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Salt & worms?

17 years ago

Hope every one is enjoying the holiday season and have more time to liven up this site.

Salt is bad for worms and if we feed them with the veggie table scraps that mostly will contain some salt, I haven't heard anybody mentioning that their worms suffer from that.

I sprinkle some salt over the coffee grounds when I make coffee. We find the coffee to taste better that way. I guess because the salt neutralized the coffee acidity somewhat (sorry, I'm no chemistry major).

Does anybody has any concern/opinion about feeding it to the worms?

Comments (6)

  • 17 years ago

    Just an opinion, but I don't put anything with salt in it in the bin.

    I expect salt to kill microbes and worms and to be harmful to the plants that the vermicompost is used on. Salt in VERY small amounts may not be harmful, but I am not taking any chances.

  • 17 years ago

    Anything that may remotely have salt on...cooked veggies for instance, I always rinse well before feeding to my guys.
    I also feed them a large variety of food in one feeding, so it's not one food source with salt on it.

  • 17 years ago

    I have never tried to rinse the salt off anything I gave to my worms. My motto is, if I can eat it, so can they. Of course some things I eat are better for me than others, and I would imagine that to be true for the worms, too. And I do not add a whole lot of the same thing at once, especially not something acidic like orange peels anyway. (Not that I eat orange peels myself.)
    Meaning no disrespect, I think it is possible to be too picky about how what to feed and how much. I don't keep worms for their own sake, but as a means to convert waste into compost. I've always fed them whatever I had, without blending or rinsing or freezing, and they've taken care of it.
    I just would like to make this point for any newbies who might think that if you don't pay strict attention and follow exacting rules you will lose your worms.
    I do check my worms frequently, and if things start to heat up or get too wet or something I take corrective measures. But I have never thought twice about salt which might have been sprinkled on leftover mashed potatoes.
    mbetts

  • 17 years ago

    Thanks mbetts, you make me feel better. My attitude towards my worms is similar to yours but I still find myself buying more bananas so I can have more peels to feed them.

    I went to a federal office yesterday to file some papers that in turn generated more paper. And when the lady was removing the edges of the computer paper I was thinking: hmmmm, that is food for my worms she's throwing out there. I was going to ask her for the contents of her waste basket but thought she might think I'm nuts. (I think I'm getting there though!)

    Back to my UCG, I think there shouldn't be too much salt left anyway, hoping most of it went down to the brew.
    Otis

  • 17 years ago

    Well said, mbetts. Let us remember the mantra of one experienced vermiculturist: "Moderation, Diversity, Patience." Gotta keep our eyes on the prize. For me, reducing what I send to landfill. For others it is creating compost for the garden. And for still others it is raising worms for sale. Its all good.

    Happy New Year, All!

  • 17 years ago

    Just wanted to link here (master composter?) squeeze's answer regarding salt, scroll down a little for it

    Here is a link that might be useful: help with what to feed your worms thread

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