KateB Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Ok,I think OH may just roll his eyes at me again but I'm considering getting a wormery to do my composting for me - just wondering if anyone else has one or has any experience of using one? Many thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Hi Kate, I am sure there was athread on this somewhere - we need Super Kate to do a link I think it may have been motherhen (Jane) who had one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 I'm off to search! Back in a bit!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Can't find it Louise. I'll have another look later on but I need to get baking this afternoon so I'll check the forum in a while. It's there somewhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 I found it in slugs and pellets in the gardens bit of the forum the link is about halfway down the first page and it is a motherhen posting. I'm afraid I can't do the wand waving required to post a link too much of a technology dunce Need a dunces hat emoticon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Consider it done - off to wave my wand! Here you go - here's Jane's posting in that topic - wormeries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Hi Yes I've had a wormery for nearly a year now. It's a black plastic layered thing, from wriggly wrigglers, or a firm sounding like that. It came complete with everything i needed to set it up and I have had one layer of compost from it so far - very nice looking stuff too You can make your own if you don't want to spend about £80 I think it was. Try googling or looking on the permaculture site for details. I'm sure Kitchen Garden magazine will also have done an article so you could get a back copy. I keep mine outside in a tiny sheltered courtyard, but I think I was lucky not to lose the worms over the winter - they do recommend putting them inside in a shed or garage. I think this really slowed my worms down but they seem to be breeding and eating faster now. I'm generally very pleased with it. I also have a cold compost heap in a big plastic bin I got from the council for £5. If you are thinking of a compost bin or water butt try your council or water board first - most of them seem to be providing them free or very cheaply. The worms can eat cooked veg which I don't put on the compost heap. They also need lots of 'brown material' like torn up cardboard, loo roll inners etc. I find they complement the cold compost heaps and hens very well in the great recycling that goes on in our household. Only problem is that the males in the household are refusing to pee on the compost heap , in fact son looked at me shocked and thinks I have gone totally crackers for even asking him. Thank goodness I have the hen poo and my little jug In fact I am glowing with virtue (and a bit of mucky sweat) having spent the morning opening one compost bin and relayering it with crumpled newspaper because it was a bit on the soggy and concentrated side. Hopefully in another few weeks it will be perfect I found loads of worms in the compost which surprised me because it is on concrete and they are better on a soil base. I suspect it has been colonised by escapees from the wormery and they are certainly breeding well in the compost. I removed a few slugs for the girls but left the worms to carry on the good work http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/ I have the can-o-worms from here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna 1 Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Sympathies motherhen! Mine still at the age when I can empty the potty on the compost heap!!! Mind you. the MOTH has been known to sneak out the back after dark to add his contribution... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murdo Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Perfect timing for this thread. My Can o' Worms arrived today. We've just set it up. The Assistant to the Managing Director was fascinated, as were her friends who were visiting. Great fun was had by all preparing the coir bedding and picking up the worms. Visiting mother described me as 'very good with children' It's not cheap, so I did think about the budget version at http://www.troubleatmill.com/wormbin.htm but the Managing Director looked even more sceptical at the idea of me building something with my own two feet than buying the Can o' Worms. Early days yet. I note from some postings on the web that beginners often overfeed and there are quite a few unhappy users out there. But it seems from the people posting in response that this is just being over enthusiastic with the feed early on, so I'm going to proceed slowly. We got the extra value pack, but I'm not sure that the extras are worth going for. I'll say more when I've had time to do more than just browse the book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Murdo, this is something we've been considering, a bit daunted by the expense at the moment, but very tempted. Please do let us know how you get on, and your opinions. Hubby seems to think it might be easy to build our own- but I've seen his attempt at building a barbeque Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Thanks for the link Murdo i think I will have a go at making my own it seems simple enough and a lot cheaper...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 I too invested in the can'o' worms last year and so far it has been worth every penny. It is working very well and is so useful to have near the back door for all the kitchen waste, loo rolls, uneaten foodstuff...although the chickens like a lot of that too. The liquid that you collect from the tap at the base is very good as well, I have been using it on my tomatoes and pumpkins. I haven't had any problems with it and the worms have been breeding well so there are lots working in each of the layers. It is quite a slow process but after the initial outlay is very cheap to maintain. I would recommend it as a good way to recycle along with the compost heap and chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Wormeries are great. But, I couldn't help laughing. LSH made his own wormery and loves the creatures Some time later though he was disappointed and said there didn't seem to be many worms. Imagine my surprise when undertaking my treat of upending my compost bin. What do you think was in there? More worms than you've ever seen in your life. The food was obviously better in my bin, about a metre from his wormery. Hope we don't fall out over who has the best compost heap! We'll be fighting over who can have the s"Ooops, word censored!"s, weeds & used teabags! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateB Posted July 22, 2005 Author Share Posted July 22, 2005 That's brilliant, thanks everyone... Definitely food for thought. I discussed with OH last night to just be met with the comment 'this place is turning into a zoo' - I've read that to mean 'do whatever you want, dear' which I reckon is fair enough! Thank you once again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 That's brilliant, thanks everyone... Definitely food for thought. I discussed with OH last night to just be met with the comment 'this place is turning into a zoo' - I've read that to mean 'do whatever you want, dear' which I reckon is fair enough! Thank you once again... Yup you definitely read OH right - we women are very good at understanding what the weaker sex mean!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murdo Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 Thanks for the link Murdo i think I will have a go at making my own it seems simple enough and a lot cheaper...... Murdo, this is something we've been considering, a bit daunted by the expense at the moment, but very tempted. Hubby seems to think it might be easy to build our own- but I've seen his attempt at building a barbeque I thought long and hard about it. I thought the cost a bit expensive, so I thought others might feel the same, which is why I posted the link to the build your own guide. It does look pretty easy, but the Managing Director would probably have felt it looked ugly, so I decided it would be tactful to buy. The book that comes with the CoW (what ? we've got a cow now ? wait till the Managing Director finds out ) points out that wood is a better material for breathability, but won't last more than a couple of years. On the other hand plastic ones may need additional ventilation to ensure the waster remains aerated and wormy, rather than turning anaerobic and into smelly 'orrible decay. (Different bacteria). So it looks like packing it too deep in those bins might be counterproductive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 Thanks for the tips Murdo............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateB Posted July 27, 2005 Author Share Posted July 27, 2005 Well it has arrived! I feel I am having a very ecologically friendly day - the book recommended on here, 'Not on the label' arrived this morning, followed by my organic meat, followed by my first delicious, enormous egg followed by my wormery... I've just put it together - great fun! I shall let you know how it goes... Many thanks for all your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 What a productive day Kate Sounds like it,s time to put your feet up with a cup of tea and your new book to read, whilst watching the chickens fro the window . Or of course you could just catch up with the forum, which is what I do every time I have a spare 5 mins these days Good luck with the wormery, I really, really want one, but hubby says he'll build the cheaper option. I've given him a month before I order the CanOWorms- knowing how reliable he is at DIY I think I'll be placing that order sometime late August Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateB Posted July 27, 2005 Author Share Posted July 27, 2005 I had exactly the same conversation with Stuart. He told me he's build me one but although he is very good at DIY, speed doesn't seem to be something that concerns him... The bathroom has been nearly finished for a year, likewise with the sitting room and kitchen. Oh, and I don't have a floor in the upstairs loo but after 4 months I'm getting used to it... So, on reflection, we thought it would be easier for both of us if I just ordered one! Good luch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 10, 2005 Share Posted August 10, 2005 Just a thought. If you are happily sprinkling the nest box with red mite powder (Barrier in my case) will this affect the compost heap if the dusted shavings or poo that has been in the shavings end up in the compost heap? Shavings tend to find their way into the droppings tray which I dispose of in the heap. Probably not so much of a concern with Barrier but some people seem to use Diatom (which seems to knock everything dead) or pyrethrum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted August 10, 2005 Share Posted August 10, 2005 Good point Belinda - especially for us organic gardeners. I'd be inclined not to feed anything that has been round mite/louse powder to a wormery, but for the non-organics it might be ok in a compost heap if mixed in with lots of other things to 'dilute' it. You could try contacting wiggly wigglers who are very knowledgeable and helpful re worms. Are there any compost heap experts out there with more expertise on compost heaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateB Posted August 17, 2005 Author Share Posted August 17, 2005 As you know, I've had my can-of-worms for nearly a month now and I think I've been a bit tight on what I've put in it - lots of people said not to overfeed it to begin with but I don't think I've given them enough, hence, they've eaten their moisture mat too! Does anyone know if I need to replace it or will they be fine without it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 Hi Kate, I've had my can of worms for 18 months now and boy do those worms enjoy eating the moisture mat regardless of what else you provide. I did keep buying new mats but it gets rather expensive..I now simply use newspaper in thick layers which I roughly tear to fit the top. So far it has worked fine, I've been using it for over 6 months and have a very healthy worm population. Hope that helps!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 Mine ate their mat as well but with the can-o-worms having a lid I've not bothered replacing the mat (you can buy extra mats through the wiggly website) or using any replacement. I'm moving ours into the garage for the winter - they kept going outside last winter but rate of feeding and breeding slowed right down and I'd like to avoid a pause in my supply of lovely compost this winter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
