchen scraps (Before the Worms) and some garden waste.

25% Green Manure

35% Potatoes

25% Kitchen scraps

15% green garden scraps.

I am worried about transfering anarobic conditions to the bin. Although the compost pile doesen't stink I know I have added a couple of 5 gallon buckets of kitchen scraps to that pile that were getting pretty ripe.

Does anyone see any problems with feeding the pile to the worms? DO I have to keep it turned often? Or is it a just quit worrying and feed it to them kind of thing?

Thanks for any input.

Darren

Comments (6)

  • 18 years ago

    I would add your worms to the bottom of your compost pile, when it gets warmer, if the pile is in contact with the ground. Stop turning the pile and let the worms work on that.

  • 18 years ago

    Ditto - makes the most sense to add worms to the outdoor heap in the spring and let them work it right there.
    (I keep looking for [more] ways to get the vermicopmosting process as close to the garden as possible.)

  • 18 years ago

    Well the thought is tempting of adding the worms. One problem I see though is the 25% of green horse manuer and 35% potatos I added are going to make the pile too hot. It is to full to add carbon product as it is already overflowing the railroad ties. I'll give it a few months and then add about five pounds of worms and see what happens. That does create another problem though. What am I going to feed the other 25 lbs of worms Lol. Looks like I better call up my horse poop supplier.

  • 18 years ago

    Typically in cold composting with worms, the upper layer(s) will heat up a little especially as greens (high n2) are added, but the worms have plenty of area to avoid this until it cools some. BTW, I have repeatedly seen worms working in some really steamy compost areas of a heap that I would have thought was way to hot for them... just as I've seen natives in very cold, sopping wet areas. Just when you think you've got them all figured out, they surprise with some amazing feat. The above shouldn't be confused with a heat up in a small bin which can be catastrophic as the worms have no escape.

  • 18 years ago

    i think the prev poster hit the nail.. space. i add everything from manure to yard waste to kitchen waste of several houses and so on directly and have no issues. in fact the worms often head straight for the fresh poop ans such. the key is THEY choose when and where to go and have choices. if it gets uncomfortable they move. i think it is when the space is very small like one of these comercial stackers or a rubbermaid tub you get such issues as they are stuck whether they like it or not. they thing you might consider to aid your concerns is stacking all the compost high into one side of your worm pile then if they want to vacate they can step to the other side.

  • 18 years ago

    I have a compost tumbler, and when I empty the compost out of it, I find redworms in it. I guess they get in from my outdoor worm bin because I never put them in there. They seem to handle the hot temps and the tumbling and do fine.

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