Tag Archives: vermicomposting

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

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Stock Tank Worm Bed

8 Nov

Screen Shot 2018-11-08 at 11.54.45 AM

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.imageStock Tank Worm Bed

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Worm Farming Heat Hacks

7 Jun

Summer arrived early this year and it’s August in June here in South Texas.   Help your worms beat the heat with a few tips.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4.  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.

Jumpers1_1_1

 

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Soil remediation with Earthworms

25 Jun

Groups collaborate in India to clean up toxic land with earthworms.

4 acres of contaminated soil in India where 300K earthworms were added.  After one year there was a 60% reduction in heavy metals.

 

Link to Vermi-Remediation of Heavy Metal -Contaminated Soil

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Bobcat Blend

23 Jun

TexasRedWorms is proud to see what the students at Texas State have done with their Bobcat Blend project.  We are also proud to have had a small hand in providing worms for them years ago in their early stages.

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Earthworm information from NC State

2 May

Some quality material from the NC State extension service.

For teachers

For some great worm composting information

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Good ‘ol Days

27 Jun

goodoldays

Oh the good ‘ol days when a couple of dimes would get you something.  Unfortunately we can’t give you this deal, but we’ve got some great Jumpers, Euros, and Red worms available for your fishing trip or enhancing your soil.   Thanks to Uncle Corky and Sheryl for sending this great picture they found.

 

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