Vermi-compost or worm castings?

[Mauldintiger]

Anyone using this? In research on the web I found them to be pretty expensive compared to other organic fertilizers and I don't have room to grow my own. One website was pretty good in explaining the benefits and he happened to be from SC, called him and he was about 15 minutes from my office and was willing to make a deal if I picked up 10 bags (they are about 20lbs. each) at one time. So I did and have been applying it with my cold season transplants and seeds as I planted them. He also said I could apply it with a drop spreader at 4 lbs per 100 sq. ft. but I just decided to put it in with the plants and seeds. To early to see a difference, but everything looks good right now.

 

[catjac1975]

When we we're young and first moved into our property my husband would go out at night worm hunting.He would use a bucket and flashlight and collect a bucket of worms. Rather gross to look at I must say, not that I dislike worms but all those wigglers together in a bucket.....He did this quite a few times and put them in our vegetable garden. We use a lot of mulch everywhere and always find a lot of worms. So I guess we do vermi-composting the large scale way. I have always read that it is one of the most effective way to garden.If you don't use a lot of chemicals on your property you should have a lot of worms and can encourage them with mulch and organics. I would definitely use the fertilizer that you are getting.

 

[Mauldintiger]

Thanks Cat, I don't till and use a heavy mulch of wheat straw and grass clippings and leaves. After just one year of this I can bury my trowel to the hilt and usually kill an earthworm when I put in a plant in one section of the garden. The largest portion I just started last spring so I primarily got the worm compost for that section, but, I am adding some to every transplant and direct sow I make regardless of where it's at. I guess I'll know how effective it it at harvest time.

 

[so lucky]

I had a couple of tubs of worms for about 3 years. They eventually just dwindled down to nothing. (actually a lot of them escaped out of the holes in the tubs into the basement) I found that the compost and their droppings were just too hard and water resistant, after it got somewhat dried out. It never got to that fine, soft look of the commercial stuff. But I made compost tea a few times, and did feel it was a good mild fertilizer.

 

[bobm]

For the last 2 years, I got ALL the lawn clippings from 4 neighbors that become up to 4" thick and worms , bacteria, mold, etc. partied like there was no tomorrow. Worms here, there, and everywhere . Great idea! Which in turn a resident mole from my yard gave a shout and a few dozen of his buddies came to snack on the worms, then they brought their girlfriends and the party really got going. Now mole hills on top of mole hills. Where is the exterminator when you need one as traps and the 3 neighborhood feral cats that live in the woodlot behind us don't seem to work ?

 

[bills]

Are moles edible I wonder? Since your breeding them anyway, maybe you could profit from them..lol ..might be alright when deep fried..

 

[seedcorn]

I know of nothing that will eat a mole. Must be vulture vile

 

[so lucky]

Surely skunks and possums eat moles..? I had never heard the term "vulture vile" but it's a good description of some things.
After the thunderstorms a couple of days ago, there were huge, nearly snake size night crawlers that came into our garage under the door. I gathered them up and gave them to the chickens, who ran from them.

 

[baymule]

Deep fried mole..... with a side order of battered deep fried grub worms and deep fried Oreo cookies for dessert! You might ne on to something. Could add it to the menu at the Roadkill Cafe. LOL

 

[seedcorn]

You can report back to us on deep fried mole....

No pix please..