Seconding this - both videos are full of great information about raising, feeding, and breeding worms. Rhonda's book is a must-have for anyone who is interested in vermicomposting.
I am used to vermacomposting since at least 40 years. I have earth worms in ALL the pots on the balconies in Rome and the garden in my country house is full of earth worms. I started with no more than 20 worms a friend gave me and I put in a large strutture full of leaves, cut grass, vegetables parts discarded from the kitchen. Every time I fill a new pot I always add three worms I take from the large pot I use for composting or from other pot and everytime I empty the pot (i.e. because there were bulbs) I found a lot of worms. The only way to "kill" them is to dry the soil and they try to escape
This is one of the most valuable vermicomposting videos here. Thank you, my worms will be happy with your advices. Hopefully i'll get a good compost within a coupkle of months. Thank you
My worm bin is 36 inches deep and turns hot when I first fill it and wet it down. In a couple weeks it cools down and then I add the worms. It does very well.
Great information. As a child we always raised worms ( night crawlers) for fishing and composting. We would go out on rainy night's with. Flashlights and gather up as many as we could. Had a container, a wooden box about 11inches deep with straw/ hay base well moistened soil and add coffee grounds and veggie scraps. One or two nights of harvesting would provide enough for the entire year plus add additional to put back before ground froze. People don't think about them much ,but pretty interesting critters. From my understanding they aren't even native to north America at least the North East. It's great to hear such information about something not many people think about. Marine worms used to be a multi million dollar industry here as well. Sand worms going from 3 to 6 cents apiece ranging from 6 inches to almost 3ft in length to blood worms from 8 to 10 cents. Small towns would line the street's of boxes stacked head high awaiting the greyhound bus lines to ship south. Some 40 to 50 years ago. Overharvesting and demand has quashed the industry. It's back breaking work and few have the will to put the effort in. In 40 to 50 years I don't think diggers get but a few more cents per worm. I ramble. Great Video 👍👍
I have been tinkering with the idea of vermicomposting for a few years but hadn't found anything nearly as informative as this. Huge thank you for this video! This took a lot of the mystery out of it. The only questions I have left would be with reproduction and how often you would divide the worm colony to prevent over population in the bin.
Reproduction can be made to happen with some cracked in half egg shells and I add a little potato peel and corn meal into it. Many will crawl in and eat and the eggshell is a needed space where they will reproduce.
Very educational Thxs to fiddle for worms is easy in the woods cut small saplings then start rubbing the sapling with a flat board a hammer as long as you make a thumping sound they think it’s thunder they come out some get up to 1-0 long
Regarding the contamination - if there is E cola in the tea, wouldn't it be in the castings as well? Wouldn't that mean the entire bin is contaminated?
I have seen your book and several videos, but pure E. fedita is no longer available in Europe (the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France). I have received E. hortensis from several commercial companies, depending on their story. Also an excellent compost worm, but with a completely different breeding program. The problem is (among other things) that breeding and/or manure feeding takes place outdoors. The hortensis (also in the mix) appears to be the winner here. If you can help me with an address for pure E. fedita, please do!!! In the meantime, we have to search for these one by one in the 💩
I've just received 2 worms from a scientist that breeds E. fetida at the university for scientific purposes. I could share a few after they multiply and I don't kill them in the meantime. Poland.
Wow this came at a good time! I've had 2 black bins with yellow lids ( from costco) holding my worms now for 9 months! Im very patient I guess. They eat everything I give them, no leache comes out the bottom. When I dig to check on them they are usually in a huge bundle all together? Eating something.. do you think they are too cold? They are in the 3rd bedroom at 65 to 68 degrees. I used to keep the lids on but they crawl up in the lid! Someone said they are unhappy when they are trying to escape.. but I took the lids off because the dont like the light. It works. The only thing is when I go to get the worm castings out this spring, I doubt there are more than( 2) 5 gallon buckets full of compost. And although it might be great fertilizer its is very little and I dont know which plants to put the compost on. 🙆♀️ maybe its just too much bother for a small amount after 9 months. I dont have a nice warm shed somewhere to keep them in, but I wish I did. Like a worm composting shed for 50 bins! Ha.
I am using 1 of those black & yellow Costco bins. They are about 2’ long & 27 gallon total capacity for those that don’t know. Anyway you could research making aerated tea with your castings. It only takes a big handful of castings for a 5 gal bucket of aerated tea & you can use it to water everything thereby getting additional value from your limited but fresh castings. I’m a total newbie personally but I’ve watched many videos.
Thank you for the informative video! Do you or anyone else here happen to know how to get rid of Sap Beetles in my worm bin? Last year, I fed my worms a bunch of Jack Fruit and before I knew it, my bin was infected with tons of these beetles that I had never seen before. I didn't suspect the Jack Fruit at the time, but now I'm pretty certain that that's where they came from. Any ideas on how to get rid of them completely, because I can't use my worm castings now, as I'm afraid that the beetles will take over my garden, as they like fruit, tomatoes, etc.
Rhonda, that was incredibly informative. Thank you so very much indeed. One thing I'd like to know is the temperature I can keep them in. Will they survive the south British winter outdoors in a shed? Do I have to bring them in... I don't yet have a worm composter, but I do want to try it out.
Fabulous presentation! Thank you so much. I only have one question though. What temperature range should I keep for the bin? I’m in zone 9. It gets hot in summer and there are below 0 nights in winter. Would the worms live in those temperatures?
If you still need a reply to that, I found this other video of Rhonda a few years back talking about this subject in even more detail in a lecture. Have a look, it is even better lol th-cam.com/video/Kt10sBtDfNg/w-d-xo.html
zi started 3 beds according to all I had learned but the worms moved out fast. I think it was just too hot (Florida) and I kept the bins in the shade but still - I felt so bad that I finally dumped them in my cold compost heap and they have lived there ever since. We are all happy and I take my garden scraps and kitchen scraps out and bury them every other day. No smell ever. Plenty of worms. I just wish I could harvest poop since I buy it from the store for my greenstalks and garden. Any instructions on keeping worms cooled?
@@ericcarve4476 Of all the TH-cam videos, the common names are Red wigglers, Red tigers, African nightcrawlers, and European nightcrawlers. the funny thing is, they are the same names here in Australia as in America, I'm not a scientist, just interested in the common names so I can compare what I am doing to other people
Thank you very much for sharing all this information! I do have a question about the leachate part: you shouldn't use that because you might have pathogens in the bin. But you will use the vermicompost, won't the pathogens be in that aswell then?
My question is if there's bad stuff coming out Won't the bad stuff be in the compost Also what amount of food to add per day/week Thanks again South Africa
At 3:58 you speak of "California red worm" Ok, so all these names for same worm. But could a worm from one area bring different microbial life that the same species of worm from another area wouldn't but have it's or "gut life". I ask this because of Terroir and the concept that the soil life is what makes some things like Wine and cannabis distinct to a specific area. ei: Champagne france. Same grape seed take and grown elsewhere will not be that same.
Distinction by regionality is usually due to human cultivation of a specific species (breeding programs for same yield of desired features/ results in taste and texture). By the worms' digestion or gut microbiome encourage healthier plant productivity, but have no impact on taste albeit indirectly through aerating the soil and /or providing the compost which has nutrients mixed in through its castings.
Ok, if your worried about the liquid containing pathogens wouldn't you have to be just as worried about the actual compost itself containing pathogens? Meaning if the liquid is bad so is the compost, right? And how will you know something like that anyways without testing it? I just think that seems kind of redundant. If the liquid has pathogens it's only because the actual compost had pathogens. At Wich point even if you don't use the liquid when you use the compost there could be pathogens in it! Idk maybe I'm wrong, but it seems kind of logical......
I’m no expert but the explanations I have heard that are more detailed say that basically the bacteria that tends to be harmful to your plants tends to be anaerobic, whereas the bacteria that benefits soil life & your plants is aerobic. Making aerated worm tea is to exponentially increase the #’s of aerobic / beneficial bacteria present. The anaerobic bacteria also tends to smell really bad which she made a slight reference to calling the leachate liquid stinky.
When I heard that Rhonda would be visiting Amsterdam for a few days last summer, I just send her an email with an invitation to do a video-interview in my studio in Amsterdam for my permaculture YT-channel. She agreed and a week later we were doing the interview. Throughout the process Rhonda has been very helpful, cooperative and professional.
Much ado about nothing! You could boil your leachate for 10-12 minutes to neutralize harmful bacteria, could you not? pH too high or too low? Use strips to determine pH and adjust accordingly using household products. Don't waste your leachate people!
If you liked this video there is also one where she speaks about mid to large vermicomposting, very worth the watch.
Seconding this - both videos are full of great information about raising, feeding, and breeding worms. Rhonda's book is a must-have for anyone who is interested in vermicomposting.
OMG! The best worm education for beginners. Thank you!
This is a college level lecture on vermicompost! Wish I had more teachers like this in my college biology courses. Keep up the great work!
I totally agree! Pity that this video pops up so late while i searched the knowledge about composting with my worms. Happy i found it though.
Thanks, best video on vermicomposting ever
Saved you in my little black book for helping happy plants
Walking worm encyclopedia! Thank you for valuable vermicomposting!
I am used to vermacomposting since at least 40 years.
I have earth worms in ALL the pots on the balconies in Rome and the garden in my country house is full of earth worms.
I started with no more than 20 worms a friend gave me and I put in a large strutture full of leaves, cut grass, vegetables parts discarded from the kitchen.
Every time I fill a new pot I always add three worms I take from the large pot I use for composting or from other pot and everytime I empty the pot (i.e. because there were bulbs) I found a lot of worms.
The only way to "kill" them is to dry the soil and they try to escape
ROMA
@@VTBC and then?
You have beautifully explained everything,ma'am . Thanks a lot!🙏
This is one of the most valuable vermicomposting videos here. Thank you, my worms will be happy with your advices. Hopefully i'll get a good compost within a coupkle of months. Thank you
Thank you for putting that in clear, concise layman terms.
Very interesting content. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experiences in the field.
Great Job well done ....precise and upto point explanation : Ihsan from Jordan
I really enjoyed hearing you share your earthworm knowledge. Thank you.
Thank you so much Rhonda! This is so needed!❤
I recently brought "Tigerworms" to my kitchengarden and compostbins
that's was such a beautiful speech... thanks
My worm bin is 36 inches deep and turns hot when I first fill it and wet it down. In a couple weeks it cools down and then I add the worms. It does very well.
Great information.
As a child we always raised worms ( night crawlers) for fishing and composting. We would go out on rainy night's with. Flashlights and gather up as many as we could.
Had a container, a wooden box about 11inches deep with straw/ hay base well moistened soil and add coffee grounds and veggie scraps.
One or two nights of harvesting would provide enough for the entire year plus add additional to put back before ground froze.
People don't think about them much ,but pretty interesting critters.
From my understanding they aren't even native to north America at least the North East.
It's great to hear such information about something not many people think about. Marine worms used to be a multi million dollar industry here as well.
Sand worms going from 3 to 6 cents apiece ranging from 6 inches to almost 3ft in length to blood worms from 8 to 10 cents.
Small towns would line the street's of boxes stacked head high awaiting the greyhound bus lines to ship south.
Some 40 to 50 years ago. Overharvesting and demand has quashed the industry.
It's back breaking work and few have the will to put the effort in.
In 40 to 50 years I don't think diggers get but a few more cents per worm.
I ramble. Great Video 👍👍
I have been tinkering with the idea of vermicomposting for a few years but hadn't found anything nearly as informative as this. Huge thank you for this video! This took a lot of the mystery out of it. The only questions I have left would be with reproduction and how often you would divide the worm colony to prevent over population in the bin.
Reproduction can be made to happen with some cracked in half egg shells and I add a little potato peel and corn meal into it. Many will crawl in and eat and the eggshell is a needed space where they will reproduce.
Very helpful Rhonda. Thank you 🙏🏻
Very educational Thxs to fiddle for worms is easy in the woods cut small saplings then start rubbing the sapling with a flat board a hammer as long as you make a thumping sound they think it’s thunder they come out some get up to 1-0 long
Thank you very much. Very informative
This is great. I made so many errors when I started. Begin again.
Juno,Just Brilliant Video I Love It ❤❤❤All The Way From County Durham England 👏👏👏👏
Thank you. Very helpful and interesting ❤
Regarding the contamination - if there is E cola in the tea, wouldn't it be in the castings as well? Wouldn't that mean the entire bin is contaminated?
Love your program, thank you.31/7/24
💚👍great information, Thank you.
e fetida work well in my outdoor bin in Michigan.
I have seen your book and several videos, but pure E. fedita is no longer available in Europe (the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France). I have received E. hortensis from several commercial companies, depending on their story. Also an excellent compost worm, but with a completely different breeding program. The problem is (among other things) that breeding and/or manure feeding takes place outdoors. The hortensis (also in the mix) appears to be the winner here. If you can help me with an address for pure E. fedita, please do!!! In the meantime, we have to search for these one by one in the 💩
I've just received 2 worms from a scientist that breeds E. fetida at the university for scientific purposes. I could share a few after they multiply and I don't kill them in the meantime. Poland.
Do you think that adding biochar to the food scraps or to the soil is beneficial for the worms ?
Do you think that ENC is a good composting worm, and would you raise them instead of the red wriggler worm? Thank you for your advice!
Wow this came at a good time! I've had 2 black bins with yellow lids ( from costco) holding my worms now for 9 months! Im very patient I guess. They eat everything I give them, no leache comes out the bottom. When I dig to check on them they are usually in a huge bundle all together? Eating something.. do you think they are too cold? They are in the 3rd bedroom at 65 to 68 degrees. I used to keep the lids on but they crawl up in the lid! Someone said they are unhappy when they are trying to escape.. but I took the lids off because the dont like the light. It works. The only thing is when I go to get the worm castings out this spring, I doubt there are more than( 2) 5 gallon buckets full of compost. And although it might be great fertilizer its is very little and I dont know which plants to put the compost on. 🙆♀️ maybe its just too much bother for a small amount after 9 months. I dont have a nice warm shed somewhere to keep them in, but I wish I did. Like a worm composting shed for 50 bins! Ha.
I am using 1 of those black & yellow Costco bins. They are about 2’ long & 27 gallon total capacity for those that don’t know. Anyway you could research making aerated tea with your castings. It only takes a big handful of castings for a 5 gal bucket of aerated tea & you can use it to water everything thereby getting additional value from your limited but fresh castings. I’m a total newbie personally but I’ve watched many videos.
Thank you for the informative video! Do you or anyone else here happen to know how to get rid of Sap Beetles in my worm bin? Last year, I fed my worms a bunch of Jack Fruit and before I knew it, my bin was infected with tons of these beetles that I had never seen before. I didn't suspect the Jack Fruit at the time, but now I'm pretty certain that that's where they came from. Any ideas on how to get rid of them completely, because I can't use my worm castings now, as I'm afraid that the beetles will take over my garden, as they like fruit, tomatoes, etc.
Rhonda, that was incredibly informative. Thank you so very much indeed. One thing I'd like to know is the temperature I can keep them in. Will they survive the south British winter outdoors in a shed? Do I have to bring them in... I don't yet have a worm composter, but I do want to try it out.
Fabulous presentation! Thank you so much. I only have one question though. What temperature range should I keep for the bin? I’m in zone 9. It gets hot in summer and there are below 0 nights in winter. Would the worms live in those temperatures?
If you still need a reply to that, I found this other video of Rhonda a few years back talking about this subject in even more detail in a lecture. Have a look, it is even better lol
th-cam.com/video/Kt10sBtDfNg/w-d-xo.html
@@charliebrown9188 Thank you! (I also wanted to know)
zi started 3 beds according to all I had learned but the worms moved out fast. I think it was just too hot (Florida) and I kept the bins in the shade but still - I felt so bad that I finally dumped them in my cold compost heap and they have lived there ever since. We are all happy and I take my garden scraps and kitchen scraps out and bury them every other day. No smell ever. Plenty of worms. I just wish I could harvest poop since I buy it from the store for my greenstalks and garden. Any instructions on keeping worms cooled?
Have you seen videos on using a wicking / self-watering bin for worms? Texas heat, keeps the worms moist and cool.
Muito bom
would appreciate the common names for worms, i'm new to worm farming.
Man, you are new, she used common names, they were even in text at the bottom of the screen, and you need to know the scientific names anyhoo
Rhonda mentioned that common names are different in different parts of the world. It is best to try to use scientific name.
@@ericcarve4476 Of all the TH-cam videos, the common names are Red wigglers, Red tigers, African nightcrawlers, and European nightcrawlers. the funny thing is, they are the same names here in Australia as in America, I'm not a scientist, just interested in the common names so I can compare what I am doing to other people
The so-called scientific name is actually the Latin name - as in humans being called homosapiens.
What should we do with leachate?
Thank you very much for sharing all this information! I do have a question about the leachate part: you shouldn't use that because you might have pathogens in the bin. But you will use the vermicompost, won't the pathogens be in that aswell then?
Thanks for the information. I like to do thr migration onr for harvesting.
what about reproduction how do you deal with that
Californication worms 🤣😅🤣 that was funny
I wish they all could be califournia ,,,,,,,
?? Worms don't drown but have to breathe so when it rains they follow the water??
My question is if there's bad stuff coming out
Won't the bad stuff be in the compost
Also what amount of food to add per day/week
Thanks again
South Africa
Re. Food amounts I have heard from videos to watch your bin & feed only as much as will be completely eaten in 1 week.
Actually, what they mean when they say Californian Hybrid is Eisenia andrei.
Spread your worms my friend s
At 3:58 you speak of "California red worm"
Ok, so all these names for same worm. But could a worm from one area bring different microbial life that the same species of worm from another area wouldn't but have it's or "gut life".
I ask this because of Terroir and the concept that the soil life is what makes some things like Wine and cannabis distinct to a specific area. ei: Champagne france. Same grape seed take and grown elsewhere will not be that same.
Distinction by regionality is usually due to human cultivation of a specific species (breeding programs for same yield of desired features/ results in taste and texture). By the worms' digestion or gut microbiome encourage healthier plant productivity, but have no impact on taste albeit indirectly through aerating the soil and /or providing the compost which has nutrients mixed in through its castings.
Ok, if your worried about the liquid containing pathogens wouldn't you have to be just as worried about the actual compost itself containing pathogens? Meaning if the liquid is bad so is the compost, right? And how will you know something like that anyways without testing it? I just think that seems kind of redundant. If the liquid has pathogens it's only because the actual compost had pathogens. At Wich point even if you don't use the liquid when you use the compost there could be pathogens in it! Idk maybe I'm wrong, but it seems kind of logical......
I’m no expert but the explanations I have heard that are more detailed say that basically the bacteria that tends to be harmful to your plants tends to be anaerobic, whereas the bacteria that benefits soil life & your plants is aerobic. Making aerated worm tea is to exponentially increase the #’s of aerobic / beneficial bacteria present. The anaerobic bacteria also tends to smell really bad which she made a slight reference to calling the leachate liquid stinky.
So how did this interviewer get Rhonda to sit in on this sort of interview?
When I heard that Rhonda would be visiting Amsterdam for a few days last summer, I just send her an email with an invitation to do a video-interview in my studio in Amsterdam for my permaculture YT-channel. She agreed and a week later we were doing the interview. Throughout the process Rhonda has been very helpful, cooperative and professional.
@@Permades smart idea, she is always so helpful and informative. Thanks for bringing that to us!
We need your contact please
Much ado about nothing! You could boil your leachate for 10-12 minutes to neutralize harmful bacteria, could you not? pH too high or too low? Use strips to determine pH and adjust accordingly using household products. Don't waste your leachate people!
8:40 plastic? NO!!