"Found a new hobby - 'Vermicomposting'" thread in "The TRC allotment"
I guess that dabbling with this garden malarkey had to lead to something, and that something is Vermicomposting! Two events have sparked this interest, the ...

EddieJ · 16-11-08, 17:59

I guess that dabbling with this garden malarkey had to lead to something, and that something is Vermicomposting!

Two events have sparked this interest, the first was taking delivery of the two trailer loads of manure, and the second was a friend that has started a worm farm. The friend is basically running his farm as a means of escaping some complicated planning regulations in respect of running his grab lorry company, but his enthusiasm for worms and the details that he gave me, had me hooked!

I looked at the ready to go kits that are available on the market, but felt that I could do better and get my own system up and running for a lot less money, and hopefully more efficiently.

The first step has been to try and read up about the worms and the requirements to keep them happy and healthy, the next was to buy some large plastic crates to get things started.
I've managed to get three units up and running this weekend and aim to get a further seven on the go.
I've already learnt quite a lot about the worms, and how some of what I had previously understood and read about them has been rubbish.

Anyway, here is the start of what I hope should be an enjoyable and productive hobby.

This is the first lot of secondhand crates that are going to used to house the worms. I don't yet have any photos of the completed systems.

The first tub full of worms going into the first tray.

The following has been one of the most interesting aspects of the project so far, worm cocoons. I've already managed to get the first lot to hatch, and its quite amazing just how easy it is to find the eggs/cocoons once you know what to look for.

herriwullie · 16-11-08, 18:19

Where did you get your giant ruler from?

EddieJ · 16-11-08, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by herriwullie

Where did you get your giant ruler from?

Ann Summers!!

go_slow · 17-11-08, 08:42

So what do the worms do? Digest all the rubbish and leave you with good compost?

PG · 17-11-08, 10:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by go_slow

So what do the worms do? Digest all the rubbish and leave you with good compost?

Pretty much.

Quote:

Why should I compost with Worms?

Worms compost quickly: they are the fastest natural composters by far. The fact that they eat up to half their own body weight in waste everyday makes them very efficient at clearing waste. They also reduce the volume of your waste: something like 8-10 bins of waste will probably be reduced to 1 bin of compost. Having eaten the waste they leave behind a top quality compost called worm-casts. Worm-casts are known as 'Black Gold' by experienced gardeners, they comprise a rich, dark material which is friable and pleasant to handle. As a further benefit the worms will also produce many litres of a fertilising liquid which, if you’re using a wormery, can be collected from the tap. When diluted 1:10 with water this can be used as a general purpose plant feed.

Pasted from - November at Wiggly Wigglers (Pricey 'lifestyle' shop)

There's a bit more and a make a wormery from four old car tyres guide here - Worm farming - Composting - Christchurch City Council

It's one of my Missus' interests as something to get sorted (its on the long list!) but her bookmarks folder is a chaotic mess so that's the best I could spot^

go_slow · 17-11-08, 10:16

Cheers PG.

I wanted to grow the potato's in tyres between the beds but SWMBO insisted on proper potato bins at £20 a throw, so no chance of me getting away with anything home made for a wormery.

EddieJ · 17-11-08, 16:45

PG has summed it up very well, thanks.

I've already picked up on a few things that need altering, such as they like to go walk about at night!

The crates have lids, but some of the worms try and go up the sides of them. The problem was solved by, laying a very damp carpet just above the surface of the bed. I also need to find a way of preventing the odd worm escaping through the bottom and into what will be the catchment area for the liquid waste. They cant escape from this point, but they can't return either.

If either of you do decide to get a wormery up and running, I can always send you either some worms or eggs/cocoons.

demographic · 17-11-08, 17:42

As a side note, what planning restrictions were they and what part of running a worm farm enabled him to get round them?

Just for future referance when I ~~get divorced and marry money the next time round~~ make enough cash to buy some land.

EddieJ · 17-11-08, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by demographic

As a side note, what planning restrictions were they and what part of running a worm farm enabled him to get round them?

Just for future reference when I ~~get divorced and marry money the next time round~~ make enough cash to buy some land.

I think that by starting up and running a worm farm, he was able to indirectly use his yard area as a kind of unofficial waste transfer station, by justifying having waste materials for the running and maintenance of the farm.
I'm not really too sure of the ins and outs of it all, but I can find out for you.

demographic · 17-11-08, 18:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieJ

I think that by starting up and running a worm farm, he was able to indirectly use his yard area as a kind of unofficial waste transfer station, by justifying having waste materials for the running and maintenance of the farm.
I'm not really too sure of the ins and outs of it all, but I can find out for you.

Fair nuff, nowt that would affect me even if I did ~~marry money~~ work hard to buy property then.

ryan · 22-11-08, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by go_slow

I wanted to grow the potato's in tyres between the beds but SWMBO insisted on proper potato bins at £20 a throw, so no chance of me getting away with anything home made for a wormery.

EddieJ · 22-11-08, 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan

And this is the view on the other side of the fence!

go_slow · 24-11-08, 08:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan

Yep, something like that.

16-11-08, 17:59	#1 (permalink)
EddieJ I am who I am Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,240 Casino cash: £507320 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 33 Thanked: 45/38	Found a new hobby - 'Vermicomposting' I guess that dabbling with this garden malarkey had to lead to something, and that something is Vermicomposting! Two events have sparked this interest, the first was taking delivery of the two trailer loads of manure, and the second was a friend that has started a worm farm. The friend is basically running his farm as a means of escaping some complicated planning regulations in respect of running his grab lorry company, but his enthusiasm for worms and the details that he gave me, had me hooked! I looked at the ready to go kits that are available on the market, but felt that I could do better and get my own system up and running for a lot less money, and hopefully more efficiently. The first step has been to try and read up about the worms and the requirements to keep them happy and healthy, the next was to buy some large plastic crates to get things started. I've managed to get three units up and running this weekend and aim to get a further seven on the go. I've already learnt quite a lot about the worms, and how some of what I had previously understood and read about them has been rubbish. Anyway, here is the start of what I hope should be an enjoyable and productive hobby. This is the first lot of secondhand crates that are going to used to house the worms. I don't yet have any photos of the completed systems. The first tub full of worms going into the first tray. The following has been one of the most interesting aspects of the project so far, worm cocoons. I've already managed to get the first lot to hatch, and its quite amazing just how easy it is to find the eggs/cocoons once you know what to look for.

16-11-08, 18:19	#2 (permalink)
herriwullie Throbbing Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: In the Wealden plop Posts: 763 Casino cash: £354250 Thanks: 5 Thanked: 24/19	Re: Found a new hobby - 'Vermicomposting' Where did you get your giant ruler from?
	"Unserainer Trinkt Maxlrainer"

17-11-08, 08:42	#4 (permalink)
go_slow Tandoor Pilot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London during the week, Isle of Wight at weekends Posts: 9,689 Casino cash: £433600 Blog Entries: 10 Thanks: 71 Thanked: 58/55	Re: Found a new hobby - 'Vermicomposting' So what do the worms do? Digest all the rubbish and leave you with good compost?

17-11-08, 10:16	#6 (permalink)
go_slow Tandoor Pilot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London during the week, Isle of Wight at weekends Posts: 9,689 Casino cash: £433600 Blog Entries: 10 Thanks: 71 Thanked: 58/55	Re: Found a new hobby - 'Vermicomposting' Cheers PG. I wanted to grow the potato's in tyres between the beds but SWMBO insisted on proper potato bins at £20 a throw, so no chance of me getting away with anything home made for a wormery.

17-11-08, 16:45	#7 (permalink)
EddieJ I am who I am Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,240 Casino cash: £507320 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 33 Thanked: 45/38	Re: Found a new hobby - 'Vermicomposting' PG has summed it up very well, thanks. I've already picked up on a few things that need altering, such as they like to go walk about at night! The crates have lids, but some of the worms try and go up the sides of them. The problem was solved by, laying a very damp carpet just above the surface of the bed. I also need to find a way of preventing the odd worm escaping through the bottom and into what will be the catchment area for the liquid waste. They cant escape from this point, but they can't return either. If either of you do decide to get a wormery up and running, I can always send you either some worms or eggs/cocoons.
	Last edited by EddieJ; 17-11-08 at 17:09.


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The following 2 users say thank you to PG for this useful post:
EddieJ (17-11-08), go_slow (17-11-08)

17-11-08, 17:42	#8 (permalink)
demographic Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Up North. Posts: 4,869 Casino cash: £504501 Thanks: 84 Thanked: 63/55	Re: Found a new hobby - 'Vermicomposting' As a side note, what planning restrictions were they and what part of running a worm farm enabled him to get round them? Just for future referance when I ~~get divorced and marry money the next time round~~ make enough cash to buy some land.
	"Its easier to make a fast bike reliable than a reliable bike fast" Soichiro Honda.

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"Found a new hobby - 'Vermicomposting'" thread in "The TRC allotment" I guess that dabbling with this garden malarkey had to lead to something, and that something is Vermicomposting! Two events have sparked this interest, the ...

"Found a new hobby - 'Vermicomposting'" thread in "The TRC allotment"
I guess that dabbling with this garden malarkey had to lead to something, and that something is Vermicomposting! Two events have sparked this interest, the ...