In article ,
pk wrote:
Mike wrote:
The worms used in a compost bin are different to 'yer actual garden
worms' so where do they come from?

I have seen advice on here that one can buy them, but our compost
worms 'get themselves' into the compost bins. Could this be because
most of our bins are part on but part off the garden in that we have
concrete/bricks under them to an extent of about 80%, not by design
but by where we want to 'fit them in' to the overall picture.

One of the "cons" run by those selling wormeries is that you need to buy
special worms.

Nonsense. If you have a normal compost heap. Take a couple of bucketsful off
active compost, spread on a plastic sheet, cover with a black bin bag. leave
for 30 minutes. take off the binbag and collect the loverly brandlings
before they scurry back into the compost!

Essentially, yes. As I understand it, the common earthworm (Lumbricus
terrestris) makes a bad "compost worm", though it may well be present
in large numbers in a traditional heap - I don't know[*]. But another
earthworm (Lumbricus rubellus, a.k.a. the redworm) makes quite decent
one, the brandlings and tiger worms are even better, and there are
others that are better still.

As many or most of them are present in most gardens, they will search
out suitable food - such as is found in your compost bin - provided
that they have access. So they will just appear as if by magic (as,
indeed, was once believe to be the case). And you can transfer them
between heaps simply by moving a shovel of active compost or as
described above.

The way to get a starter faster is apparently to place a small pile
of compost material on the earth in a damp, shady part of the garden
(watering the ground and providing shade if necessary), cover with
black plastic, wait overnight (or for a couple of nights?) and look
in the morning.

It's all natcheral, innit?

[*] I have never tried to identify whether the worms in my heap are
Lumbricus terrestris or Lumbricus rubellus.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.