Reducing waste being wasted, pun totally intended...it just started irking me when I realized that I was paying for compost and organic fertilizer, and at the same time I was putting nearly 1/4 to 1/3 of what I paid for at the grocery store in the trash can. There is still some I can't use, like the harder rinds, like pineapple and actual coconut shells, but I'm now using most of it. And one day I will find a way to grind down the other stuff so I can use it too. And using the castings in both my houseplants and if we grow tomatoes again (every year is a new decision), in the containers. I had some radishes grown by a friend this past spring, directly in her compost pile outdoors. They not only had stupendous flavor, they were the size of small apples! I can't wait to really get this bin going.

A few other reasons might be:

Fish or fowl food/bait.
To make money selling worms, castings, or teas
Maximise and speed-up the composting process

In my case it is mostly to reduce manure odors and flies, Also it is something for me to do when it is not fishing season ;)

Several reasons.

1. I HATE wastefulness.
2. I LOVE recycling.
3. I use the worms for fishing (well, the brave ones, at least)
4. I want to produce VC/Castings for garden/houseplant use.
5. I love Biological processes in general and am TOTALLY FASCINATED with the microbiological processes/micro ecology going on in a worm bin.
6. I'm the only kid on the block that does vermicomposting and I have a flare to be different.
7. Worms are cute.

VC is the best stuff on earth to add to my plant containers. VC is teeming with beneficial microbes which contribute to the overall health of the potting medium.

gerris, is that a morning glory?? (yes, I'm new to the forum)

I did forget to add the fish feeding reason. I have just over 200 gallons of aquariums, and feeding my own organic worms as live food was a secondary but strong reason to get the bin. I'm just having this problem waiting for them to reproduce at the rate I need to feed that many fish, and still consume the amount of waste I create with my diet!

1) I'm doing it because it seems faster than just composting the regular way. Specially right now in the winter.

2) Compost tea. I'm interested in brewing my own compost tea this spring for my veggie garden and I've heard worm castings are one of the best organisms you can use to make tea.

3) $$$... There's a possibility of making money in the future by selling castings/worms/tea etc... I'm hoping I don't even have to sell my own product and just use it in my own orchard in the future.

"" Posted by organicpanik none (My Page) on
Thu, Dec 27, 12 at 21:32

3) $$$... There's a possibility of making money in the future by selling castings/worms/tea etc... I'm hoping I don't even have to sell my own product and just use it in my own orchard in the future.""

I wouldn't use dollar signs, I'd use cents signs. :)

So I do not have to put on coat and boots to take kitchen scraps out through the blizzard to the compost heap.

I enjoy putting my slippers on, going downstairs with some veggie scraps, cutting it into small pieces and feeding it to the worms. I poke around the bin a little to see how everyone is doing and it is a very pleasant, relaxing experience.

thedogsLL - I use a Can-of-Worms system in the basement and when I lift the lid off to feed the worms I shake the lid a few times over an aquarium that contains guppies. Lots of springtails fall onto the surface of the water and the fish go crazy.

thedogsLL, yes it is a Japanese style morning glory. I love growing them. They respond so well to having VC in the pot.

I don't know what a Can-of-Worms system is, but it does cause the thought that I could sort of do the same thing with the lid on my worm bin. There are always a few small worms there. My aquariums are 4 - two 46 gallon and 2 55. One 46 is all guppies. One 55 long is all other live bearers. One 55 High is assorted cichlids, and the other 46 is just fish that attracted our attention. I'm going to try some "lid worms" tonight just to see what happens!

Gerris, I have morning glories growing on a lattice attached to a chain link fence, but I have never seen one that pretty! I am definitely going to have to find out about Japanese styles. The color combination is fantastic!