Its a very good idea. Many a vermicomposter have started that way... free worm are good.

Red worms are sometimes called banded worms they have bands on them and the tail end is on the yellow side. The worms color can change depending on what they have ate. Feed them on pumpkin and they look orange for a while, manure and they look dark red and so on.

I am including a link to my favorite worm blog site it has some great photos. The worms at the top of the page are red worms. Bentley's site is very good reading too its just packed with useful information.

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Worm Composting

If your dad has cattle, then he has manure. The worms you want will most likely be found in the manure. You wouldn't have to really do much digging, since they like to hang out near the top of the pile. They also like piles of old rotting leaves.
If these ideas don't pan out, will you just go ahead order some by mail? You might go to a site called vermicomposters.com. There is a forum there with comments about places to buy worms. There is also a map there where wormers have located themselves. Some are specifically willing to help people get started. Maybe there is someone near you! Good luck!
mbetts

Based on my experience, you have to dig in aging piles, the worms don't hang out in the fresh manure. Also, they tend to hang out near the edges on the ground, where it's flatter, more shallow and wider. The ones I found didn't always have the stripes on them, but almost all of them had yellow tips on their tails.

Scavenging for worms is an AWESOME idea btw. I don't understand the concept of people going out to buy something that could easily be found for free, and pay tons of shipping on it and waste gasoline and time. That defeats the whole purpose of composting. I gathered about a large sandwich bag full of as many worms I could possibly find, including the manure they were in, and now three months later my bin is absolutely teeming with them. It takes a while for them to establish but once they get into the rhythm of things they reproduce and eat like mad

Thanks for your help.. I am going to head out the end of the week. We have had the last 2 nights freeze warnings. It is supposed to warm up the end of the week. I think that will be better for worm hunting??? Thanks

Tammy

Well takadi, most people who purchase worms (myself included) are city dwellers who don't have access to a farm or ranch. In my case, I'm in a wheelchair. So, even if I DID have access to manuer I couldn't exactly go digging through it.
I purchased my first worms and (according to you) "wasted" my money, time, and gasoline. But now I compost EVERYTHING organic that comes through my house as well as selling the excess worms. I grow my own tomatoes, bell peppers, green beans, and cucumbers, as well as a wide assortment of flowering plants. All from a wheelchair!
So don't be to hasty to judge people. Just be thankful that a small percentage of organic material is being diverted from the landfill by an ever growing, ever learning minority of people!

I might have misworded myself. There are plenty of ways to get worms in environmentally and financially sound ways, and buying them seems to defeat the purpose. You can get them for free from various local sources other than horse manure piles, such as other vermicomposters who are willing to share their worms (vermicomposters.com is such an example). Freecycle is another alternative also. There are several sites out there advertising people who live nearby who are willing to give out their worms for free.

But it just seems obvious to me that if you are in a wheelchair, there's very little choice involved, so I don't understand how you can imply that I would expect a wheelchair restricted person to dig inside a horse or cow manure pile, lol.

But if there's an option, why waste money on shipping and gasoline? The logic of buying worms is the same as buying topsoil. And why make your own compost when you can buy compost right? Everyone has their reasons for everything

takadi: With your rationale, why would anyone buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks when they can make it at home? It's cheaper and requires just a little equipment, supplies, and effort. Lighten up. Sometimes you just want a cup of coffee. -- Folly

Good question, why does anyone buy overpriced starbucks coffee? I guess they have a hankering for a 5 dollar cup of joe with a fancy name? LOL

But I'm not stopping anyone from buying starbucks or a bunch of worms for 30 or 40 dollars.

OK, so what I'm getting from this whole thread is that if Starbucks sold worms instead of coffee, the world would be a better place, yeah?

Considering that coffee is a crop commonly brought to market through little more than indentured servitude, I don't see how it's remotely admirable to condemn a retailer for charging more for their product because they refuse to permit the coffee they serve to come from fields where workers are paid anything less than a fair wage.

I like my little luxuries as much as any other American, but if you do a little background research you'll see that unlike the vast majority of coffee growers/importers, Starbucks is one company that isn't grinding the farm hands under their boot. If a few bucks a cup is too much buy the beans yourself and brew it like I do. If that's still too expensive, maybe slavery-free coffee isn't for you.

I don't care about coffee, I don't drink it, nor did I bring it up in the first place as a poorly connected analogy. I love the numerous strawmen though, apparently I love slavery and hate handicapped people. Did I tell you that I also love abusing cute puppies and eating small children?

Man you guys crack me up. If you don't wanna dig for worms, then GO AHEAD AND BUY THEM! Christ, it's not like I'm shackling you guys by the legs and beating you over the head with an iron to get you to dig in a manure pile.

My god, you would think I had insulted your mother or something.

Poor Takadi! I didn't think there would be so many sensitive worm farmers out there. You would think it would be a more down to earth hobby/profession.

I totally agree with you about Starbucks. The whole uppity atmosphere of that joint reeks of self-righteousness. It looks like Hydroponica has bought in to the Starbuck's propaganda that enables them to sell coffee for 5 bucks a cup.

What research did you do Hydroponica? Did you go to the fields and watch the finely dressed coffee pickers wearing freshly pressed green starbucks polo shirts? Did they punch in and out on a time clock? Did they get their scheduled lunch breaks and drive off in SUVs at the end of the day?

Leearnold, You are proud of yourself for growing your own tomatoes, bell peppers, green beans, and cucumbers, as well as a wide assortment of flowering plants. All from a wheelchair! If you can do all that, why couldn't you dig through a little manure if it was available to you?

Well, Takadi, digging through manure isn't beneath me :)

WELL MR. DESERTWORMMAN, NEVER in my ENTIRE LIFE have I been SO insulted! As a matter of fact I just happen to LOVE Starbucks and what they do for the people who work for them. Thats why they work there! If they were not being treated right then they wouldn't! I'm SORRY but maybe then Starbucks just isn't for people like YOU!

Just because SOME people like an excellent cup of coffee from a high-quality place does NOT make them (as you would say) SELF-RIGHTEOUS!

You should just leave poor Hydroponica and Leearnold ALONE! We DON'T have to follow what you and Takadi think things should be like. It seems to me that its you two who are the "self-righteous"

Susan

Thanks Susan, I agree, Starbucks does treat their employees well. That is why they are always so gay and smiley. My friend's wife is a manager of one of the stores.

I don't believe as an organization they are helping the world by not making slaves out of coffee growers. Additionally, I don't believe buying one of their ridiculously priced bottles of water is going to satisfy the thirst of a poor child in Africa.

Hey, everyone has an opinion. The trick is not being so sensitive that you get offended by somebody else's. Take care, no offense intended :)

Jon

Takadi - in order for it to be a strawman the argument has to be made. I never said that you were for slavery. I simply said that it costs more to buy coffee that doesn't involve the exploitation of the working class. If that kind of thing bothers you enough that you're willing to pay more, fine. If not, fine. I just think it's unreasonable to whine about the price of something you're not required to buy at any price.

You asked why anyone would buy an "overpriced" cup of coffee. So I pointed out that it wasn't overpriced - it was simply the price of coffee that's fair to everyone and this is the reason some people are willing to buy it.

Are there some people who buy Starbucks coffee to be seen carrying the cup and thought to be trendy? Sure. Does that make Starbucks evil? Maybe if you've got a hair-trigger definition of evil.

Yeah, people can dig for their own worms. They can brew their own coffee, spin their own thread, slaughter their own meat... or they can do other things in exchange for currency which they exchange for the things they don't want to do. No one has the time to do everything.

And as for "where I did my research on Starbucks"... who cares? The people who are open-minded enough to even consider I could know what I'm talking about don't need me to prove it to them - they'll go out, open-mindedly, and look for themselves. Those who aren't won't believe me no matter what I say. So you'll have to forgive me if I don't clamor to explain it all. Look it up or don't, I don't care.

I will say this: I'm ex-military. I've seen first-hand and heard a lot of stories from buddies who've come back about stuff that Starbucks has done for us. They do right by the guys and girls in uniform so I'm inclined to consider the idea that just because they're successful they might not also be in league with the devil.

Seriously, before you get all indignant and uppity about Starbucks being some big evil company, do a little real research. Check out the fund-matching they do for hospitals and clinics for the underprivileged.

It can be hard to find because they've got enough humility not to toot their own horn every time they give a few bucks to some charity.

I simply made an opinion, and I will stick with it. They sell worm castings at the local gardening store, why vermicompost when you can buy that. You talk about time, yet everyone here has plenty of time to garden, make compost piles, and coddle their worms. So yes, buying worms does defeat the purpose of vermicomposting. Does that make it good or bad? You all are adults, that's for you to decide, I can't help if you are insulted by every little opinion that comes your way in this world. However, hydroponic, your insinuations, are in fact, strawmen, whether they seem "argumentative" or not. For example:

"Seriously, before you get all indignant and uppity about Starbucks being some big evil company, do a little real research. Check out the fund-matching they do for hospitals and clinics for the underprivileged"

Did I say ANYTHING about starbucks being evil? I'm not the one who is whining here and using loaded arguments and false accusations.

If you want to argue about something I never brought up in the first place, nor do I really have an ounce of care in the world about (other than their free UCG's) then have fun, I personally don't enjoy it. I'd much rather be digging around in manure piles

"They sell worm castings at the local gardening store, why vermicompost when you can buy that."

Because buying worm castings doesn't reduce the amount of your personal waste that's sent to the landfill. Some people are environmentally conscious.

"So yes, buying worms does defeat the purpose of vermicomposting."

That makes no sense. The purpose of vermicomposting is to convert what would otherwise be useless waste in a landfill into worm castings. Buying worms serves this purpose rather than defeating it.

"I can't help if you are insulted by every little opinion that comes your way in this world."

You're making the error of mistaking someone disagreeing with you with them being insulted. I am not my opinions and you cannot insult me regardless of how you might attack what I say. My ego is not tied up in my beliefs. This misconception is normally caused by empathy - someone trying to put themselves in my shoes who would be insulted were their opinions disagreed with. It's one of those cases where the statement says more about the speaker than the person it's directed towards.

"Did I say ANYTHING about starbucks being evil?"

Did I say anything about you saying it was? Sometimes when people use the pronoun "you" they're referring specifically to yourself. Sometimes they're referring generally to the potential reader as a collective - the "universal you" - and not to any specific individual. Not every use of the pronoun is personally directed at any specific person.

I find it tiresome when people - in general - attack any and every larger more successful entity based solely upon that success. I am not less wealthy than someone because they are less moral. I am not more moral than someone because I am less wealthy. But this is the common perception and the basis of the popular sport of attacking the "big evil corporation".

But simply because I disagree with you, and include other things I disagree with does not mean I'm attributing everything I disagree with to you.

It simply annoys me when people automatically assume that when something costs more at one place versus another it's because one place is greedier than the other or one place is "better" than another.

Sometimes it's just because one place is fairer or has a better product than the other. Simply because the rationale is not obvious or understood doesn't necessarily justify laughing at the people who use it.

I believe you get what you pay for, most of the time. I will pay more for an item made in the U.S., or for fair trade items because I am willing to help support those I believe in.

I have done some reading on worms. I'm by no means an expert. Sometimes you can dig for red wigglers and find them, but it is usually difficult to locate them. There are many, many, types of worms in a manure pile. (I used to have horses). Many of the worms are composters of some sort, but do not adapt to life in confinement or from being disturbed AT ALL. Some make burrows, and if the burrows are disturbed, decide they would rather be dead than put up with that nonsense.

Red Wigglers seem most tolerant of confinement, and will eat and reproduce well. They will tolerate some disturbance, such as us needing to stir the bin, or add food. They also tolerate us harvesting our compost, and after being upset with us, go back to their life of eating and making compost for us again.

My personal opinion is that I try to support the "little" people who are in business. I ususally can locate someone who has what I want for gardening in my home state, which is my first choice. I have been to a vermicomposting farm (which is where I purchased my system), and believe me, these people are doing this out of love. They certainly are not getting compensated enough for all the backbreaking work they are doing.

If you purchase a pound or two of worms, from a reputable business, and you maintain your bin properly, you will be absolutely amazed at how many more worms you will have in a few months time. You can add to your worm population even faster if you let your harvested compost sit for about a month with a damp newspaper over the top, in a climate controlled space. I had lots of baby worms hatch, and I harvested them and added them to my bins.

If you can afford it, buy yourself a pound or two of worms, and help some nice people stay in business. Oh, I almost forgot......MY worms LOVE Starbucks coffee grounds. Only the best, for my little worms. Tee Hee!

Sandy

"I believe you get what you pay for, most of the time. I will pay more for an item made in the U.S., or for fair trade items because I am willing to help support those I believe in."

I agree with you 100% there sandy. As much as I dislike crowds I try to resist the urge to shop online unnecessarily and instead get my stuff from local businesses to help them out, for the same reasoning. I try to spend my money where it does me AND others the most good. Even if it costs me a little more it's worth it to me.

And that's a good point on the worms - a lot of very smart people who know a lot more about worms than I do can't always tell the species apart. I've spent my fair share of time in the worm bin and I couldn't say I could pick the right worm out of a pile of dung.

My worms love Starbucks grounds too. If you ask the baristas nicely they'll usually give you pounds and pounds of it for free since they end up throwing it away anyway. I'm talking about trashbags full of the stuff...

I agree with hydroponica about the indentured servitude issue and such. The correlation of water prices was pointless and had absolutely nothing to do with anything. Starbucks puts the Christian coffee shops in our area to shame. Those Christian coffee shops charge nearly the same prices and get their coffee from wherever is cheapest so, yeah, Starbucks is pretty standup in my book. With the same token, I do feel that it is pointless to go out and stop at Starbucks daily and get coffee when I can make it at home. Starbucks sells bags of coffee in stores. It's not overpriced. Price of a luxury is determined by what you can get for it. And coffee is most certainly a luxury (and seems a necessity if you are an addict like me).

I also agree with takadi that there are other sources for worms. I started by digging for my own in manure. My grandfather spreads the horse manure at the woodline and after it sits awhile it's teeming with worms. But, I also recognize that I am physically able to do that digging and not all people are. I'm sure takadi's initial response was with the able bodied individual in mind when it comes to the digging. Leearnold, though, was pretty polite in the response. Sometimes it is good for us to be reminded that there are other circumstances. Honestly, I wouldn't have considered Leearnolds circumstance, either, and am glad it was shared as a reminder.

I think takadi's point was that people will purchase worms form many miles away despite having local options and it was made quite clear in his post that started with an admission to miswording his first post. Geez, the guy was trying to be helpful for crying out loud!

We don't have a local garden center thanks to Walmart and the jackasses living in the area that failed to realize what their patronage is doing to our small businesses and local economy, but I digress. I also didn't know where to find worms other than by digging when I first started. If I wouldn't have had my grandfather's horse manure spreads, I would have ordered them by mail from somewhere far away, too. I would like to point out that if you go to your local garden center for worms you are likely producing more waste than by ordering them by mail, takadi. Those garden centers order them normally if they even carry them. So they are being shipped AND you are driving to pick them up (unless you are within walking/biking distance). The other options takadi mentioned are helpful leads for anyone, though, so give him a little credit rather than assault him. I've seen hydroponica's stuff and takadi's stuff on other forums. I actually think the two of you would get along and agree on a lot more than you disagree on, believe it or not.

Lighten up girls & guys! This is a Gardening Forum and the subject I believe was a question about WORMS. It is supposed to be enjoyable and educational (in this case about WORMS). Keep or have a sense of humor and stop bickering! Happy Vermicomposting.
Otis.

I also purchased worms in the mail, but when I looked at my compost bins, I has several in there as well. Which was great. I think what happened was the worm eggs that got mixed in when I threw in the dead plants with roots and soils still on them to decompose. The same plants that I had been using worm casting on them during the summer months.

Otis, this DOES seem to be a rather surly forum, doesn't it. Some of the folks are very sweet, but as a whole, it's not an enjoyable experience for me, and not worth the bad feelings that result.

Sandy