tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post8577645656099641039..comments2022-08-11T08:28:51.360-04:00Comments on How To Grow Your Own Earthworms: How To Raise Earthworms For BeginnersBen Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285702745160396958noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-19139353601560769092015-08-05T20:33:40.786-04:002015-08-05T20:33:40.786-04:00can the box be in the shade?can the box be in the shade?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-42246596655969290002014-06-03T21:36:17.650-04:002014-06-03T21:36:17.650-04:00Do not use PT lumber to build a box.
You'll h...Do not use PT lumber to build a box.<br /><br />You'll have to replace the old lumber as it rots.Ben Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08285702745160396958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-4720749656609643292014-06-03T21:34:15.706-04:002014-06-03T21:34:15.706-04:00Hi bernie7044. My father was in Lee County.Hi bernie7044. My father was in Lee County.Ben Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08285702745160396958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-8038140292022207212014-04-08T13:19:02.660-04:002014-04-08T13:19:02.660-04:00Can I use pt. lumber to build a boxCan I use pt. lumber to build a boxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-20616911190616151822014-04-08T12:00:01.498-04:002014-04-08T12:00:01.498-04:00What part of Florida was your father located? I h...What part of Florida was your father located? I had a friend that I went to high school with and his father did this for many years. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03620999684664983691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-68401980490753021682012-04-11T14:01:17.302-04:002012-04-11T14:01:17.302-04:00hai,it was nice and precise very useful for mehai,it was nice and precise very useful for meAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-30318970983964751042012-02-22T13:44:11.679-05:002012-02-22T13:44:11.679-05:00Hi! I was wondering if the Red wigglers are hard t...Hi! I was wondering if the Red wigglers are hard to maintaine? I noticed you said "wigglers" are harder to maintaine, so are the red wigglers the same? <br />Thanks so much! <br />-MickeyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-67393585181469679462011-10-02T12:42:20.262-04:002011-10-02T12:42:20.262-04:00Hi Sam, This is Ben posting as anonymous (problem ...Hi Sam, This is Ben posting as anonymous (problem with Google). It sounds like your container is too small and they need more room. Try making a larger container out of plywood (just a square or rectangular frame about 1' to 1 1/2' high with no bottom), set it on hard ground and don't drill holes. Fill it with peat moss and prepare the same way as you did the old container.<br /><br />The worms will dig into the soil underneath the peat but should stay in the bed as long as there is food.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-450716291070427852011-10-01T16:18:50.777-04:002011-10-01T16:18:50.777-04:00Ben, thank you so much for all your time posting y...Ben, thank you so much for all your time posting your info. I am desperate and have read every word on this website twice but my worms keep disappearing. I am using a 2' wideX1.5'longX1'high plastic container because I only want to grow a few worms. I drilled 100 or so small holes in the bottom and sides, filled with 10" of peat moss, and put 30 or so worms from the bait shop in and got the peat moss damp but not soggy. I sprinkled oat flakes on the top. I live in FL and my container is outside in the shade. The next day, none of my flakes had been disturbed and half of my worms were missing. The next day, all the worms were gone. <br /><br />I got more worms and made a second attempt. Same results. I then made a third attempt. No luck. I prop the lid to my container up in such a way that rain cannot drown the worms and they seem to be getting enough air. <br /><br />I am puzzled by your precaution to not over water. Since I was not having any success, on the third attemp, I tried to over water. But the water just goes through the peat moss like it is sand. No matter how much water I put in, when I run my hand through the top 4 or 5 inches, (or for that matter, the whole 10") the peat moss is still just moist. What am I doing wrong?<br />Desperate SamSamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-35380313964701345632011-07-19T05:54:26.113-04:002011-07-19T05:54:26.113-04:00Hello, I'm fro Bangladesh. Instead of moss I s...Hello, I'm fro Bangladesh. Instead of moss I saw the use of cow-dung here. rest of the process are same.But it's bit difficult to get so much cow-dung if the number of earth worm is very high.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-12294081869368444452011-07-15T17:25:07.534-04:002011-07-15T17:25:07.534-04:00Hi Mary, scrap the kitchen scraps and use oatmeal,...Hi Mary, scrap the kitchen scraps and use oatmeal, used coffee grounds, or something like Purina Worm Chow.<br /><br />I don't know if the maggots will hurt the worms, but they will eventually turn into flies and fly away. I would stay away from feeding them something that will rot.. Yes the heat down here is a big problem. Keep them in the shade and wet, but not over wet. Thanks, BenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-33933616887440042792011-07-15T17:18:32.214-04:002011-07-15T17:18:32.214-04:00Hi Florida Lady, Google is having problems, so I h...Hi Florida Lady, Google is having problems, so I have to reply as "Anonymous". I apologize, the contact info was hidden. It's at the top of the page now. Most of the info you need to get started should be on this page. It may be a trial and error thing, but I suggest that you start small until you get a knack.<br /><br />We always grew different worms separately only because we sold them separately. If you're growing them for only the casings, I don't see why they couldn't grow together.<br /><br />I hope that you're growing native plants on your property and removing invasive exotics like Brazilian Pepper and Melaleuca. I'm really big on that. Thanks, BenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-68743708195827376042011-07-15T15:44:19.714-04:002011-07-15T15:44:19.714-04:00Dear Ben,
I have recently started my worms in comm...Dear Ben,<br />I have recently started my worms in commercially bought worm beds. The idea was to use kitchen scraps(vegetable)to feed the worms. Unfortunately, this has led to maggots in with the worms. Will the maggots hurt the worms? How can I get rid of the maggots without harming the worms myself? I, also, live in central Florida. I hope this heat does not cause me problems. Thanks for your help.<br />MarySAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-46893004228293340062011-07-13T19:43:04.338-04:002011-07-13T19:43:04.338-04:00Ben, I have looked all over for your email addres...Ben, I have looked all over for your email address to ask some questions and could not find it.<br />I have 5 acres in FL and would like to grow red worms and night crawlers, I have a good sized pond and really don't want to run to buy worms. I am working on several projects and rather than list them all I will just say this: I want to be self sufficient, get off the grid and be conpletely organic on my own land with growing everything and supplying my own electricity and water without depending on outside sources for my existance. I have never tried to grow worms in Florida, so I need all the help I can get. I grew up in Michigan so am familiar with red worms and crawlers but don't know how to grow them in Fl I would appreciate all the info I can get on growing redworms and nightcrawlers. Can both be grown together or do they require seperate space and needs. Your website is very informational on redworms but I need info on growing night crawlers also can you give me some info please? my email address is: floridlady@yahoo.com thanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-20289996774837744202011-06-21T14:18:17.265-04:002011-06-21T14:18:17.265-04:00As for the personal worm farm it's difficult t...As for the personal worm farm it's difficult to raise a lot of worms without a sizeable pile. Nothing likes to be crowded. You could however maintain a ready supply in a 10 or 20 gallon lidded container in your house. In the basement would be best but if you use ac and it's 70 or below that's fine. Peat moss mixed with shredded newspaper or cardboard works fine. Buy online in bulk and add to container. I would take a piece of brlap and place about 2-3" below final surface. Add dampened peat moss on top of burlap..leave all sides lonenough to collect and lift out every few days. Feed corn meal, oatmeal,better yet chick starter mash every 2-3 days....under the burlap. By covering it you will cut down on gnats. Gnat larvae will attack worms. Basement also better location because gnats prefer warmerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-74445539334633191482011-06-21T14:10:58.867-04:002011-06-21T14:10:58.867-04:00Forgive if I rehash any ideas....I got tired of re...Forgive if I rehash any ideas....I got tired of reading and skipped to the bottom. I have raised nightcrawlers for years. I have a compost pile 4x10' about 4' deep. I keep it that deep so there is area on the bottom cool/warm enough to survive year round in Illinois. I go out to neighbors and collect bagged fall leaves. I lay them out and run over with a lawn mover a couple times. I can reduce 10 bags to 1 that way. If they are good and dry I then store them in heavy duty plastic construction bags with taped tops, turned upside down. If you have a wood shop near planer chips work also. Anyone with a horse who beds on wood chips typically will give you all the compost you ever need. Mix the leaves with fresh grass clippings. This should be the top 1/3 of the pile. I grew a large brushy tree next to my pile on purpose. It shades it in summer but there are plastic shade nettings that work just as well...double them. You can even stretch them across the box and place a layer of styrofoam panel on the first one then stretch the second and cover the foam. This will add plenty of shade to keep the pile cool in summer. If you leave the bottom open the worms will go into the earth if too cold but will return as soon as temp is ok. My pile works year round and in 15 years I have never removed anything except worms from the pile for fishing and for feed for tropical fish. The pile is constantly consuming everything I put in it. I even added 200ft of old stockade fence(spruce...untreated) cut into 6-8" pieces. It took over a year but they consumed everything. I add no food scraps but cornmeal or chicken starter mash or oatmeal will fatten them up quick if they're too lean when you harvest. In the pile they will be relatively small due to crowding. Seperate the larger ones into tubs of fresh material. Place damp leaves/grass clippings in plastic bags for a couple of weeks until decomp starts and then place in tubs with worms and they fatten very quickly...especially if you water with well/rain water....no chlorine. Tap doesn't seem to bother worms but will slow decomp and its the decomp the worms feed on. I raise 8-12" nightcrawlers that don't require refridgeration this way...by the thousands. If you livenear any sit down style restaurants you might ask if you supplied them with a 5-20 gallon container if they would throw old coffee grounds into it that you could pick up every few days. If you take wood chips or leaves and soak them in coffe soup(from grounds) and make a bag out of coarse burlap...cut several 1/2" holes on 1 side. Fill with the leaves/wood chips& coffee grounds(wet)...lay on the ground in a well shaded area and water through with cold water (coffe soup) in a matter of a few days the bag will be full of worms....just pick it up and empty onto a plastic sheets and hravest....refill....repeat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-90158170047706098462011-05-31T23:42:10.301-04:002011-05-31T23:42:10.301-04:00Ben, I love all of your information. Someone told ...Ben, I love all of your information. Someone told me that you shouldn't use Ne. night crawlers in the same way you have described, as far as bedding and food. They said they have to be kept cold or they would die. So I put some of my worms in the fridge and they did not like it. I even turned it down low. I was thrilled when I saw you comment to a woman that it would be fine to use regular old garden night crawlers. My worms seem to love it and I can see that they are eating the food. Thanks again, loved reading the comments.Sharon from Omah,Ne,noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-46340415536859579952011-05-30T17:45:42.439-04:002011-05-30T17:45:42.439-04:00Karen, I've seen indoor worm farms in cold cli...Karen, I've seen indoor worm farms in cold climates.<br /><br />A personal worm farm should be small enough to move indoors during cold season. It can get into the 20's here in S. Florida. During cold days, we would cover the worm bed with old carpeting. We lost a few, but overall it worked. BenBen Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08285702745160396958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-79441641335576182222011-05-30T01:46:51.057-04:002011-05-30T01:46:51.057-04:00I live in Michigan and it gets really cold. How d...I live in Michigan and it gets really cold. How do you keep the worms over the winter months when it freezes?Karennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-38541257572166397362011-05-29T18:34:03.900-04:002011-05-29T18:34:03.900-04:00when i was about 12 years old up in northern ca. m...when i was about 12 years old up in northern ca. my grandfather had a co. called shasta bait service and we supplied red worms and other baits to the local resorts and lake shops<br /> He had his worm beds under rabbit hutches<br />and the droppings just fell in the beds which we would water lightly and turn with a pitch fork.<br /> Grandma added veggie scraps, eggshells and coffee grounds.<br /> i maintained the rabbits and the worm beds<br /> good times and must have picked a million worms<br /> Sold the cleaned rabbits to local eateries <br /> thanks ben for good info.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-43481817988107222011-05-12T13:19:05.095-04:002011-05-12T13:19:05.095-04:00My brother spends about $5 to $10 per week for ear...My brother spends about $5 to $10 per week for earthworms for fishing...can you please let me know how to set up an earthworm farm for an individual with just a small area to do so...what kind of soil...what kind of food...how wet?...just an idea for a personal earthworm farm.<br />ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-13807572065607053802011-05-05T06:44:47.736-04:002011-05-05T06:44:47.736-04:00yesterday (May4/2011 I cleaned the leaves and garb...yesterday (May4/2011 I cleaned the leaves and garbage that accumulated over the top of the culvert cover in the bottom of the ditch in my front yard.It is about 2 feet down at the end of a low slope that is about 300 feet long,so a lot of junk gets blown in every fall/winter and spring.I collected about 100 small and baby size worms in the decomposing leaves and sandy soil there was down there.I just put them in a used ice cream container that I had handy close by when I started to find the worms.Therefore I just put some of the wet decomposing leaves in the container as they seemed to like the organic material.Today I will clean up more of the ditch and keep any more worms I find,and then find or build a larger "home" for free fishing bait to grow big and fat and multiply.I figure I will keep a bag full of the otherwise garbage leaves to feed the critters.I also mulched some broccoli stems in my blender and added it on top.Will let you know how my luck is at "worm-farming" goes in month or so.BTW I live in northern Ontario Canada and it is still dipping down to the freezing point or lower at night so for now I have my little darlings inside at night.<br />Terry :)Terrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-69522687386683416832011-04-14T08:01:21.266-04:002011-04-14T08:01:21.266-04:00My daughters and I are in the process of raising w...My daughters and I are in the process of raising worms for our personal fishing stock. Going back and forth to the bait shop all summer can get a little pricey.<br />This info. has been very helpful---thanks a lotAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-1638360144059057322011-04-13T09:08:37.524-04:002011-04-13T09:08:37.524-04:00what about tea groundswhat about tea groundsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83739558611077437.post-16648557642636507162011-04-05T12:55:37.638-04:002011-04-05T12:55:37.638-04:00Hi Mandy, yes, I would use peat moss. It wouldn...Hi Mandy, yes, I would use peat moss. It wouldn't hurt to keep the old wood.Ben Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08285702745160396958noreply@blogger.com