“They seem to like our compost bins. They’re so energetic and are multiplying. “ Heather P.
Thanks for sharing your pics with us!
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Thanks From Local Senior Residence
8 Apr We were so pleased with the donation recently from TexasJumpers. We live in a Senior Residence where several people have started a Community Garden. When I asked them if they could use the best compost in the world, they looked forward to it eagerly . Now after just a week, they are seeing the difference. Thank you Kyle!
You are welcome! We are happy to help.
Worm question from Ft. Worth, TX
28 Jan
I was wondering if Texas or Alabama jumper worms are widespread enough to expect to find them outdoors. I’m considering adding some to raised beds and mulched areas, just hoping to seed from some wild ones if possible.
Tim in Ft. Worth, TX
Tim,
Yes, you can find Jumpers in North Texas. You can also find Nightcrawlers also known as dew worm or Missouri giant. Jumpers can be bin raised and the nightcrawlers require too much room to be bin raised.
You can populate almost any sized area with one Jumper starter farm with a little care and time.
Thanks,
Kyle
Stock Tank Worm Bed
8 Nov
One of the ways I raise my worms is in 100 gallon stock tanks. My preference is to start with cinder blocks and a pallet on top of that. This elevates and makes for less bending over when feeding or harvesting. The lid doesn’t have to be elaborate and can be a piece of plywood laid over the top of your bin. For a lid like the one pictured, you will want to use the metal instead of the plastic version. The reason- heat is trapped by the plastic and raises the temps in the hotter months. The metal does a far better job of reflecting the heat. There are lots of ways to skin this cat and I encourage you to put you own spin on it. Look for things you have access to already and use what you already have laying around. You’ll be surprised what you can turn into a worm bed.
Stock Tank Worm Bed
Worm Farming Heat Hacks
7 JunSummer arrived early this year and it’s August in June here in South Texas. Help your worms beat the heat with a few tips.
- Ice bottles. Partially fill plastic bottles w/ water and freeze. Add frozen bottles to your worm bins in the morning. Pick them up and re freeze overnight and repeat.
- Shade. If moving your worm bins in doors is not an option add shade cloth or move to a shady area. Especially from the afternoon sun.
- Keep moist- Add a drip line and/ or keep beds covered w/ mulch or old rug. Covering will protect worms and help keep in moisture.
- Add insulation – add more bedding and in ground beds are a couple of ways to keep things from heating up and keep your worms happier in the heat.
These are a few tips to help get your worms through the summer. Share any ideas or successful hacks you’ve come up with in your part of the world.
Texas Jumper Eggs and castings run
5 Nov
In a quick castings run we were able to render 40 gallons and 200 lbs of sifted castings. Found a bunch of egg sacs. 
Rainbow Gardens “OPENING UP MY OWN CAN OF WORMS.”
10 JunThanks to Lisa, Laura, and Rainbow Gardens. Check out “Opening up my own can of worms”.
TexasRedWorms on display at the Houston Zoo
12 JunThis week we provided Texas Jumpers and set up bins at the Houston Zoo. There is no shortage of worm food and the kids visiting will soon get to see some Texas Red Worms “Texas Jumpers” up close. With the Houston heat, we decided Texas Jumpers would be the best choice for their location and set up. Thanks Dustin and Elyssa for the opportunity it’s an honor to have our worms at the Houston Zoo.
DIY Raised Worm Bed.
28 AprHere’s another example of a raised bed for worms. It’s next to the house and gets full shade. It’s next to a spicket for easy access to water and/or drip irrigation. I used some landscaping blocks to construct the borders and filled it with compost. After adding a Tx Jumper Starter, I cut a piece of old carpet to cover. The cover acts as a permanent mulch blanket to keep in moisture and protects the worms. I like carpet or an old rug because they last a long time, and I believe the weight gives the worms a sense of security that promotes surfacing and feeding.
Within a few months of setting this up, the worms started to really take off. I continue to keep moist, and fed with compost. The worms do the rest. It’s always fun to pull back the carpet and see a bunch of happy worms (Texas Jumpers).
Worms for the Garden
27 Apr
This is what I like to see. Pictured above are some chunks of clay with some of my Texas Jumpers working through them with no problem. The ability of these native Texan worms to work in clay is what makes them suitable for adding directly to your garden or raised bed. They are a hearty worm that grows to 6 inches or more in a few months time. The strength that they have at a few weeks old and small size is what separates them from European Nightcrawlers or Red Worms (eisenia foteda). This strength makes them great aerators and tunnelers for your soil. They can dive and tunnel several feet and can survive through our extreme temps. Pick a spot that has good shade for these worms, keep it composted, covered (old carpet or something similar), and watered for best results. Once your population is established in several weeks, you’ll be ready to start moving them around a couple of handfuls at a time. With a little patience and persistence, you’ll have worms all over.
I broke open a clay clod and found this young worm working through. If these worms can handle this South Texas clay and caliche soil chances are they can benefit yours.
