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Follansbee, Wv

Ken has posted my article on raising worms in the How To section. I hope people find it helpful. Thanks go out to Sam and Glenn for proof-reading and, of course, to Ken for being kind enough to post it and allow me share it with the pumpkin growing community.

2/21/2006 5:33:38 PM

[email protected]

Good read Thanks Monty!

I am surprised you don't vent the sides but I guss I shouldn't be. After cutting nice round holes (hole saw) epoxying nylon window screen in place, I discovered a kid raisng fishing worms in an old bath tub. He had no trouble keeping them alive.

2/21/2006 7:19:00 PM

New Hampshire

Good article Monty

2/21/2006 8:09:25 PM

ordinary,VA

Good stuff Monty ,thank you!

2/21/2006 8:29:26 PM

Romney West By God Virginia

Sure would be nice if someone could convert the article from a PDF file to something my antique computer can read. :o) LOL

2/21/2006 9:54:00 PM

[email protected]

DTM,

You can download Acrobat for free anytime. Go to:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

The latest version fre version (7.0) will let you copy & paste & make your own pdf's for free. Just make sure yoiur system can handle the requirements first.

2/21/2006 10:14:40 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

It was very fascinating and very helpful. I would like to save it to my favorites but it seems like I cannot save it like I always do. Could someone tell me how to save this .pdf file to my favorites?? Thanks.

2/21/2006 10:24:13 PM

Napa Valley, CA

Very helpful information.
Thank you for posting it Monty.

2/21/2006 11:13:03 PM

Puyallup, WA

Very well done! Thank you Monty.

2/21/2006 11:19:34 PM

[email protected]

You can save acrobat pdf files right to a folder on your hard drive. With the correct page open, look in the upper left hand corner. Newer versions of Acrobat will have a tab marked "Save a Copy". Click it & save as is or rename it whatever you want.

Old versions of Acrobat Reader might just have a symbol shaped like a floppy disc but there is always something there that will direct it to a folder.

If you use Explorer as your browser then you should also be able to bookmark it. But you might need to rename the address since Explorer will "think" you're trying to replace the BigPumpkins Homepage & ask you if that's what you want to do. So instead, rename the bookmark "Monty's Worms" or something else you'll remember. Then Explorer should accept the new bookmark.

2/22/2006 12:21:21 AM

Follansbee, Wv

I once cut vent holes in a small bin, Steve. I don't do it anymore because the storage tubs I use are far from air-tight.

2/22/2006 8:17:50 AM

Ft. Branch, IN ([email protected])

Nice read Monty, I am planning on getting the storage tub today

2/22/2006 9:22:56 AM

addison Il

thanks for the article not only is it useful it looks interesting to do at home with my boy.

2/22/2006 10:58:53 AM

ipswich, ma usa

Monty

That is a great article! Would you have any problems if I was to put that in the spring newsletter for the NEPGA? It would be very informative for some of our growers that do not have access to a computer but are NEPGA members. If not thanks for putting it up here I might just try it.

John (5150)

2/22/2006 11:34:55 AM

milford, CT,

As long as were talking about worms... has anyone thought about adding a few thousand to their patch to increase the population within the growing area. I was thinking about doing this after I make my spring till. Mark

2/22/2006 12:38:05 PM

Mocksville, NC

Monty i just wanted to say thank you for a great artical on worms very informotive, and time you put in writing it.
It's growers like you, that take the time to help and imform other growers, and show your true colors of being a heavy hitter in my book. THANK YOU! Roger

2/22/2006 3:13:58 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Thanks to everyone for the kind words. John, you are welcome to use the article in your newsletter, as are any other clubs that would like to do so.

Milford, if you dump a few thousand redworms into your patch you will probably have a few thousand dead worms in a few days. Unlike earthworms, redworms are not good tunnelers. They live in their food supply and eat as they move. Conversly, earthworms are poor composters. They require extensive tunnel systems to survive.

Consider this: If you turn an old compost pile, what kind of worms are you likely to find the most of? Redworms, of course. On the other hand, go turn a few shovels of patch soil. What kind of worm do you turn up there? Earthworms.

You can add earthworms to your patch, and many people do. But I consider it a waste of money if the native soil has a worm population. By simply improving the quality of the soil, you will encourage the worm population to grow on it's own.

Tracy, my 5 year old daughter loves to help raise the worms. It gets her away from Dora the Explorer. Don't get me wrong, educational television is a great thing, but sticking your hands in the dirt can teach you a lot too;)

That's a nice compliment Roger. Thank you. However, in my book, attaching the term heavy hitter to a second year grower takes something away from the growers who have paid their dues in sweat, joy, and tears from season to season, doing the research, trying new things, sometimes failing but sometimes succeeding. Heavy hitters are the growers who work tirelessly for hours in their patches, tending their plants to perfection making that dream cross and then growing that cross to staggering weights. Those are the growers who do it every year. Sharing information is part of it, but being a heavy hitter is defined by what sits on those scales every October. My hat is off to those people.

2/22/2006 4:40:16 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Monty,

Do you have any serious suggestions as to what to do in the
winter? I live in a place where the ground is frozen solid
from November to February or March. I can't keep worms outside
during this time.

I do have a storage room in the house which is not "finished"
and stays pretty cool. The problem would be covincing my
wife to allow it. (Well, that's the whole KEY right there...)

2/22/2006 5:04:43 PM

maine USA

Thanks Monty, great job. Kathy

2/22/2006 10:21:55 PM

ENGLAND

Monty
Great article and i can't wait until you write the one about how you brew your Compost Tea. So, if you have the time to do the 'nother article' i await the 'nother time' when it comes around.

Regards
Mike

2/23/2006 6:26:41 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Cliff,

The storage room would be ideal. If your wife is concerned about odors, you can assure her that there will be none. A worm bin that smells is a bin that is severly out of whack. Using half finished compost results in a nearly odorless bin. If you place kitchen waste in the bin, be sure to cover it with other bedding.
If escapees are a concern, they shouldn't be. The worms are reluctant to leave the bedding and rarely climb the sides of the bin.

The only other suggestion I have would be to build a pile of nearly finished compost (not a "live" pile because it would get too hot). Build a 3x3x3 foot or larger "box" out of hay bales and fill it with the compost, then cover it with a thick layer of hay, then cover the entire thing with a tarp. As long as the center area of the pile doesn't freeze, your worms should survive the winter. As soon as things thaw out in the spring, you will have to sort through the pile and retrieve your little buddies.

Mike,
If I were to get enough requests showing interest in my personal tea, I would be happy to share another article with step-by-step instructions on building a brewer and brewing the tea. After all, getting the castings is only half of the equation, what to do with them is the other half.

2/23/2006 8:03:42 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

"If I were to get enough requests showing interest in my personal tea (..)" - my interest is certainly there; your article about worms is one of the best articles on BP.com and I'd love to learn a lot more from experienced gardeners like you.

2/23/2006 11:12:00 AM

Antigonish,Nova Scotia,Canada

ditto here, Monty. I would especially appreciate any info on how to construct (from used aquarium and small fountain pumps...etc)a "home-made" brewing device.Any tips??? I have already read a few links found here @ BP.Com, and figure that this is a very feasible and economic project.
Thanks again,
Bill

2/23/2006 11:22:25 AM

Warwood

Great job Monty! This is great for getting back to the Organic style of growing and where it's really at for the future of our sport. These worms do ownders for our gardens and are a great part of soil health. Don

2/23/2006 7:22:13 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Here is another request for the tea brewing article. Great job and keep it up Monty. Lots of us out here looking for info. Peace, Wayne

2/23/2006 8:54:53 PM

St. Louis, MO

Monty - Great article. I have a couple questions.
1) Can I use regular red compost pile worms, or should I buy them. If I should buy them, where?

2) I have seen articles on worm bins that are Rubbermaid containers stacked. The bins have holes for ventilation and migration. The concept is to place the worms in the top or bottom bin and the worms will move to the other bins after processing everything in the original bin. Do the worms actually migrate between the bins? Does this process work?

Thanks, Paul

3/3/2006 3:12:57 PM

[email protected]

http://www.cityfarmer.org/wormsupl79.html

link with lots of info on worms

3/10/2006 12:01:03 AM