Garden

[Sweetbay magnolia]

I am wondering what your experience has been.  Thanks.

[fthunt]

No way - No how here.  Our city burns trash for energy uses - heat, air conditioning, etc.  Worms have to find their own meal!

[pattypeep]

@Sweetbay magnolia   What does that mean?

[JustJazzmom]

I think @Sweetbay magnolia means adding earthworms to the compost because their castings (feces) are beneficial and also help break down compostable material faster. People can buy worm castings to use as part of their organic gardening regime.

[pattypeep]

@JustJazzmom Thank you.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

Yes, @pattypeep, it's also called "vermiculture" and (believe it or not) is often done indoors, in a container, with red wriggler worms that chew up household waste (even paper and coffee grounds).  As @JustJazzmom explains, yes, the worm castings are beneficial soil conditioners (people spend $$$ to buy it, bagged).

It's my understanding the wrigglers are necessary - regular earthworms will burrow and not go after any compostable material near the top of their habitat.

I'm thinking of trying it in the garage.  Just a little project, you know.

I'm sure some of you are barfing in your coffee right now! 

[pattypeep]

@Sweetbay magnolia It sounds fascinating. Where do you get the red wriggler worms? I'm a huge proponent of worms in the garden and often go out after a rain and pick them up off of the driveway and put them back in the garden.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

@pattypeep, I love it!  I help them along also.

I think you may be able to get wrigglers at a shop that sells them to fishermen, or you can buy them from outlets that market to the "composters" out there.

I have to do some more research.  Learn more about the ones in my garden (my lot is an Eastern Wetland).  If there were others in the area who composted this way, we could share and never have to spend a dime.

[tototwo]

Not the specific worm composting with shreaded newspapers in a plastic lidded box..... but, yes, I do put worms into my composter.

I bought red wiggler "eggs" a few years back from some garden catalog and "planted" them in one of my borders.  Now I can't dig into that soil without finding red wigglers.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

Wow, thanks @tototwo.  Sounds like you know.  I think I may have to find a species that could digest scraps indoors in a cold garage, and then be able to survive outdoors if I have an abundance.

Gardeners know it is all about the soil!