Worms

[Dixana]

Can anyone tell me a good place to order worms that doesn't charge a fortune and the worms arrive ALIVE? I haven't had any since we moved this last December and I forgot them in the truck all day
I was going to order more from the wrom dude when they went on sale but we forgot and I'm hoping we can get them cheaper.

[cynthia_h]

I've GIVEN red wigglers to maybe six people this season and last. I offered to two more, but others had responded before I did.

These people made their requests on FreeCycle, and each one got a packed quart yogurt container filled with worm-dense vermicompost. They watched me as I packed their quart containers, so they could 1) see that there were lots of worms, 2) know the worms were alive and strong, and 3) see that there were adults, juveniles, and cocoons.

Maybe you can put a "Wanted" announcement in a local FreeCycle list?

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

[Dixana]

I've tried my four freecycle lists a handful of times and never heard anything back. I tried craigslist too. Not many people around here must have worms

[Anna63]

In my country we don't need to buy any worms, you just need the right soil and they come themselves

[Lunacy]

I have purchased worms twice from eBay sellers. They are not free but reasonable. If you go the eBay way may sure you check the shipping prices, their is a huge difference on how much suppliers charge.

[planter]

Are worms just not native everywhere or are people just getting a jump on their heaps or wormboxes. Are they not present in certain climates or areas and do different critters and such fill the void?

I guess I am lucky!! Just a little forking around the heap and I can feed every one of my fish till they can't jam anymore in their mouths..

I know you can buy worms in the back of every freshwater fishing magazine out there.. Outdoor Life or Field and Stream..

[cynthia_h]

There are earthworms, and then there are compost worms.

Most people who are looking for worms are looking for Eisenia foetida, the "red wigglers" of compost fame. These little guys live in compost and other litter. They cannot live in soil, so those of us without access to (usually) horse stables need to acquire them either from other gardeners who do vermicomposting or from garden-supply sources. They can be pricey, and you don't always get what you're paying for, esp. when shipping is tacked on.

Maybe this distinction is what's confusing some posters on this thread?

Cynthia

[planter]

Very cool cynthia..

I am guessing that the most common worms I dig out of the heap are in fact the red wigglers because the always seem to be at the edges of the pile in the more shallow leaf like material. mmm. Live and learn.

They are aptly named because do they WIGGLE alright when flipped over in a fork of compost but they sure seem to find a rapid exit heading straight back down. :

Is another attribute of the Reds is their ability to leave their tail behind when grabbed? It's a great defense mechanism when I'm gathering a few for the KOI.

So can I select different kinds of worms to work different stata of the soil? I know Nightcrawlers can operate a couple feet straight down in rather rough soil. Are there mid-range worms??

I guess worms have alot to offer in so many ways. I read once that the weight of worms in the world exceeds the weight of humans.

Red Wigglers are what they offer most often in the back of the fishing mags but they also mention African worm??? What ever that may be.

Where else can you talk about worms on a Sunday morning except here on HG..

dixana.. I'm gonna see what I can find for you as far as red wrigglers sold as bait and worm raising... Great episode on dirtiest job on worm farming.

[Dixana]

It's sad that I even know this.....but :
Red wigglers (Eisenia Fetida) are the smallest, most efficient compoting worm. They reproduce the fastest and tolerate a mid-range of temps before throwing cacoons and/or slowing their eating. European nightcrawlers (Eisenia Hotensis) are the second largest, an average sized worm. They are considered ideal for people looking for a composting worm thay easily tranfers to a decent fishing worm. Slightly more thick skinned than wigglers, still a good composter, but large enough to fish for bass and other mid-sized fish. They also tolerate a slightly cooler temperature before throwing cacoons. African nightcrawlers (Eudrillus Eugeniae) are the largest of the "composting worms". They can easily get longer than my hand, make fantastic fishing worms given their size, and tolerate heat well but not so much colder temps. They make decent composters.

[planter]

OK then.. Lets turn the piles and head out for a little fishing.. A nice mess of fish with summertime veggies just might work. Someones gotta bring the new potatoes!!!
Of course we will compost the leaftover fish and veggie scraps...

[Brand D NATURALS]

I got my red wigglers for only a couple of bucks per cup full from one of the local bait shops. I think I started with 2 or 3 cups full and had more than enough to get started. I guess maybe bait and tackle shops aren't plentiful everywhere like they are here in south georgia. The things we take for granted when we live our whole lives in one general area.

[Stella Blue]

I hate to admit it, but I got my red wigglers from Wal-mart today. Don't really like giving my money to big chains like that, but they had them there for $3/cup of 30 worms. I bought 3 cups thinking that would be enough to give my pile a boost. A word of advice, check inside before you purchase. Lucky for me I did, as 2 of the cups I checked had nothing but dirt in them.

[Dixana]

Well wth! Our Wal-mart and all of our 500 billion baitshops do not sell composting worms. Only things like canadian nightcrawlers (cold earth dwellers not composters) and leeches and minnows. I find this to be highly unfair.
I got a catalog today from Gardens Alive and they sell worms and I also noticed territorial seed does all well.
Has anyone ever ordered worms from either of these?
I might just break down and order from the worm dude. His $11 shipping kills me but I want one of his special worm bins anyway since I can't get instructions on how to make my own off my phone At least I know I'll get what I ordered on time and alive. -sigh-

[cynthia_h]

... I want one of his special worm bins anyway since I can't get instructions on how to make my own off my phone

Go to the library and check out Worms Eat My Garbage, by Mary Appelhof. She was (sadly, passed on in 2005) the founding mother of worm composting for the modern era. Her book has never been out of print since it was first published, and it contains plans for several kinds of worm boxes.

Gotta be cheaper than buying a fancy get-up. Your county/city/solid-waste provider doesn't discount worm bins, I take it?

Cynthia

[Dixana]

Nope no county worm bins for us. I made a worm "bin" and still have it but I either want or want to make a hanging basket thing for them. You can dump mass tons of garbage in them and it doesn't kill the worms.
My old neighbor had one and it was made of a strong fabric like a horse blanket or a backpack and hung in the kitchen closet out of the way. It has toggles on the bottom you open to release the castings and is just way easier than a traditional bin. Her worms processed a lot more food than mine too. There's instructions to make something similar on instructables but I can't access the site on my phone. I also don't know if I could find the material like that and have the skill to sew it as well so I think it will $70 well spent.