Worms for composting

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I'm looking for a batch (or several) of "starter" worms for composting. Any other countrysiders in NW Minnesota that have some? Prefer to barter for them. Also, can the worms handle fresh chicken manure?

Thanks!

-- Becky & Stephen Schueller (pooka@paulbunyan.net), March 08, 2001

Answers

If you don't find a source, Gensey's Seed & Nursery Co. (800-824- 6400) sells Red Hybrid Worms. 500 for $24.65 or 2,000 for $71.95. Worms would not be effective in an active compost pile since the heat would drive them out. Fresh chicken manure would also be hot. After it has been fully composted and no longer heats up, they will enrich it.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), March 08, 2001.

Forget the Worms. Remember "Compost Happens". Your compost will do fine without worms. We produce approx. 30 cubic yards of compost a year, without worms. Besides, if you are using chicken manure your pile is going to get to hot for worms. Our compost piles gets up to 160 degrees plus and worms are not going to live in that. This is the type of temp. you want to kill weed seeds.

-- David in NH (grayfoxfarm@mcttelecom.com), March 08, 2001.

Manure can be processed by worms only after its out of the aerobic bacterial stage and the core temperature has dropped to below about 110 degrees.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 08, 2001.

Do not pay over $19.95 per lb for any composting worms you buy- if you do you are getting seriously ripped off. If budget is a concern you can purchase a smaller number of worms and they will increase through reproduction pretty rapidly. If you feel you have to spend $75 on worms please let me know- I'll sell you some of mine!!!

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), March 08, 2001.

I've read a lot about only certain worms work. I go to the bait shop. I buy what they sell, and will buy back from me. I have not noticed that its any different by 'breed' of worm to grow them. And, if you do it that way, you can sell the offspring back to the bait shop!!

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 08, 2001.


Locally red worms for fishing sell for $2.85 for 18. Thus, a return on 500 if someone had an outlet would be about $79.00. Not a bad return at even $25.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), March 08, 2001.

Oops, should have been $1.85 for 18. Nightcrawlers go for $2.35 for 18.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), March 08, 2001.

I agree with the "bait shop crowd". I started with 1 tote of bedding and a $2 box of worms ( about 30), have only bought 1 more box since to add another bin. Got enough going now to make 50 lbs of castings every 6 weeks and I'm thinking about adding a plastic truck box to my bin collection and stock it with hatchlings from the others.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 11, 2001.

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