growing WORMS ? what to feed them etc.

BLW · Jul 13, 2008

hi guys and gals back again been quite awhile very busy this time of year- I am trying to grow worms again, did it when I was a kid , but forgot what what we fed them and how often we changed dirt if at all- help please just doing it for our own use (fishing) retired mostly thanks

jose bagge · Jul 13, 2008

We dumped some manure/shaving mix on top of the oak leaf pile out by the tree line and then laid a peice of plywood over top...when the kids need fishin' worms they just lift the plywood and pick up what they need.
Don't know OFFICIALLY what worm food is, but this seems to work ok!

Kippster · Jul 13, 2008

My grandpa used to grow worms in an old milk cooler like what was on the back steps. He used water and shredded newspaper, not the colored stuff, but the old black and white newspaper. He would put 2 dozen nightcrawlers in that cooler with the worm bedding and all us grandkids would fish all summer in the lake and never run "Pa" as we called him, out of worms.

mazemeister · Jul 13, 2008

When in college, we did vermicomposting for a class. We used a rubbermaid tub, cut some holes in the lid for ventilation (cover with cheese cloth to keep the worms in). Started with a bunch of newspaper (b&w) cut into about 1" strips and moistened (not dripping wet). Fed them kitchen scraps- no meat or oil. but any veggies, eggs are fine, coffee grounds, etc. anything too salty will kill them off quickly (no salted peanuts). of course add some worms to start. keep adding shredded newspaper as needed. also watch moisture level. worms can eat a surprising amount of food scraps and reproduce pretty quickly too.

Steve/TN · Jul 13, 2008

I raised worms many years ago. You can put a little corn meal, but don"t put so much that mold will get on it. Same with dog food, use just a little. Manure is fine. Cotton seed meal is really good. Most anything that is high in protein will make them grow. Good luck.

greygoat · Jul 14, 2008

A neighbor used to use ground up corn cobs !

Mike (WA) · Jul 14, 2008

I worked for Production Credit Assn. from 1974 to 1984, back in the days when they would do financing for small and part-time farm stuff. We got a request one day from a guy who wanted a couple grand to expand his worm farm. I went out to his place, and he showed me what he wanted to do, etc. Then he grabbed a shovel to show me the worms. He dug down in one bin, didn't find any. Went to another spot, same deal. He's starting to get a little frantic, now, and the stuff is flying everywhere. Nary a worm in sight. Little beads of sweat were breaking out, language getting a little saltier as he went along. Finally, he turned to me and said "We better put this on hold til I get this situation straightened out- I'll call you." I never heard from him again. To my credit, I was able to keep a straight face through this whole scenario.

BLW · Jul 15, 2008

that is good info-- I'll try it--- my question is how do you know when to add more scraps or paper strips to they disappear as the worms eat them up or what-- I can't find any facts on if they actually eat the paper, scraps maninure or what this has always been a puzzle - when they are in the ground do they eat dirt, grass leaves or what?????

growing WORMS ? what to feed them etc.

BLW

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jose bagge

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Kippster

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mazemeister

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Steve/TN

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greygoat

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Mike (WA)

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BLW

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