Weekly Worm Farm Check-In Aug 21, 2024

Summary

Steve from Urban Warm Company introduces a new series, the 'Weekly Worm Farm Check-In,' where he shares hands-on experience with his worm farm. He discusses the importance of temperature and moisture, identifies red wigglers versus Indian Blues, and demonstrates feeding the worms with a mix of food waste and pit moss. The video offers practical tips for maintaining a healthy worm bin and encourages viewers to share their feedback on this new format.

Takeaways

• 📹 Steve from Urban Worm Company introduces a new series of 'weekly worm farm check-ins' to share hands-on vermiculture experiences.
• 🌡️ Steve discusses the importance of monitoring both the external and internal temperatures of the worm farm, as well as the humidity, to ensure optimal conditions for the worms.
• 🐛 The video features a rubber-made bin with bedding, worms, and food waste, which is a simple setup for a worm farm.
• 🔍 Steve highlights the difference between red wigglers and Indian blues, emphasizing the raised clitellum as a distinctive feature of red wigglers.
• 🍌 Steve demonstrates feeding the worm farm with a mix of food waste, including banana peels, apple cores, and coffee grounds, which are common in his household.
• 🌿 He introduces 'pit moss' as an alternative bedding material, which is made from recycled paper and helps to balance the moisture in the worm farm.
• 💧 Steve addresses the issue of excess moisture in the worm farm, explaining that it can lead to anaerobic pockets and affect the health of the worms.
• 👐 Steve shows that it's possible to be a 'lazy vermicomposter' by not chopping up the food waste and simply adding it to the bin as is.
• 🚫 He advises against adding too much water directly to the worm farm, as worms breathe through their skin and require a certain level of moisture, not saturation.
• 📈 Steve emphasizes the importance of mixing new food waste with existing material in the bin to ensure even distribution and breakdown of the waste.
• 📅 He plans to check on the worm farm again in about a week or two, indicating a regular monitoring schedule for maintaining a healthy worm farm.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video by Steve from the Urban Worm Company?

The purpose of the video is to provide a hands-on demonstration of maintaining a worm farm, including checking its conditions and feeding the worms, in a weekly check-in format.

What type of bin is used for the worm farm in the video?

A simple rubber-made bin is used for the worm farm in the video.

What are the key aspects Steve checks in his weekly worm farm check-in?

Steve checks the outside temperature, inside barn temperature, temperature and appearance of the vermicompost, what was fed last time, and any issues he observes.

How does Steve determine the type of worms in his worm farm?

Steve determines the type of worms by looking for a raised clitellum and a yellowish tail, which are characteristics of red wigglers.

What is the ideal moisture level for a worm farm according to Steve?

The ideal moisture level for a worm farm is around 70%, with only one or two drops of water when squeezed.

What does Steve use as a food source for his worm farm in the video?

Steve uses a mix of banana peels, apple cores, coffee grounds, and possibly some pine needles as a food source for his worm farm.

What is the role of pit moss in the worm farm feeding process shown in the video?

Pit moss is used as a dry bedding material to balance out the moisture from the wet vermicompost and food waste in the worm farm.

Why does Steve not worry about the moisture content of the coffee grounds?

Steve does not worry about the moisture content of the coffee grounds because they do not hold much water and do not release a lot of water when they break down.

What issue can excess moisture cause in a worm farm?

Excess moisture can cause anaerobic pockets in the vermicompost, which can be harmful to the worms and the composting process.

What material does Steve use to cover the worm farm, and why?

Steve uses bubble wrap to cover the worm farm because it creates condensation on the underside, which helps to pull the worms higher and regulate moisture.

How often does Steve plan to check on the worm farm after the feeding shown in the video?

Steve plans to check on the worm farm in about a week or two after the feeding.