Here in Arizona many people view Vermicompost as an Intangible. That is to say that they are leery of it. Now flash forward. My friend sells starter plants at a local swap meet and has yet to bring even ONE home. He sells out. Take some hot composted manure. Add worm castings (I started him out) and add seeds and a little amendments and gets $3 for them as 5 in. high plants. He doesn't have 50 cents in them each but makes over $200 every week-end. WHY? Because people will OVERPAY for results rather than do a little work.
I have 7 bathtubs in my garage all I do is put a 2 inch layer of ph adjusted peat add 3 inches of leaves and add my nightcrawlers and only feed leaves and a very small amount of scraps and adding oister shell for grit i use africsn nightcrawlers since I live in arizona
That’s right. You got the point, people would rather pay more money than to do some works themselves. That’s how business serve our society. Well done, great point of view:)
Tbf, if you start at smallest scale, it costs more. Some people don't want to spend more money and time to just have one baby plant, nurturing compost worm until there is sufficient amount of casting for the business, driving around finding a pile of organic heat treated cow manure... That's just how business work. It's not overpaying IMO. They're paying for your friend work, however easy you think it is.
This is an excellent overview of the VC business!!! There are so many great options to pursue, but managed expectations are essential! (: Just wanted to add that if someone includes a small worm breeding plan to the VC production, that can really up the profitability. The two are really different businesses, but on a small scale they can easily be combined.
I have medical problems that stops me from starting a business but for someone young and energetic, there is great potential in vermicomposting. Great video, keep them coming.
I’m personally doing it for 2 reasons, one for my garden and herein Finland noone knows what worm castings are So theyre very hard to find, and two i live in a place that doesnt have a local supplier for fishing worms, which is why i chose the european nc. Thanks for the video, subscribed and liked.
You got it Timothy. I'm probably going to do more content on the business end of vermicomposting soon. I've got some pretty strong thoughts and think it's NOT what people think it's cracked up to be.
@@UrbanWormCompany 😁😂. To buy directly from your site the best option to go if buying from Michigan? I ordered from B.A.S so support his company, cause he’s how I found out about it. But then start d following you.
do you know of any outfits that are vertically integrating worm composting? Meaning that, they spend an inordinate amount of time on worm composting, but it is to support a grow operation of some type, which is producing the product they actually monetize? Or even a soil restoration service, that grows their own worms, just to control the quality of the castings or tea, but their paid product is soil amendment and restoration (conversion) to organic lawns, or landscaping, etc.?
I can't name any, but that is viable and advisable. If i were a nursery with space, for example, I would integrate it for sure in producing my own growing media/potting mixes. If I then offered planting service of my plants, teas and soil mixes would be sold into the process as well. Worms are naturally part of a vertically integrated system we call an ecosystem. As humans, we copy nature all the time, and we are also part of nature. Vertical integration for commercial purposes is just another way of keeping score for how we copy nature....we produce a yield. Are you doing anything with worms or growing things?
Talking with my kiddo (6yo) about investing and in a suburban environment this is about the only “livestock” option. Seems like funding Lego sets might be a reasonable ask from a worm farm.
I really like your video. I was thinking about selling to a larger worm farming company or say to a vineyard. Would it help to visit, say a gardening company, to ask them if they want to buy my worms/casts? Do bigger companies buy from smaller ones?
Hi Tamara, Bigger companies do buy from smaller companies I'm sure. However, as a small business, your costs will be relatively high so you'll want to sell directly to the end customer whenever you can. Resellers are going to need to buy your castings at a price that you will likely be unhappy with.
That would be an excellent public service but very laborious and time-consuming. Wonderful from an environmental perspective (if you can recycle the pods), but a tough business call.
Hey Michele! A 16-ft continuous flow bin makes about half a cubic yard per week (or at least that's what we were making). Depending on how finely you screen and how much coarse material is in your harvest that can get reduced significantly if you're looking for a screened product. I think it would be tough to be profitable on castings alone with a single 16-ft CFT. The labor can be fairly minimal (about 4 man hours per week) but you need a trommel for screening and you need to pay for packaging even if you're only using sandbags. There are lots of hidden costs even if you're using an efficient system like a CFT.
I am from ethiopia i am a coffee processing officer and a natural resource exepert i am intersted to vist your production center of vermicopost from coffee hask to mack many would you sand to me the invitation peoper please thanks
how are worms evil? I have never heard that. Maybe the black fly larva union is putting out propaganda? But seriously, how are they evil? And what do those people say about honey bees?
@@CuriousEarthMan They are an invasive species in North America. And they dramatically change the ecology of the soil compared to how it used to be. I'm not picking sides, but just FYI.
@@fredygump5578 Thank you. I have heard this before, that Eisenia Foetida are invasive and while they have a huge appetite which makes them productive composters, they can damage plants and ecosystems. I wonder how wide-spread they are by now? I am looking for other varieties to be aware of my options. I think people can check through their county cooperative extension service, which is part of the USDA and their state's Land Grant college working together. I think in a book called 1491, which I think talks about changes Europeans brought when they came to the U.S., I think a bunch of things are mentioned (I haven't read the book, but it sounds interesting) Thanks for reminding me about the invasive nature of commonly and commercially used worms!
Great video thanks for the info. A tip for you take the monitor away so your gaze doesn't get pulled to it or wear sunglasses its a little irritating to some people.
NO. People, or animals or imaginary spirits ASK YOU QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME. You don't "GET ASKED" questions. Want to come off as an authority? Try a second grade English class.
@@UrbanWormCompany I am "nice." BUT, I'm not about to follow the advice of people who have no command of the language they use to gain attention. Grow up. pretend to be an adult with background, understanding, and the willingness to accept resonsibility for what, and how, they communicate. Then, I might accept something you say. It's you're responsibility to present. It's not up to me to translate.
@@UrbanWormCompany It's not my problem. I just don't believe anything you say, since a working mind would be able to express information in a reasonably sophisticated manor. Why would I think you have a clue about soil biology if you go to the pronoun zoo when you attempt to form a compound sentence?
Here in Arizona many people view Vermicompost as an Intangible. That is to say that they are leery of it. Now flash forward. My friend sells starter plants at a local swap meet and has yet to bring even ONE home. He sells out. Take some hot composted manure. Add worm castings (I started him out) and add seeds and a little amendments and gets $3 for them as 5 in. high plants. He doesn't have 50 cents in them each but makes over $200 every week-end. WHY? Because people will OVERPAY for results rather than do a little work.
I have 7 bathtubs in my garage all I do is put a 2 inch layer of ph adjusted peat add 3 inches of leaves and add my nightcrawlers and only feed leaves and a very small amount of scraps and adding oister shell for grit i use africsn nightcrawlers since I live in arizona
@Nikolas Atlas alr obviously a vorus
That’s right. You got the point, people would rather pay more money than to do some works themselves. That’s how business serve our society. Well done, great point of view:)
Tbf, if you start at smallest scale, it costs more. Some people don't want to spend more money and time to just have one baby plant, nurturing compost worm until there is sufficient amount of casting for the business, driving around finding a pile of organic heat treated cow manure... That's just how business work. It's not overpaying IMO. They're paying for your friend work, however easy you think it is.
This is an excellent overview of the VC business!!! There are so many great options to pursue, but managed expectations are essential! (: Just wanted to add that if someone includes a small worm breeding plan to the VC production, that can really up the profitability. The two are really different businesses, but on a small scale they can easily be combined.
I have medical problems that stops me from starting a business but for someone young and energetic, there is great potential in vermicomposting. Great video, keep them coming.
You got it Wally! Thanks so much!
I’m personally doing it for 2 reasons, one for my garden and herein Finland noone knows what worm castings are So theyre very hard to find, and two i live in a place that doesnt have a local supplier for fishing worms, which is why i chose the european nc. Thanks for the video, subscribed and liked.
Great realistic Intel. Great presentation. Thank you.
thank you for providing the managed expectations. When ever I look into this, I keep getting get rich quick style articles.
You got it Timothy. I'm probably going to do more content on the business end of vermicomposting soon. I've got some pretty strong thoughts and think it's NOT what people think it's cracked up to be.
@@UrbanWormCompany I'd love to see why it's not what it's cracked up to be!
Tough topic.
Very well presented
Thank you.
Thanks Typo!
THX
THE INFO YOU PROVIDED IS BLACK GOLD.
MIAMI FL.
Thank you for sharing. This is excellent information.
VERY GOOD Vid , thank you for the Info and " keeping it real "
Great video, I’m looking to start this in Iowa
Good luck! :)
Very informative, thank you.
Thanks for this wealth of information.
You got it David!
How long does it usually take to harvest your first castings? From a new bin. Love the vids great job! Thx.
Great video ❤😊 ! Keep them coming!
Thanks Lance! Lots more videos published since this one. Thanks for the kind words!
Very informative , thankyou, greetings from germany
How long are water fertilizers good for? Tea shelf life? and are they still good, nutrient wise, after a while? and how long?
He answered that question. Make the tea as you go
I apply within an hour. You can add some sugars to it to extend it- but this is tricky and it’s easier just to apply it ASAP
Thank you for making the worm bag, just got my first one, looking to have 5 or 6 in total. 😁
I endorse these plans! 😄
@@UrbanWormCompany 😁😂. To buy directly from your site the best option to go if buying from Michigan? I ordered from B.A.S so support his company, cause he’s how I found out about it. But then start d following you.
Some of your followers are Egyptians too :) .. Great video .. thanks
Ha! Thanks Nasser!
مصر ام الدنيا وحتبقى قد الدنيا . بس يغور العسكر
do you know of any outfits that are vertically integrating worm composting? Meaning that, they spend an inordinate amount of time on worm composting, but it is to support a grow operation of some type, which is producing the product they actually monetize? Or even a soil restoration service, that grows their own worms, just to control the quality of the castings or tea, but their paid product is soil amendment and restoration (conversion) to organic lawns, or landscaping, etc.?
I can't name any, but that is viable and advisable. If i were a nursery with space, for example, I would integrate it for sure in producing my own growing media/potting mixes. If I then offered planting service of my plants, teas and soil mixes would be sold into the process as well. Worms are naturally part of a vertically integrated system we call an ecosystem. As humans, we copy nature all the time, and we are also part of nature. Vertical integration for commercial purposes is just another way of keeping score for how we copy nature....we produce a yield. Are you doing anything with worms or growing things?
Talking with my kiddo (6yo) about investing and in a suburban environment this is about the only “livestock” option. Seems like funding Lego sets might be a reasonable ask from a worm farm.
Yes.....this is a fairly low-maintenance livestock operation!
is possible in Victoria bc Canada ( Rainy weather )
What is your thoughts on stating some morels mushrooms in a bin i am starting. my bins are not so much for composting. Thanks.
I'm not sure, to be honest, Leo! What could it hurt?
great video, thanks
Thanks for the great video! Could we get in touch and shoot some emails back in fourth? Would love to have your opinion on certain things!
TOTALLY helpful! Thank you!
You got it Janine!
Kinda surprised you didn't really mention worm breeding/selling but I guess that's a whole nother thing
I really like your video. I was thinking about selling to a larger worm farming company or say to a vineyard. Would it help to visit, say a gardening company, to ask them if they want to buy my worms/casts? Do bigger companies buy from smaller ones?
Hi Tamara,
Bigger companies do buy from smaller companies I'm sure. However, as a small business, your costs will be relatively high so you'll want to sell directly to the end customer whenever you can. Resellers are going to need to buy your castings at a price that you will likely be unhappy with.
what about gathering up all the used K-Cups from people's Keurig Machines and dumping all the contents into worm farms? good idea?
That would be an excellent public service but very laborious and time-consuming. Wonderful from an environmental perspective (if you can recycle the pods), but a tough business call.
Very informative👍
Great Video!
That's true...I need to travel 30kms to get feed 4my worms...if I lived near town I'd just get ppl to dump it on the farm or charge sml fee..😊🇦🇺
How much for 16 feet continous process from michigan? What is profitability in the actal market
Hey Michele! A 16-ft continuous flow bin makes about half a cubic yard per week (or at least that's what we were making). Depending on how finely you screen and how much coarse material is in your harvest that can get reduced significantly if you're looking for a screened product. I think it would be tough to be profitable on castings alone with a single 16-ft CFT. The labor can be fairly minimal (about 4 man hours per week) but you need a trommel for screening and you need to pay for packaging even if you're only using sandbags. There are lots of hidden costs even if you're using an efficient system like a CFT.
one great food source for feed is basic yard waste and, food scraps from your neighborhood.mixed with good ole sand and native soil.
I am from ethiopia i am a coffee processing officer and a natural resource exepert i am intersted to vist your production center of vermicopost from coffee hask to mack many would you sand to me the invitation peoper please thanks
Hi there, we don't have a facility worth touring here in PA, I'm afraid!
One group of people says worms are evil. Other people say worms are amazing. Kind of hilarious.
how are worms evil? I have never heard that. Maybe the black fly larva union is putting out propaganda? But seriously, how are they evil? And what do those people say about honey bees?
@@CuriousEarthMan They are an invasive species in North America. And they dramatically change the ecology of the soil compared to how it used to be. I'm not picking sides, but just FYI.
@@fredygump5578 Thank you. I have heard this before, that Eisenia Foetida are invasive and while they have a huge appetite which makes them productive composters, they can damage plants and ecosystems. I wonder how wide-spread they are by now? I am looking for other varieties to be aware of my options. I think people can check through their county cooperative extension service, which is part of the USDA and their state's Land Grant college working together.
I think in a book called 1491, which I think talks about changes Europeans brought when they came to the U.S., I think a bunch of things are mentioned (I haven't read the book, but it sounds interesting)
Thanks for reminding me about the invasive nature of commonly and commercially used worms!
Great video thanks for the info. A tip for you take the monitor away so your gaze doesn't get pulled to it or wear sunglasses its a little irritating to some people.
Good luck making $ training folks on this - all the info anyone needs is here on TH-cam, and they don’t need to pay or travel.
Not sure how to respond. I'm not asking for $$$ to train folks! :)
Many people want in person classes and will pay for it.
“When things get back to normal” as we enter a third calendar year of lockdowns, masks, and mandates.
Raise the camera three inches, raise your lighting so you are not underlit, and lower your chin so you are eye to eye with the camera. Good content.
NO. People, or animals or imaginary spirits ASK YOU QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME. You don't "GET ASKED" questions. Want to come off as an authority? Try a second grade English class.
You seem nice! 😅
@@UrbanWormCompany I am "nice." BUT, I'm not about to follow the advice of people who have no command of the language they use to gain attention. Grow up. pretend to be an adult with background, understanding, and the willingness to accept resonsibility for what, and how, they communicate. Then, I might accept something you say. It's you're responsibility to present. It's not up to me to translate.
Wowsers. This has really gotten under your skin. Seek help.
@@UrbanWormCompany It's not my problem. I just don't believe anything you say, since a working mind would be able to express information in a reasonably sophisticated manor. Why would I think you have a clue about soil biology if you go to the pronoun zoo when you attempt to form a compound sentence?
Nice honest video . Some of us are Canadian though 🫥