My 2 cents...

I'd get the worms. There will be eggs in the mix and I like instant gratification! Plus the worms will be busy making eggs. Your population will increase faster if you get the worms.

(Also, there is something real thrilling to get worms in the mail. I like to think about all the squimish people who unknowingly came into such close contact with WORMS! Whaaha ha ha!)

Happy worming,
Anita

I would recomend the worms too. If you started a new bin with eggs it could be hard to figure out just how much to feed the eggs. Some won't hatch for a few months. I had flooded one bin by rain water and the eggs are just now hatching three months later. The cold weather may have delayed that also?
Good luck Bill C

Thanks so much for your input so far. Hoping to order tomorrow if I feel confident enough about the sellers that I'm looking at. Can't wait to get it all started!

I've been reading here all week & can't get enough & I don't even know how long or how much my DH will tolerate it. :) He did help me make the bin & is saving food scraps so I think he'll grow to enjoy it. My excuse right now is that I tell him I think it will be fun for our toddler. While this is true, I think it will be fun for me too!

Anita... I forgot to mention... Thanks for the visual of people handling worms in the mail system without knowing it.
Makes it even more fun :)

lol,when i received my first shipment of worms in the mail, my mail lady brought them down to the house and said,"Just why am i delivering WORMS?lol
After we talked a few min,she said she was going to look into starting her a bin.

Soooooo, ya never know what peoplr will do.

Carol

Folks, before you go out and buy worms, look in other areas in GW for freebies.

I live in FL. and would gladly send some to a GOOD home. Home visitation not required!

doc dot - What I wonderful idea! That is exactly what I am planning. Get my bin going well and start giving worms away to people who want them but don't want/can't afford the price. Around here they are $45/pound! Crazy!!

Anita

Hi Anita!
Isn't it crazy how much people charge for Canadian worms?
They start at $45 and I've seen some for $60 here in Ont.
I'd love to get some in the mail, just to see the look on the mailperson's face, when the box is labeled Live worms, or whatever! LOL

Sherry

That's what GW is about.

You ALL are great.

Thank you for keeping the spirit of gardening alive and fun.

You are all so much fun! I love you already! I ordered my worms over the weekend, 2lbs. of E.F. Paid $49 which included shipping. After reading the last several posts I realize I didn't do too bad.

I went with someone who had a website up and running that looked very professional. They were also good about answering my questions so I felt more comfortable with them. I had considered ebay but want to be able to know for sure the species since I'm not familiar with them myself yet.

I'm considering starting a bin with E.Nightcrawelers (EH?) also if the first worms do well.

I haven't even got them yet & I'm hooked :)

jasdip - There is only one place locally, that I can find, that even has them and they are over an hour away! Ahgg! It is frustrating! So I am happy to have wonderful friend who's only payment was that I sit and visit over a cup of coffee! It was lovely!

suziqzer - They are so much fun! Loved getting them in the mail! I think I might even pay $25 for a pound! My friend, who I received mine from, grew her bin from TWO worms about 6 months ago. Her bin is full of worms and castings! Got to love that!

Got to go and do something other than worming (or reading about worming!)

Anita

Jasdip,

Where are you in Ontario?

I'm in Hamilton and they cost $15 at the ecohouse here.

Hamilton, are you talking $15 for a pound?? Wow!
I live in Kitchener, so not far at all. What is the ecohouse?

Sherry

$15 per pound?? I am soooo gealous! I'd buy 4 pounds at that price and not have to wait but I like instant gratification! (I think I mentioned that!) Alas, at $45 a pound I must delay my gratification, simply wait, and try to not kill my worms with love.

Anita

I agree Anita. I have a pound now, but I can feed them more than they consume. I've got 4 litre ice cream containers in my freezer, and a friends!! I would love more worms now instead of waiting for them to populate.

My quandrary is what to do with all the castings? (I'm in an apartment with a lot of houseplants but still.....)

Start packing the castings in ziplock baggies; prick lots of tiny holes in the bags and start giving them away for gifts or even selling the stuff at the local farmers market. You can usually talk to local nurseries (the ones that actually grow plants) and they'll jump at them.

nitasher- Wow... your friend started her bin from two worms! I don't think I have the patience :)

I found a few in the leaves my husband put on the garden last fall & put them in an ice cream container just to see what they'd do, but I have more than 2.

Jasdip,

The link is below.

You might have one in your area? If not, you are just a skip down the highway.

Here is a link that might be useful: ecohouse

Thanks Hamilton.
I found their site after "speaking" with you the other day and emailed them. They responded that it's $20 for about 1/2 pound.

I ordered more worms from the fellow in the states who I've been in constant contact with. (sorry for the number of emails and questions Jerry!) :)

The cost per lb even with shipping makes this very viable to order via US.

Sherry

Hi guys,
I'm new to this forum, I frequent the butterfly forum, but I've just started worm composting, and I wanted to share with you where I got worms cheap. The company is called rockinjawrabbits.com. They are in Tx, but their prices beat anything else I found on the web. $22/lb with shipping I believe. They are bedrun which I think means eggs and young included, so you could be getting a lot more... Anyway I just wanted to pass this along. Hope it helps.

Hi Guys,

GotWorms@Comcast.Net

5 pounds for $75 including shipping in the continental USA.