how do i encourgage worms into my compost bin! it is placed straight onto the ground, in a semi sunny/shady place. I have emptied old compost and started again, with mixture of old compost, grass clippings, vege scraps, newspaper, have added lime. Is there anything else i can do! TIA
flier3,
Mar 18, 1:02pm
The tiger worms (which are compost worms) will find your compost bin.I think that's all you need to do, but others may have more suggestions for you.
dkebab1,
Mar 18, 1:28pm
Ok i just have to be patient.
jh34,
Mar 18, 2:57pm
It will have to remain moist.
bugin,
Mar 18, 3:13pm
Go to a dairy farm and collect cow pats (semi-dry)and these will have all the worms under them you desire.
matthews4,
Mar 18, 6:14pm
I would not worry - I never check, and have 5 plastic bins, which I fill up, put newpaper and lime on top.Cover up.Hey presto, in a couple of months I have compost.
cantabman1,
Mar 19, 6:19am
keep it damp with a sprinkle of water, avoid citrus scraps and give it plenty of coffee grounds along with a little dirt each time you put the clippings on. Turn it all over after a few weeks.
enpointe,
Mar 20, 12:53am
Maybe get a separate worm farm!
steptoesnr,
Mar 20, 7:33am
Don't worry about citrus scraps-they're vegetation-same as any other vegetation-go look at any citrus orchard after harvest (the grounds yellow/orange) then 6 months later you cannot find a fruit- it's all self composted! Old dogmas should be left to die and compost.
mkbooks,
Mar 20, 9:52am
We aren't composting at the moment-soil too light for the vegs-we are digging the scraps into the garden one section at a time-old-fashioned trenching I suppose! .We are really into banana skins for the mix Did try putting peelings/scraps thru the whizz, fine product but quite time consuming + chopping stuff with the spade when it goes in seems to be OK Any other useful ideas please! we don't have space for a compost bin.
dkebab1,
Mar 20, 1:24pm
Thanks for all the tips and suggestions. Will just see what happens.
venna2,
Mar 20, 1:57pm
I've heard that you should avoid lemon skins and onion skins, as worms aren't so keen on them.
And please, anyone else reading this, if you DO have a compost bin, don't add meat or fish scraps - I've just read in my local paper that rats are rampant in the local bush reserve, because of people in surrounding houses putting meat in their compost bins. Rats and mice are a lot worse than cats, I reckon.
macandrosie,
May 4, 8:02am
I think you need to have good airflow around a compost heap - I don't think those solid plastic barrel things are great for getting breakdown to happen. Also they don't allow moisture in & you need a certain amount to help with breakdown. Each time a I mow the lawnsI fire on a couple of handfuls of blood & bone before the lawn clippings go on - it really helps speed the breakdown process & encourages worms to come up through the compost.
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