Raising worms is lots of fun and challenging as well. Most folks that would be interested in worms wouldn't do it at the scale of Matt's operation but many gardeners raise worms these days and even at a scale of a few hundred pound of casting a year would do wonders for a most gardens. That's me a small-time operator that loves growing food. Last year I did near 150 lbs of casting, this year I am shoot for 500 lbs. I love Matt's wheat grass mats, I've tried pea mats and now I am growing a daikon radish mat. What a great way to feed worms and I just can't imagine my garden without them. There is a lot to learn from Mat, so whatever scale you pursue, only good things can come of it. Thank you Mat, one of the best worm guys out there. Oh, and don't think you'll really ever get to the point where you have to enough castings.
I agree with all you’re saying. I’m older as well, love worm farming and sell Worms and Castings locally. I raise red Wigglers, European Night Crawlers, African Night Crawlers, and Louisiana Swamp Worms. Thanks for sharing your process and experience.
Great content. I got tired of paying $5 dollars for 30 redworms when I fish. So, started looking up how to raise the worms. I had no clue how deep the process goes and it's amazing me so far. Thank you for the book recommendations and your informative videos.
I have African Nightcrawlers and they have the same habit as European Nightcrawlers. They are tropical and need 65-70 degrees. Canadian Nightcrawlers require 55 degrees or less. In my outdoor worm bins I have Canadian Nightcrawlers that infiltrated and leave as surface temperature gets hot.
Woohoo!! Lots of information - well done!! It looks like a great family affair as well🤗 Thank you gentlemen - I will definitely have more questions coming up 💁
I have worms for the garden. I put them into square buckets and feed them veg scraps, egg shells and coffee grinds. I start out a new bucket every 3 months with leaves and layer with peat moss. What do you layer your new bins with? Love your wheat grass idea, Im starting that this week.
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. It's very encouraging to watch you working with the young folks! I'm just starting to raise worms and learned more from a couple of your videos than all the other info combined I've seen so far. Keep up the good work!
I love your channel,and I have a ? Can I use the pigeon droppings in the worm beds. I have around 55 pigeons and get about 1 1/2 gallons of droppings each day.Thanks Capt Matt
Just built my first 2x8 bin in westfield wi. Your videos are not only a helpful tool but a true inspiration. Thank you and please keep them comin. Could you do a video on marketing? How did you go from a garage full of castings to cash in hand?
Listening loud and clear from Adelaide, South Australia captain! Love your enthusiasm legend! Keep ‘em coming, time for Jude to step up and make the million dollar worm business
Thank You for answering my question. I live in Missouri and I want to start a worm farm for casting for my garden. I’ll have to ask more questions so I can do it correctly.
Hello Captain Matt thanks for sharing your knowledge I am so grateful - could you tell me why you don't use the 80 breeder buckets anymore? :) Thank you
Hi - Bryan here from Atlantic Canada and I am a beginner wormer. We have cold winters up here but I have an insulated but not heated garage. I had a compost bin outside that had a few worms in it and they seem to do ok. My inside bins had gnats so I'd prefer they stay outside too. How cold can it get before the worms start to die off?
I make my own castings . I am addicted to worms ! I love to garden and only use the castings and worm casting tea as fertilizer. I , like you, am getting up in years and wish I had started 25 to 30 years ago . I could have had a business but now I don't I am older and just don't want to spend all day, everyday , working in the wormery .
Hi! I love your videos and think they are super informative. I am just starting my worm farm in my garage. I live in Colorado. Would you be able to provide information about start up- Setting up LLC, business licenses, permitting etc. Basically all the back end business processes. It would be helpful to explore to see if it is a viable business option.
Does the wheat grass have to die and break down before the worms get into it? I would think so. And do you move it in that direction before feeding it to them? TY
Hello Maria... I'd recommend visiting a feed/agricultural supply store and experiment with various sprouting grains - wheat, oats, and more can be sprouted and is priced best from that source. In some of my wheatgrass videos (here's one th-cam.com/video/vC2UAbgpTV0/w-d-xo.html) I link to Amazon sources - but the pricing is not as good as a feed/farm store. Here's a video on making worm chow th-cam.com/video/Mk2_6JyXNe4/w-d-xo.html
I am new at keeping worms - I've been told they eat the microbes on the decaying veg matter - not the matter itself - but look at your wheat grass mats!!!! I'll have to try that.
Lots of hard work and mistakes, Be cool! Stay tuned, we’re going to share our design templates soon in the Worm People newsletter wormpeople.com/subscribe/
I'm 30 and could use another source of income. This seems like a good idea for me since there's a realitive low start up cost and it won't take alot of my time to maintain. AM I RIGHT ON THOSE POINTS? Also this could be a simple YES or NO but does the Captain make over $1000/mth doing this? Thank you for all your content. I went from knowing nothing to feeling I could start a bin for my garden.
This video, which is currently your latest video, has breeder bins in half 55 gallon barrels. A previous video you had 80 5 gallon buckets staged as breeding bins. Why the change?
Hey Eric I work the worms in 5 gallon containers in fall and winter when spring comes around I am too busy so I manage to keep up a needed #. of baby’s
Hey seek2find We did a in depth video about the sifter, there’s a link in the video description to the manufacturer th-cam.com/video/sN7XP70UcPw/w-d-xo.html The sifter was not cheap, but for me the decision was all about calculating time (and ache) saving into my investment/startup costs.
Right now, the money is in composting on mass scale. The no-till farmers just cannot make OR SOURCE enough. Regular compost as well as vermicompost is where the supply chain is lacking. It all meshes very well with the environmental concerns of the day and carbon capturing/sequestration. LOCAL PRODUCERS is where it's at. Local being generally classed as within 200 mile radius. The need and market is there, just no scale to support it.
That's quite the loss, Paul. You can always a small batch and build up your herd again! I have paid thousands of dollars in the tuition of life lessons as well. We're in good company!
Raising worms is lots of fun and challenging as well. Most folks that would be interested in worms wouldn't do it at the scale of Matt's operation but many gardeners raise worms these days and even at a scale of a few hundred pound of casting a year would do wonders for a most gardens. That's me a small-time operator that loves growing food. Last year I did near 150 lbs of casting, this year I am shoot for 500 lbs. I love Matt's wheat grass mats, I've tried pea mats and now I am growing a daikon radish mat. What a great way to feed worms and I just can't imagine my garden without them. There is a lot to learn from Mat, so whatever scale you pursue, only good things can come of it. Thank you Mat, one of the best worm guys out there. Oh, and don't think you'll really ever get to the point where you have to enough castings.
Right on ItsOpinion... it was all about the garden for me as well!
Your enthusiasm is so contagious! I just found your videos and have learned so much. I want to start my worm farm for my garden too.
I agree with all you’re saying. I’m older as well, love worm farming and sell Worms and Castings locally. I raise red Wigglers, European Night Crawlers, African Night Crawlers, and Louisiana Swamp Worms. Thanks for sharing your process and experience.
That is awesome! You're welcome!
Great content. I got tired of paying $5 dollars for 30 redworms when I fish. So, started looking up how to raise the worms. I had no clue how deep the process goes and it's amazing me so far. Thank you for the book recommendations and your informative videos.
Thank you guys 🙏
I already have worms but your videos have inspired me to step my worm game and try and take it to the next level. Thank you for your videos.
I have African Nightcrawlers and they have the same habit as European Nightcrawlers. They are tropical and need 65-70 degrees. Canadian Nightcrawlers require 55 degrees or less. In my outdoor worm bins I have Canadian Nightcrawlers that infiltrated and leave as surface temperature gets hot.
Woohoo!! Lots of information - well done!! It looks like a great family affair as well🤗
Thank you gentlemen - I will definitely have more questions coming up 💁
Wonderful thank you again ...great questions too .
Love the father/son exchange! You guys obviously have a great relationship.
Thank yiu
Im scaling out an indoor vertical pilot here in Dallas area because of Capt. Matt. Ill update as i progress my proforma
Thanks
I feel a bit silly asking this question but could you do a short video raking the bottom? Showing how you catch what comes out? Thanks.
Hey Gavin... sorry this response took a while. Here’s a video that shows how I harvest the big red bin th-cam.com/video/UmBaUa3oIpY/w-d-xo.html
I have worms for the garden. I put them into square buckets and feed them veg scraps, egg shells and coffee grinds. I start out a new bucket every 3 months with leaves and layer with peat moss. What do you layer your new bins with? Love your wheat grass idea, Im starting that this week.
I’m intrigued! Have you incorporated biochar with your worm beds?
Love the Question and answer forum.
I'm glad there are people like you out there Captain!
Great speech, Thank You. As small worms farmer myself I can relate with everything you said
Thanks for chiming in so much. You're a wealth of knowledge and your sharing is inspiring.
Thank you!
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. It's very encouraging to watch you working with the young folks! I'm just starting to raise worms and learned more from a couple of your videos than all the other info combined I've seen so far. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for all your help.
You’re welcome, Louis!
Thanks for sharing this information with us.
You bet!
I love your channel,and I have a ? Can I use the pigeon droppings in the worm beds. I have around 55 pigeons and get about 1 1/2 gallons of droppings each day.Thanks Capt Matt
Interested in whether the spent brewing mash is good worm food
A great video. So many questions I wanted to know answered clearly. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
new sub newbie to worm composting, great video loads of great info for me thanks, captain.
So informative! Thank you for answering my question! I hope your channel grows really large, so you can have another bit of disposable income!
Thanks, BeardedFlannelMan! You're welcome!
Just built my first 2x8 bin in westfield wi. Your videos are not only a helpful tool but a true inspiration. Thank you and please keep them comin. Could you do a video on marketing? How did you go from a garage full of castings to cash in hand?
Awesome to hear, Morgan! That’s a good topic… we’ll look to talk about that.
What about the cold of winter if you're in New York? I'm in Pennsylvania but don't have a location for wintering the worms
Thank you for answering questions .
It's my pleasure
This is such a great video and the audio is fantastic here. FRANCHISE AGREEMENT!!! Funny! Sign me Up!
I love the way you industrialize everything
Coolest grandpa ever. ☺
Listening loud and clear from Adelaide, South Australia captain! Love your enthusiasm legend! Keep ‘em coming, time for Jude to step up and make the million dollar worm business
Thanks, James. He could do it!
Onya Bro...I'm near Gulgong nsw
Thank You for answering my question.
I live in Missouri and I want to start a worm farm for casting for my garden. I’ll have to ask more questions so I can do it correctly.
You're welcome! Glad we were able to!
Great info love learn u sell boxes
Thank you for sharing your knowledge...
Glad it was helpful!
thanks Capy......
Hello Captain Matt thanks for sharing your knowledge I am so grateful - could you tell me why you don't use the 80 breeder buckets anymore? :) Thank you
He explains it in another video that he is busy during the warmer seasons, and uses breeder buckets in the winter.
Hi - Bryan here from Atlantic Canada and I am a beginner wormer. We have cold winters up here but I have an insulated but not heated garage. I had a compost bin outside that had a few worms in it and they seem to do ok. My inside bins had gnats so I'd prefer they stay outside too. How cold can it get before the worms start to die off?
You should put a thermometer in the worm bin. Depending on your species of worms, they slow down at 40-50 and die at 30 deg F.
@@kap4020 - I have European night crawlers
Excellent information. Great way of sharing learning. Keep it up.
Thank you, I will
Captain can you glue countertop (formica) sheet material to the inside of your CONTROL FLOW BIN? no more pplastic to worry about
I make my own castings . I am addicted to worms ! I love to garden and only use the castings and worm casting tea as fertilizer. I , like you, am getting up in years and wish I had started 25 to 30 years ago . I could have had a business but now I don't I am older and just don't want to spend all day, everyday , working in the wormery .
Good! Do what you love doing. Life is short, even when you are eighty!
@@hal7ter 💙
Hi! I love your videos and think they are super informative. I am just starting my worm farm in my garage. I live in Colorado. Would you be able to provide information about start up- Setting up LLC, business licenses, permitting etc. Basically all the back end business processes. It would be helpful to explore to see if it is a viable business option.
Did you build or buy your big red worm beds? Are there plans on the internet?
Have you considered (and thereby rejected) a "Soaker Hose" to maintain steady moister?
Great question, I'm just starting and am using a timed soaker hose on my bin.
Does the wheat grass have to die and break down before the worms get into it? I would think so. And do you move it in that direction before feeding it to them? TY
Hi Patty… I just flip the pad over which starts the breakdown and the worms are on it.
Hello Mr Captain Matt, would you be willing to share the link to purchase wheat grass grain in bulk? And what’s the process to make it for worm feed?
Hello Maria... I'd recommend visiting a feed/agricultural supply store and experiment with various sprouting grains - wheat, oats, and more can be sprouted and is priced best from that source. In some of my wheatgrass videos (here's one th-cam.com/video/vC2UAbgpTV0/w-d-xo.html) I link to Amazon sources - but the pricing is not as good as a feed/farm store. Here's a video on making worm chow th-cam.com/video/Mk2_6JyXNe4/w-d-xo.html
Where did your bolt bin worms go?
I am new at keeping worms - I've been told they eat the microbes on the decaying veg matter - not the matter itself - but look at your wheat grass mats!!!! I'll have to try that.
Hey Emma! They key is flipping the grass mats upside down to jumpstart decomposition for the worms.
How did you get the packaging set up? Love your channel!
Lots of hard work and mistakes, Be cool! Stay tuned, we’re going to share our design templates soon in the Worm People newsletter wormpeople.com/subscribe/
23:08
The worm migration due to a low pressure system is a feature found in the Indian blue worm.
th-cam.com/video/UoUbYqpHm-M/w-d-xo.html
What is the sheet material that you use to cover your beds?
Do you have sort of IPM(Integrated Pest Management) system in place?
how are you doing feeding the wheat grass to the worms?
Good afternoon! I am getting into worm farming for a buisness and i just started my bins. Where and how did you secure your compost material?
I'm 30 and could use another source of income. This seems like a good idea for me since there's a realitive low start up cost and it won't take alot of my time to maintain. AM I RIGHT ON THOSE POINTS? Also this could be a simple YES or NO but does the Captain make over $1000/mth doing this? Thank you for all your content. I went from knowing nothing to feeling I could start a bin for my garden.
It's hard work... and sales are seasonal. $12k a year is do-able... but to do so at scale requires some investment in equipment.
As a senior, I have to consciously "refocus" my eyes to see cocoons.
Where do you get all the stuff to feed your worms? I have been trying to get some free mulch to start composting it.
Hey Dave... Thanks for asking. We just discussed this topic in “Just Worming Up - Episode 2” th-cam.com/video/gc4OhiT1F0Y/w-d-xo.html
Sorry if I missed it but what’s an ideal temp range for breeding/growing?
Watch it again - he gives temps for various worms - it's in there.
Is that an Asian jumping worm at 33:37 ? Do you have any problems with those?
This video, which is currently your latest video, has breeder bins in half 55 gallon barrels. A previous video you had 80 5 gallon buckets staged as breeding bins. Why the change?
Hey Eric
I work the worms in 5 gallon containers in fall and winter when spring comes around I am too busy so I manage to keep up a needed #. of baby’s
@@CaptainMattsWorms Ah! Makes sense sir! thanks for the great content.
What do you use as bedding?
Leaf compost and wood chip mix
@@CaptainMattsWorms thanks captain Matt, have a blessed day.
Definitely thinking about trying them this year 🤔 and 💯 loving the raising worms
Jude is a good grandson
I can't wait to find out how to get/make one of those sifters!!!
Hey seek2find We did a in depth video about the sifter, there’s a link in the video description to the manufacturer th-cam.com/video/sN7XP70UcPw/w-d-xo.html The sifter was not cheap, but for me the decision was all about calculating time (and ache) saving into my investment/startup costs.
If you wrote a book I would probably buy it and read it. Just saying
Right now, the money is in composting on mass scale. The no-till farmers just cannot make OR SOURCE enough. Regular compost as well as vermicompost is where the supply chain is lacking. It all meshes very well with the environmental concerns of the day and carbon capturing/sequestration. LOCAL PRODUCERS is where it's at. Local being generally classed as within 200 mile radius. The need and market is there, just no scale to support it.
Ahh...shit....Now I know why the night crawlers I had in outside beds are Gone....flooding rain here...thought they died....$2000 down the drain...😫😥
That's quite the loss, Paul. You can always a small batch and build up your herd again! I have paid thousands of dollars in the tuition of life lessons as well. We're in good company!
You have 5 types of Aerobic Bacteria that protects the worms inside & out side of it!~
was that a mistake, or do the worms truly live seven to twelve years ??
did you mean months maybe ?
They do live for years!
@@CaptainMattsWorms cool! Good to know. thanks!
Deep South homestead
Missing you are you OK?
He sells the breeder bucket bedding, it's nowhere near as good as the good stuff he uses for himself.
I raise worms as well and I just watched a video on a person raising tiger worms 🪱