How We Are Worm Farming Indoors And It Keeps Growing

Summary

In this video, Tim and Debbie from Homesteaders Discovery demonstrate the care and feeding of their worm farm, showcasing their new shelving system that has significantly improved worm health. They discuss the use of egg cartons for moisture retention and share tips on worm food preparation, emphasizing the benefits of worm castings for their garden. The couple reflects on their growth from 500 worms to an estimated 5,000 in a year and their plans to expand the worm farm in their future homestead.

Takeaways

• 📅 The video was recorded on Sunday, June 17th, 2018.
• 🌱 The presenters, Tim and Debbie from Homesteaders Discovery, are discussing their vermicomposting setup in a spare room.
• 🐛 They are feeding their worms with a homemade worm food mixture and using egg cartons to maintain moisture in the bins.
• 💧 They use tap water that has been aerated for 24 hours to remove chlorine before spraying it onto the worm bins.
• 🔄 The couple is transitioning from a horizontal migration system to new shelving units to improve worm health and increase capacity.
• 🛒 They purchased new shelving systems from Lowe's or Home Depot to expand their worm bin capacity.
• 📦 The new bins use peat moss as bedding, which seems to be working well for the worms.
• 👶 They are carefully managing the worm population by removing adult worms and allowing cocoons to hatch in the old bins.
• 🌿 The worm castings produced are being used to enrich their garden, showing the beneficial cycle of waste to resource.
• 📈 The worm population has grown exponentially from 500 worms in one bin to approximately 5,000 within a year.
• 🏡 They are planning to move and possibly expand their worm farm to a garage on their future homestead property.

Q & A

Who are Tim and Debbie from Homesteaders Discovery?

Tim and Debbie are the hosts of the Homesteaders Discovery channel, who share their experiences and knowledge about setting up and maintaining a worm farm in their spare room.

What is the primary purpose of the egg cartons in the worm bins?

The egg cartons are used to maintain moisture in the worm bins. They soak up water and slowly sink into the bedding, keeping the area moist and providing a beneficial environment for the worms.

Why do Tim and Debbie let the tap water air out for 24 hours before using it on the worms?

They let the tap water air out to allow the chlorine and other impurities to evaporate, as these could be harmful to the worms. Rainwater or well water would not require this step.

What is the advantage of using the new shelving system for the worm bins?

The new shelving system allows for increased capacity by enabling the placement of two bins on each shelf. It also helps to better manage the worms' environment, leading to healthier worms.

How do Tim and Debbie manage the moisture content in the worm bins?

They use a combination of methods, including soaking egg cartons to sink into the bedding and spraying the bins with water. They also monitor the moisture levels and adjust as necessary.

What is the significance of the worms' color changing from dark to pink?

The change in color from dark to pink indicates an improvement in the worms' health. Dark, dehydrated worms suggest poor environmental conditions, whereas pink, lively worms indicate a healthy environment.

How do Tim and Debbie feed the worms in the new system?

They use a homemade worm food mixture containing cornmeal, wheat flour, eggshells, oyster shells, and oats. This mixture is sprinkled on top of the bedding material in the bins.

What is the role of the paper towel in the worm bins?

The paper towel serves as an additional food source for the worms, as they consume the cellulose in it. It can also help maintain moisture in the bin, although it dries up faster than egg cartons.

How do the worms contribute to Tim and Debbie's homesteading goals?

The worms produce worm castings, which are an excellent natural fertilizer for their garden. This allows them to grow their own food more effectively and sustainably.

What is the long-term plan for the worm farm as mentioned in the script?

Tim and Debbie plan to transfer and possibly expand the worm farm system to a garage on their homestead property when they move out of their city house. This will allow them to continue producing worm castings for their garden.

How has the worm population grown over the course of a year?

The worm population has grown exponentially from 500 worms in one bin to approximately 5,000 worms within a year, thanks to the implementation of new systems and learning from past mistakes.