4 Things To Check Every Time You Feed Your Worm Bin | Vermicompost Worm Farm
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- čas přidán 7. 08. 2024
- Keep your worm bin at peak performance by managing these 4 things! And create natural organic fertilizer in the form of worm castings for you garden!
In this video I'll show you what I look for every time I feed or check on my worm bins. I believe if you can control these parameters/phases of your worm bin then you will be able to run it at peak performance in the form of more worm castings and huge compost worm population growth! We also check on the last feeding, add more different & unique bedding as well as give a big summer feeding as we look to maximize the production of this Urban Worm Bag!
Epigeic worms or composting worms are fascinating natural composters & fertilizers that are in most homesteaders bag of tricks to make free organic fertilizer & soil amendments as well as fishing bait. If you've ever thought about vermicomposting or composting with worms to make organic fertilizer & natural soil amendments with your plant based kitchen scraps or food waste, this is the channel for you. I have 3 worm composing bins which you can watch from start to finished worm castings on the 3 playlists following each worm bin. If you haven't started yet, get started now and vermicompost with me!🪱🪱🪱 Visit my Channel at / vermicompostlearnbydoing
Happy Vermicomposting Everyone!!!🪱🪱🪱
Below are some of the items I use for vermicomposting & my channel's videos. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you if you use these links. Thank you for supporting this channel!
Worm Bins I use:
Vermihut 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin amzn.to/3Xs1eGe
Urban Worm Bag V2 amzn.to/3XE9QsT
20 Gallon Fabric Grow Pots amzn.to/3EBYhdr
3 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck tote amzn.to/3eKDLhO
Other Worm Bins:
Worm Factory 360 3-Tray Version amzn.to/3AHnjqK
Worm Factory 360 5-Tray Version amzn.to/3tYfWY4
Bus bins amzn.to/3fd8AvP
Equipment I use:
12 Sheet Cross Cut Micro Shredder (I use it to shred cardboard) amzn.to/3xYZKYu
Magic Bullet Small Blender (to pulverize egg shells) amzn.to/3gwEzb4
Indoor Outdoor Wireless Thermometer for worm bin amzn.to/3wIdXbO
Additional thermometer sensors 433 MHz amzn.to/41juD7v Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz
Additional thermometer sensors 915MHz amzn.to/3WTFgua Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz
Kitchen scale to weigh worms & food: amzn.to/3HnOQjg
Blue gloves amzn.to/3XsBg5n
Spray bottles to mist bedding amzn.to/3Fq23rN
Digital handheld Thermometer amzn.to/3EWfC2j
Compost Tea Bags amzn.to/3fCb5o1
Solar powered light amzn.to/3nOucAq
Reusable Keurig Coffee K-cups amzn.to/3FNXvt6
Other useful equipment for worm farming:
5 stackable sifter with different sized mesh: amzn.to/3S2k184
Cameras & camera equipment I use:
GoPro HERO11 amzn.to/3jkRpLa
Flexible Tripod amzn.to/3CGTjcF
Insta360 GO 2 camera amzn.to/3oxCc80
Insta360 One X2 camera amzn.to/3nqV6hp
iPhone 13 Max Pro amzn.to/3nq52aU
Canon EOS Rebel T8i amzn.to/3HcBuX6
4 Ocean bracelets I wear
Multiple colors to chose from bracelets amzn.to/3HMbHEx
Books on worms & worm farming
Worms Eat My Garbage amzn.to/3L4FXN2
Where to buy worms: www.TheGardenAndWormLady.com
#Vermicompost #wormbin #urbanwormbag #redwigglers #selfsufficiency #homesteading #vermiculture #wormcastings #baitworms #wormfarm #compostworms #compost
00:00 | Intro & recap
00:24 | Worm close up
00:39 | 1st thing to look for
00:55 | 2nd thing to look for
01:09 | Mite time lapse
02:16 | Food burrito check in
03:17 | Check on the honeycomb bedding
03:36 | Last feeding zone
04:14 | What happens to tangerine peels in a worm bin
05:32 | 3rd thing to look for
06:27 | What we are feeding this round
07:30 | Worms favorite food
08:15 | 4th thing to look for
08:54 | Covering the feeding zone
09:27 | Checklist review
10:12 | Finishing touches
Below are some of the items I use for vermicomposting & my channel's videos. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you if you use these links. Thank you for supporting this channel!
Worm Bins I use:
Vermihut 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin amzn.to/3Xs1eGe
Urban Worm Bag V2 amzn.to/3XE9QsT
20 Gallon Fabric Grow Pots amzn.to/3EBYhdr
3 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck tote amzn.to/3eKDLhO
Other Worm Bins:
Worm Factory 360 3-Tray Version amzn.to/3AHnjqK
Worm Factory 360 5-Tray Version amzn.to/3tYfWY4
Bus bins amzn.to/3fd8AvP
Equipment I use:
12 Sheet Cross Cut Micro Shredder (I use it to shred cardboard) amzn.to/3xYZKYu
Magic Bullet Small Blender (to pulverize egg shells) amzn.to/3gwEzb4
Indoor Outdoor Wireless Thermometer for worm bin amzn.to/3wIdXbO
Additional thermometer sensors 433 MHz amzn.to/41juD7v Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz
Additional thermometer sensors 915MHz amzn.to/3WTFgua Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz
Kitchen scale to weigh worms & food: amzn.to/3HnOQjg
Blue gloves amzn.to/3XsBg5n
Spray bottles to mist bedding amzn.to/3Fq23rN
Digital handheld Thermometer amzn.to/3EWfC2j
Compost Tea Bags amzn.to/3fCb5o1
Solar powered light amzn.to/3nOucAq
Reusable Keurig Coffee K-cups amzn.to/3FNXvt6
Other useful equipment for worm farming:
5 stackable sifter with different sized mesh: amzn.to/3S2k184
Cameras & camera equipment I use:
GoPro HERO11 amzn.to/3jkRpLa
Flexible Tripod amzn.to/3CGTjcF
Insta360 GO 2 camera amzn.to/3oxCc80
Insta360 One X2 camera amzn.to/3nqV6hp
iPhone 13 Max Pro amzn.to/3nq52aU
Canon EOS Rebel T8i amzn.to/3HcBuX6
4 Ocean bracelets I wear
Multiple colors to chose from bracelets amzn.to/3HMbHEx
Books on worms & worm farming
Worms Eat My Garbage amzn.to/3L4FXN2
Where to buy worms: www.TheGardenAndWormLady.com
Each time I watch videos on people feeding their large flow thru bags I get the feeling that it might be high time to get my VermiBag Mini going again... Nice generous feeding - bon appetit wormies!
Yes...do it!!! We would all love to see your VermiBag Mini back in action!! Other than that food scrap burrito I wrapped too tight and the avocado, they did a pretty good job for 11 days...Hopefully they keep it up!! Thanks so much for stopping by AV!!🪱🪱🪱
Looks good! I just added 1500 to my original population of 250 (4 months ago)! Finding that the new guys are trying to escape when I put my cardboard box lid on. My bin definitely looks drier than yours. Maybe that the issue? Or maybe need to get more ventilation like you did in your tiny bin? Love the content - learn something new every time 👍🏻
Thank you!! You may want to leave them in a room with the light on without a lid for several days. The light and blast of dry air usually does the trick with new curious worms. That is great you added another 1500. I always feel like a bigger population is easier to maintain since you can see them eat the food better and have a lower risk of over feeding. This is probably my dampest bin, but if you feel like yours maybe dry, a little squirt of water or maybe some clear plastic on the top (so light can get in) will help it stay moist. Thanks so much for watching and for the kind words!!🪱🪱🪱
Excellent Vermiculture Tutorial, done in a simple straightforward format. Seriously, this would be a great teaching video. Oh wait...that's just what it is meant to be 👍
You really are a great teacher ❤
❤Peggy❤
Thank you so much for the kind words Peggy!! We really appreciate all the support you have given us from the very beginning!!!🪱🪱🪱
Your fluffing will aerate and speed up that old feeding. I like the Oscar the Grouch analogy. I think you just named your bin!
~ Sandra
If I was Oscar the Grouch, I'd want to live in my Urban Worm Bag!! Great idea!! I like that name for my worm bin 😂🤣😂 Thanks for stopping by to watch Sandra!!🪱🪱🪱
everything is looking good. This is good reminder to check and feed my bins!
Thanks Mikko!! I’m finding that my worms don’t mind if I delay a few days between feedings. My average days between feedings has crept up. Thanks so much for stopping by!!🪱🪱🪱
Hiya wormie friend!!!! 🪱🪱🪱 The mites seem to be the pesky neighbours the wormies have to put up with don’t they ? 🤣 just shows how easy the ecosystem can get out of control with too much or too little food!! There’s so much to consider when you lift that lid isn’t there?!? 🤣🤣 but you’re a good worm dad, they seem very happy 🙌🏼 Well they annihilated that waffle cardboard hahaha and they’re loving the Mexican theme of burritos! 🌯🌮🌯 that’s as close as they’ll get to take away food 😅 great to see their progress Patrick and I hope you guys hav a fantastic week!! 🌻💐💞🌱🪱🙏
Hellloooo Anita!! I hope you had the best Mother's Day ever!! I'm really in awe of all the hats you mothers wear throughout your lives and how many people depend on your loving care!! Those mites definitely like to stake their claim to certain foods and I'm sure they go to all the home owners association meetings to complain about how things look inside the worm bin 😂🤣😂 As long as they don't take over, the worms and I are ok with them (but Autumn is not...she doesn't like them at all!!) They've been doing really well with all the different bedding I've been giving them...hopefully they've had time to break down the layers as I've been enticing them with new fresh stuff every couple of weeks! Thanks so much for the fun humorous comments!! We always get a kick out of them!! And of course thanks so much for taking the time to watch!! I hope you all have a great week ahead!!🪱🪱🪱
@@Vermicompost right back at ya guys xx 🌷🌻💓💐
I've watched a few of your videos and thank you for the great content! Noticed that you only wear one glove in most of your videos, but use both hands (my daughter also pointed it out! 😁). There must be a reason! 🤔
Thank you so much (to you and your daughter) for watching our videos!! There is a method to my madness😂 I just use a glove on my right hand because that’s the hand that typically digs into the bin & my dirty finger nails don’t look very good on camera to me. I usually only hold things or pick up things with my left hand so no need for a glove as the finger nails stay clean on that hand. I just figured I'd save more gloves that way! I have no issues getting my bare hands into the worm bin when I'm not filming, it is just for aesthetics on videos!! Great question, I know it looks odd to wear just one when I get my left hand gets dirty anyway😂 Thanks again for your support!! I appreciate the kind words!🪱🪱🪱
I really have to try the shredded cardboard soaked in BTI when I restart my older bin. That one is still infested with gnats. I let it rest for about two or three months now and it is ready to harvest, just cheked in the other day. I hope the BTI will finally keep the gnats away then. In the newer bin there are so many worms and worm babies, it is unbelievable. :D Hope to get the population in the older bin back to that level again.
I've been using the BTI solution water from the beginning with this bin and I think that has contributed to there never being a gnat or fruit fly problem for me. I bet if you use it from the restart onward you will be in much better shape with the gnats in your older bin. That is so great to hear of the population explosion in your newer bin!! I love when I see lots of baby worms!! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch & update us on your bins!!🪱🪱🪱
❤👍 😳 They eat better then me ! Always look forward too your posts.✌
😂 I think the same things sometimes!! Thanks so much for all your support Tory!!🪱🪱🪱
I’ve often wondered. Do mites tag along with worms purchased from suppliers, or are they in the food we add? Your new bag system is amazing.
That is a good question...In my case I know for sure some of my mites came from some worms because I saw them on the worms, but I bet some have come from the food scraps, compost or leaves I've put in...it is strange though that like 99% of worm bins have mites!! Thanks for stopping by Joe!!🪱🪱🪱
Mites help breakdown hard items.
Yes!! And they are doing a good job on that avocado & the shell...both things my worms have trouble with in the early stages. So good to see you back! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch!!🪱🪱🪱
Definitely have to go with the flow of the bin for harvesting. Checking and adjusting is the best way, as the skills develop over time you can figure out what the bin needs very quickly. Moisture on top is looking great. Another nice feeding Patrick with a good bit of faster moist foods. (I’m on night work tonight so getting to take a break and watch the video) 😁🪱🪱
Yes, going with the flow is key for me right now since I'm new to the Urban Worm Bag! It really is an art and a science when it comes to managing worm bins and I've learned a lot from you and your channel! My oldest son is on the night shift right now so hopefully he is watching some good videos as well!! Thanks so much for stopping by Rick!!🪱🪱🪱
I’m having trouble imagining how this container you are working in (you said is 18 inches deep, and looks to be about as wide as it is deep) having a volume 3x greater than a 20 gallon barrel you keep outside. Are you sure you said what you meant to?
Great question!! I did some measurements and it looks like it is somewhere between 2.4 to 3.6 times the volume based on how I utilize both bins. My Outdoor Worm Bin is made of two 20 gallon fabric pots one inside the other that is 14 inches high by 20.5 inches in diameter, but I only fill it up about 1/3rd to, at most, 1/2 high with material (you can see at the end of my latests Outdoor Worm Bin videos how much material from the top I use to create a lid). So this equates to about 6.67 to 10 gallons at most. I remeasured the Urban Worm Bag and the tan material is 18 inches long, but the material hangs down well into about another 4 inches of black plastic material that makes up the bottom drawstring area that can be opened for harvest. The diameter at the top is 24 inches tapering down to 12 inches (but the stitching keeps it at the 24 inches diameter until about halfway down, but I conservatively didn't account for this added volume it creates) The plan is to feed all the way to where the tan material meets the black fabric at the top and no higher, so the measurements I used were 22 inches by 1/2(24+12)inches to give me 24.24 gallons of volume. I should have mentioned that I only use about 1/3rd to 1/2 of the available volume in the Outdoor Worm Bin...it is totally impractical to fill it to the brim and use itself as a lid or to have enough room to maneuver. So I guess my eyeball judgement was close but the measurements I gave, without context of how I use the bins, were way off!! Thanks for pointing this out so I could better explain!! And of course thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱
Do you use the thermometer to track moisture as well or do you just go by feel?
Both kind of...The two sensors that are imbedded in the material are in ziploc bags so the info they give me is not a reflection of the moisture within the bin. The one I keep on the surface and is exposed typically reads somewhere between 85-95% humidity. I can feel the humidity every time I open it up! I hope this helps! Thanks so much for watching and asking a great question!🪱🪱🪱
This vermibag is becoming very industrial
Yes it is! I can’t wait to start harvesting the castings and find out what time interval works and how much castings I can pull out each time! Thanks so much for dropping by to watch!!🪱🪱🪱
That would be an interesting video
My new Vermihut is really starting to hit its stride. My worms went crazy for cantaloupe and all seem to feed at the same time. Does this encourage them to reproduce when they all congregate so closely? Have you ever used leaves rather than cardboard for your bedding? I live in New England and keep piles of leaves for leaf mold. If I want to add leaves to my inside bin should I sterilize them in the oven to prevent bringing in critters? Thanks for your advice!
Hello Jennifer! I think most folks believe that the more compost worms bump into each other in close quarters the more likely they are to reproduce as well! It makes sense to me but I haven't found any studies that look at the density of compost worms vs population growth. I do occasionally put leaves into my Outdoor Worm Bin, but I think I introduced some Black Soldier Fly Larvae when I did that this last time...Soooo I would probably sterilize the leaves if you are worried about adding bin critters to your VermiHut!! I've heard misting the leaves with water then putting them in the microwave or oven for a bit is a good way to sterilize them (not sure how the smell will be in the house though😀). I'm so glad you are enjoying your VermiHut!! It really is a great worm bin!! Thanks so much for watching, asking a great question & telling us about your VermiHut!!🪱🪱🪱
I am having some serious worm bag envy! I was actually wondering how far off you might be from harvesting, so I'm glad you addressed that. Love the idea of it turning into a low(er)-effort trash system!
😂🤣😂 I'm really loving this Urban Worm Bag the longer I have it!! It just seems to swallow up food scraps no problem!! I can't wait to harvest...but I need to be patient!! Eventually I'm hoping to get a harvest at least once a month or sooner...I'm definitely learning this system as I'm going!! Turning this into my food scrap dumpster would be awesome!! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch & comment Evelyn!!🪱🪱🪱
Man that is churing pretty awesome now, I felt you really pushed the boundaries on the last feedback, which looks great !!
If it came out unfinished, could you re-add it to the system?
Hope you have an amazing weekend brother!!
Let's gooooo!! 🌱🪱🌱🤜🤛👍
Great question!! I'm thinking my first couple of harvest will be going right back into the top...I put down some whole newspaper and built it up pretty quick at first, so I'm not sure if the worms kept climbing as I fed them. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch, I know you all are super busy!!🪱🪱🪱 🤜🤛
@Vermicompost tbh, 1 watched this twice, I fell asleep the first time lol
Don't take it the wrong way, it was a looonnnnnggggg day ;)
😂😴
Isn't that temperature (36 C) too hot for the worms?
Yes and no in this large bin...I've got red wigglers and blue worms in this bin and they seem to really eat and reproduce in the high 80's (31℃) low 90's (33℃). But this bin is fairly large and while one section maybe close to 36℃ the other side of it is 29℃ and the surface maybe 26 ℃ or lower depending on the time of day. I have 3 temperature sensors in it so I am constantly monitoring the temperatures...Unfortunately the only place I have for the bin is on the western facing back/side of my house, so it gets some moderatly shaded sunshine which heats it up. I use frozen water bottles to cool the bin down if I see 100℉ on the western sensor or is I see any of the other 2 sensors at 90℉ or higher. Luckily the worms are very good at detecting temperature and go to where they are the most comfortable. Check out this video where I caught them making a ring around some food scraps that heated up: czcams.com/video/_fJNg0-1X6M/video.html I'm still new to this bin and it's location so I'm really having to monitor the temps. If the whole thing was 36℃ for a prolonged time I'd probably have a worm jail break on my hand!! Thanks so much for the great question and thanks for watching!!🪱🪱🪱
@@Vermicompost Thank you for the detailed answer. I love your videos.
Thank you!!
That is quite a bit of fast food. It will be gone next time. No problem. From experience, The first harvest will be less digested than future harvest. Since the worms move up it is what it is and won't break down more.
Thanks Ann!! Your VermiBag Lil Mammoth is the gold standard for how I want to run this!! I'm beginning to think I should have filled it with ANCs as summer temps are becoming the norm around here!! I'm guessing the first harvest may go right back into the top??!? Thanks for stopping by to watch and thanks for all your awesome videos I've learned from!!🪱🪱🪱
👋 Thanks so much for stopping by to watch again!!🪱🪱🪱
Mystery missing mango.....😂🪱🪱🪱🪱
😂🤣😂 I couldn't believe I didn't find it!! Thanks so much for stopping by to watch Ann!!🪱🪱🪱
Mysterious mystery missing mango
🤣😂🤣 Maybe I'll find it on the next episode of Mysterious Mystery Missing Mango!! Thanks for the good laughs!!🪱🪱🪱
@@Vermicompost its in the Twilight Worm Zone
😂🤣😂