Worms in grow beds-good or bad

johnra

I am a little confused. I understand that red wigglers are best, but, if you used just any worm you found in the ground, would they work to improve the soil? I understand that one kind may be better than another.

Rickle

If you have a market for them then that is good.
Never hurts to try. :thumbleft:

Nanniode Aquaponics

Rickle wrote:

If you have a market for them then that is good.
Never hurts to try. :thumbleft:

Sure... I am still searching for a nice affordable worm bed.

SolTun

Hi NA
This might be helpful in your search http://members.shaw.ca/borealwormer/#sitelinks

cheers

Nanniode Aquaponics

SolTun wrote:

Hi NA
This might be helpful in your search http://members.shaw.ca/borealwormer/#sitelinks

cheers

Wow! Its very kind of you. Very helpful link.. that is handful stuff to read for a week or so.
Looks like getting ready for a new journey - composting with red worms in AP. :cheers:

Nanniode Aquaponics

Been reading the threads about the benefits of worm leachate.
Thinking of using diluted (1:3) worm leachate as a foliar spray... What’s the worst that’s going to happen?
I am also looking at the safest route - add molasses to the leachate, aerate for 24 hours before using it.

RupertofOZ

There's a difference between worm leachate... and worm tea... :wink:

Nanniode Aquaponics

http://www.worm-farm.co.za/worm-tea.html

They say, "The leachate can be used as a fertilizer and our worm farms have a tap fitted to the bottom bin which allows for easy leachate draining. Tap it off and dilute it 10:1 with water before adding it to your garden."

Rupert, I started raising worms in a soil less bed. Worm tea from castings is not an option here. So looking out for the other potential benefits of using leachate. Is anyone doing it?

MarkZ

Hi N.A.,

Just curious that if your worm bins are soil less where do the castings go? If the worms are eating shouldn't there be castings?

IRONMAN79

I'll be adding red worms to my GB this week for the first time. I'll let you know how I make out.

Anyone have a PPT for adding worms?

RupertofOZ

Nanniode Aquaponics wrote:

http://www.worm-farm.co.za/worm-tea.html

They say, "The leachate can be used as a fertilizer and our worm farms have a tap fitted to the bottom bin which allows for easy leachate draining. Tap it off and dilute it 10:1 with water before adding it to your garden."

Rupert, I started raising worms in a soil less bed. Worm tea from castings is not an option here. So looking out for the other potential benefits of using leachate. Is anyone doing it?

You can use the leachate on a soil garden... or more usually added to a compost heap...

But you shouldn't use it on your plants... as they say...

Quote:

you should not use the leachate on your vegetables as it may contain pathogens.

Not sure exactly what application you have in mind... but I'd be wary about including the leachate into a recirculating system...

Nanniode Aquaponics

Then there is this scientific paper I have come across and now reading...

http://www.ipcbee.com/vol44/010-ICEBS2012-F00019.pdf - Potential of Vermicomposting Leachate as Organic Foliar Fertilizer
and Nutrient Solution...

I am still trying to understand what this is all about. so really :dontknow:

Nanniode Aquaponics

MarkZ wrote:

Hi N.A.,

Just curious that if your worm bins are soil less where do the castings go? If the worms are eating shouldn't there be castings?

Hi Mark, My African/European wrigglers don't eat soil. The bed is dumped with all kinds of bio waste, mainly leaves, vegetables, rotten fruits, newspaper, and other wastes. Worms do the castings but it is difficult for now to separate it from other stuff piling up on the top. I will get you a picture showing how we designed our worm bed. I still have a problem with my camera.

Nanniode Aquaponics

RupertofOZ wrote:

Not sure exactly what application you have in mind... but I'd be wary about including the leachate into a recirculating system...

Rupert, thanks for your concern. For now I am thinking of 10:1..worm leachate to pure water ratio... only foliar spray early mornings and early evenings.... daily for a week and to decide future course. I will also restrict this to tomatoes for starters. More later.

Nanniode Aquaponics

SolTun wrote:

Hi NA
This might be helpful in your search http://members.shaw.ca/borealwormer/#sitelinks
cheers

This is what we have finally come up with for our worm grow bed 6x4 feet... made it indigenous. Custom sizes can be made. Let me know what you think.

In the picture, it was Prof. Mustafa visiting our demo AP site for the first time. We are collaborating with him on AP research and training front and so many other things.

Attachment:

NARDC vermibed 6x4 feet.jpg [ 119.08 KiB | Viewed 4019 times ]

Backyard Aquaponics A place to discuss aquaponics

Worms in grow beds-good or bad

Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics