Top Worm Questions & Answers

1.) Q. How much food can be added to the vermicomposter each day?
A. I usually go with 1/2lb of food per day if you have 1/2lb of worms.

2.) Q. We tend to have lots of "harder" food waste (i.e. banana peels, apple cores). Is there a limit to the amount of these types of materials we can feed the worms in a day?
A. No, not if it is included in the 1/2lb per day.

3.) Q. How fine should the food be chopped up?
A. It is up to you. I use a garborator that is set up in the shop especially for the worms. The smaller the food the faster they eat.

4.) Q. What should the ratio of bedding to food be (by volume)?
A. There is no real ratio of bedding to food - the bedding is for them to live in and eat. If you put a 1/2lb of worms in a 4'x4' container and fill it with bedding, you will still only feed them 1/2lb of food per day. You have to remember that they will multiply so check the old food when you put in the new, if there is absolutely none left, add some extra the next feeding. The average incubation period for the red wiggler is between 32 - 73 days. Newly hatched worms take about 8 - 10 weeks to sexually mature.

5.) Q. Are there any other bedding materials appropriate besides shredded paper?
A. Yes, you can use all kinds of things for bedding. Cardboard (corrugated, cereal boxes etc.), Manure (NEVER FEED YOUR WORMS CHICKEN MANURE IT WILL BURN THEM), Straw, Hay, Gardening Leftovers, Leaves, and they love Lawn Cuttings. If you shred everything or break it down into small pieces, they will go through it faster.

6.) Q. What can be done to reduce the amount of moisture in the vermicomposter?
A. You can check to see if the drain holes are plugged or just add more bedding.

7.) Q. What may be causing the worms to try and escape (i.e. climbing up the sides and out of the bin)? What can we do to prevent this from happening?
A. The only reasons that worms leave their bin are because they are not happy or you are feeding them something that is hurting them. First check and see if you are feeding them anything different. I have only had one mass exit with my African Nightcrawlers and that was because I added chicken manure. My Wrigglers have never left their bins - yet!!

8.) Q. Any tips for how to keep the bin cool in the summer (when we are without air conditioning and we don't have a basement)?
A. There is no need to keep your bin cool in the summer as long as you don't have it in direct sunlight. I have my shop at 80*F / 27*C for my Nightcrawlers and it doesn't affect the Wrigglers.

9.) Q. Is it ever appropriate to add dirt to the vermicomposter?
A. You can if you wish. If you do decide to add dirt (peat, grain or topsoil) make sure to keep them on their regular food and bedding for the natural nutrients. Keep in mind that too much topsoil will compact your bedding, and the Wrigglers need their bedding to be loose for air to circulate.

10.) Q. Are the any foods to avoid?
A. There is a good question! I have personally never worried about avoiding any foods except meat and dairy. If you search "Worm Farms" online, you will find 9 out of 10 farms tell something different. You can test ph balance and acidity if you like, but I prefer to keep an eye on the worms themselves. Certain sites also say to avoid garlic, onions, oranges, grapefruit and very acidic foods. I've found that you can use some but don't go crazy and feed to much. One thing that I have found about tomato seeds after adding the processed castings into my flower garden is the odd tomato plant growing here and there.

11.) Q. What do I do if my bin smells?
A. Unpleasant smells in a worm bin may result from over feeding, over watering, or recycling of meat and dairy products.
Tips control odours:
1.) If you see an excess of food in the bin, stop feeding them for a few days.
2.) Check the drainage holes to see that they are not plugged.
3.) You may have to add some more bedding.

12.) Q. What other critters are in my worm bin?
A. When your worm bin has started to decompose, you may get a few other little creatures in your bins. Insects such as millipedes, white worms, and springtails may come to live with your worms, but they are not harmful to them. They actually help the composting process. The one creature you don’t want in your bin is centipedes. Centipedes are different from millipedes as they have two pairs of legs per segment and the centipede only has one pair.

13.) Q. How long do worms live?
A. Red Wrigglers can live as long as 4 years.

14.) Q. Do they have teeth?
A. Worms have no teeth. Micro organisms soften the food before the worms eat it. Worms can only take small particles in their mouths but they have muscular gizzards so they can grind the particles into smaller pieces.

I hope this information can help you!
The answers to these questions are to the best of my ability and also through my own experiences.
Please let us know if you have any good tid bits or information that will help others.
Thank You!


*Lil' Devil Worm Ranch*
'IT'S ALL IN THE POO'

Box 1919 Martensville, SK, S0K 2T0 Canada
Email: lildevilwormranch@hotmail.com
Ph# 306.651.3376 ~ Lyndia Fisher - Owner/Operator