Worm cafe - the first 3 days!!!

[Flytrap]

Sorry folks, need to get this off my chest - No one I know is interested so need to tell some like minded people about this.
The first 3 days of my new Worm Cafe wormery!!!!!!!!

Arrived late Wednesday afternoon. Set it up, as per instructions (although it needed far less water than stated to rehydrate the coir block). Decided to put it in the garage as back garden gets full hot sun most of day yet the nights will start getting cold soon.
Have fed just a small amount of worm treat, the brown paper the coir block came in, a small amout of melon and a few sliced green bean leftovers and a couple of tea bags. Worms looking healthy now and are a mass of wrigglyness underneath the moisture mat.
Checked the sump for escapees. Day 1 found about 40 in there. Day 2 found about 15 and this morning there were only about 5. So that's looking good, I think they are settling in nicely. No escapes outside the actual worm cafe as it's a good design.
I want to keep looking at them but have resisted and just look once a day when I replace the escapees and add a bit a of food. Can't wait until they get going properly so I can add larger amounts of food.

Thanks, excitement rant over.
One quick question - I added a few cooked sliced green beans, but not the ones that my wife left that were covered in buttery spread (not actually butter but the one that's made with olive oil). Is it OK to put in veg matter that has this on?


Cheers

[lynda66]

sorry no tips .... but am imagining you down the pub trying to tell everyone about your worms over a pint

[Flytrap]

lol. They were fine until I got the worm photo out of my wallet to show them!

[lynda66]

lol. They were fine until I got the worm photo out of my wallet to show them!

brilliant

[zazen999]

I'm with you on the wormery.

I've had the pleasure of doing 'feeding the worms' with the general public on various occasions this summer at work.....and I had to stop myself volunteering to let other people have a go!

I got a wormery and after 3 weeks, decided to get 3 out of the 4 layers going, as I had an absolute bucket load of worms in our dalek so I currently have all those going full pelt; and the top layer is just paper so that I have a clean layer for when the other 3 are ready to be harvested [prior planning and all that].

Once they get going, it's amazing how fast they turn it round.

[wormcity]

Hiya
Just to answer your question - yes you can add beans that have sauces on, it will all eventually break down....
everything in moderation, worms aren't that fond of chilli or curry though

Just wondering whether olive oil is good for a worms heart (all 5 of them) ?

HTH

Ronnie

[xtian170174]

Quick question - If you stack something as cheap to buy & simply moulded as washing up bowls, with the necessary holes & smaller 'perforations', will this suffice as a wormery.

Thing is, I plan four, with three tiers each - a recent requisition, was a cold frame, around 40x60x24" in need of a little repair offers the space for them inside two by two, with this outer endways on and so it will save on insulation too - i.e. if this is viable...?

Any pointers anyone? - Although please don't say I should buy one ["for best results"], I'm interested in doing this because I get to make something

Thanks in advance

All the best
Christian

[veggiechicken]

I've had one of those big, non-tiered wormeries for a couple of years but not had any success with it. No worm tea yet. Lots of fruit flies though. Any advice?

[Newton]

Photos please.......

[zazen999]

Quick question - If you stack something as cheap to buy & simply moulded as washing up bowls, with the necessary holes & smaller 'perforations', will this suffice as a wormery.

Thing is, I plan four, with three tiers each - a recent requisition, was a cold frame, around 40x60x24" in need of a little repair offers the space for them inside two by two, with this outer endways on and so it will save on insulation too - i.e. if this is viable...?

Any pointers anyone? - Although please don't say I should buy one ["for best results"], I'm interested in doing this because I get to make something

Thanks in advance

All the best
Christian

Yes, this does work. There are various instructions on the web so fill yer boots!

[zazen999]

I've had one of those big, non-tiered wormeries for a couple of years but not had any success with it. No worm tea yet. Lots of fruit flies though. Any advice?

You don't get worm tea if there isn't a reservoir at the bottom for it to drain into and then out of. In our tiered one, we were getting worm tea from a week in.

[veggiechicken]

You don't get worm tea if there isn't a reservoir at the bottom for it to drain into and then out of. In our tiered one, we were getting worm tea from a week in.

Thanks Zaz. Mines an Original Organics one and it has a tap at the bottom and an "integrated patented drainage system". Its so long since I've seen inside it that I haven't a clue what that might be! Should I empty it and start again or is it too cold to disturb any surviving worms?

[zazen999]

I'd empty it in the spring if it were me, as they don't really do much in the winter.

I stuff mine with shredded paper all winter to give them somewhere to snuggle into.

[veggiechicken]

I'd empty it in the spring if it were me, as they don't really do much in the winter.

I stuff mine with shredded paper all winter to give them somewhere to snuggle into.

I've stuffed mine with straw and put it in the greenhouse for the winter, Hope they'll be happy there.

[Flytrap]

Quick question - If you stack something as cheap to buy & simply moulded as washing up bowls, with the necessary holes & smaller 'perforations', will this suffice as a wormery.

I don't see why not.
I would make sure the worms can't all just wriggle out of the bottom, so you may need to make some kind of sump or use some fine plastic netting or something so they can't escape.
I would also make sure that whatever you use is stable enough to hold the weight. A full tray can be quite heavy so if they are stacked 2 or 3 high the weight can be substantial.