Eisenia Hortensis bedding

[adamant]

i am raising Eisenia Hortensis in a plastic bin using what the grower recommends for bedding is (peat moss). so thats all i do is dump 4''-6'' of peat in the tub and add water,mix it up then add the worms?

thank you
ant

[Jay Blair]

I would suggest considering other bedding materials as peat moss has no nutritional value to the worms. Other bedding materials having nutritional value and more consumable than peatmoss also provide a casting finishing indicator o help prevent the worms from reconsuming their own castings for nutrition which reduces the fertilizer value of the worm castings.

[adamant]

can you suggest a bedding materials that i can make up at home?
i can get composted leaves that looks like dirt, will that work?

[su]

I use junk mail, envelopes, fliers, etc., any organic paper. I shred it up as it comes in the front door and carry it out the back to the worm bins. Also, if I'm low on my own recycle paper, I sometimes get shredded office paper from work.

[adamant]

i will try it..
thanks
ant

[adamant]

i un loaded my shreader today,placed it in the bin(3'') of so..
just add water and mix it up?

[su]

I soak my shredded paper in a bucket of water for 15 minutes or so before adding it to the bin.
To start a new bin: 1. I would soak the paper a while, then place it in the bin.
2. Place a handful of kitchen scraps in one corner of the bin and cover with some of the paper. I like to puree my kitchen scraps first (my partner laughs at me for "cooking" for the worms).
3. Put your worms in. They'll dive right away because they don't like light.
4. Cover your tub and go away.
5. In a week or so, take a look at the corner with the food. If you see worms grazing there, you can add a bit more food to the next corner. But just a bit. The thing about the worm bin is, it should smell really good. If it smells yarky, you've probably added too much food or too much water.
6. Above all, be patient. Worms work and multiply on their own time.

Have fun.

[tt]

if lyou do decide to use peat moss soak first and wring the water out

[su]

Uh-oh. A classic worm-farmer mistake: I came this close [-] to feeding my worms an insurance refund check for $73. Note to self: Put on reading glasses before shredding junk mail.