5 Basic Fundamentals to Worm Farming

Welcome to another issue of the Poop Scoop.  Where its my ultimate goal to Teach, Inspire & Empower you to become the best worm farmer you can be...Plus a lot more!!!

I hope this year has started out well for you. I'm not one to make resolutions at the beginning of the year as I believe that they can begin any day of the year when you are truly ready but it did get me to thinking.

I get many questions that can usually be answered by going back to the basics of worm composting. Sometimes I wonder if some even read the free worm farming guide at all. I know the Internet has made it very easy for people to find answers quickly and for some they would just rather ask you than read all that material.

So to start the year off with these proven fundamental principles I have decided to come out with

The 5-Step Approach to Any Successful Worm Bin
(Link takes you to the full article)
 

But first, here's what happened lately at WFR.

Latest News

Recent Questions and Answers - I don't title these, visitors do
Worm Friendly
Disappearing Worms
White Worms in Worm Bin
Worm Tea for Hydroponics?
Anyone can go to WFR and answer any of these questions. We'd love to hear you.
 

Latest Videos
Making Worm Tea
Straining Worm Tea
Applying Worm Tea
Spraying Worm Tea
Diluting Worm Tea
Plants Growing From A Worm Bin
Worm Bin Neglected For 2 Months and Okay
 

Latest News
You can get FREE WORMS with the purchase of a Worm Factory 360 Click Here
But after Spring of 2014 I'm taking it down :O

Please feel free to comment on WFR's worm questions, community help, DE pages, Property Clean Up and any other pages at the site where you see the forms generally located at the bottoms of those pages. I don't have all the answers. So please help build the WFR community knowledge base when you can and feel free to share this email with others.

The 5-Step Approach to Any Successful Worm Bin.

Here are 5 things to always remember when starting or maintaining a worm bin. If I could sum up any worm composting book, article, video etc.. it would be these 5 basic principles.

1.Cool
2.Moist
3.Dark
4.Food
5.Air
6.Privacy

Okay I guess 6 steps but the last one isn't so important. It would kind of make the list harder to remember. You can also print-out these 5 steps to have next to your worm bin at all times until you think you got it down pretty good.

Read the full "5-Step Success To Worm Composting" article

I won't bore you with the long version you can go to the link above for that so let me talk a little about these five+ steps.

In nature, these 5 factors play off each other in a synergetic sort of way. For instance, if it's moist then it can also be cool because when air passes through the bedding the bedding becomes cool due to the evaporation processes.

When it is dark then it's out of the sunlight making it cooler. When food is added it adds moisture which starts the synergetics all over again. Of course all this should take place in the privacy of their (the worms) own home. It's very common to check on worm bins once a day and I hope you do when just starting out, but as you get more experienced you'll learn to know when they need feeding or need more moisture based on your own system.

I recently left one of my plastic worm bins unattended for 2 months (video link here) but this is not the privacy I'm talking about. Worms left alone tend to be more productive than those checked on too frequently. 1-2 times per day is okay when starting out. 1-2 times per week is what you should desire to get to.

This is only a guideline though and is NOT based on any scientific study. If disturbed constantly then the worms will feel threatened and look at you as a mole or some other type of predator no matter how much you love them. They may think of it as a creepy kind of love...sounds like a song. Oh, that's A Groovy Kind of Love. Anyway!

I'm not saying they'll pack up and leave but will be less active in the baby-making department if you know what I mean...mmmmHmmmm?

When feeding your worms, especially starting out, keep it to a couple of generous handfuls for 1 lb of worms. Tuck the food at the side or in a corner under at least 2 inches of bedding. Too much food will bring on a plethora of problems. When the food is almost gone repeat the 2 generous handfuls again until you learn to increase the food as your worms increase in numbers.

The moisture theory has always been like that of a well-rung sponge. (More on moisture in the article)

The air flow? This can almost be taken care of by the worms themselves as they wiggle throughout the bin. All you need to do is add holes if it's a do-it-yourself type of worm bin or some type of ventilation to allow gas to escape.

Just as I have talked about synergy and the 5 steps working off each other, the same can happen on the opposite side of the spectrum. If too much food is added then one problem can be that it creates too much moisture. Too much moisture will block air flow and the worms won't work towards the middle and it can get too hot. It can also cause the bin to become too acidic, smelly and bring in a lot of unwanted pests in the worm bin.

So the next time you check on your worm bin ponder on these 5 fundamental principles:

1.Cool - Right temps
2.Moist - Damp sponge theory...just right !
3.Dark - No light
4.Food - In moderation
5.Air - Proper ventilation
6.Privacy - Do not disturb...except for maintenance

These 5 basic elements are what makes a worm bin tick. Even in nature it applies. You don't have to be spot-on in worm composting. Worms are the most forgiving creatures on the planet and they'll always give you a lot of wiggle room ~~~~;) Ha Ha!

Print out The 5-Step Success To Worm Composting
Cheat-Sheet PDF Format Now!

All the best and remember...What's in your soil?
~Pauly Piccirillo

To Teach, Inspire & Empower you to become the best worm farmer you can be...Plus a lot more!!!