Well, this will be interesting. My daughter joined the "Apprentice
Gardeners" program (for third graders) at her school and has been having fun
all year. The "lesson" this week is worm composting. She is now the proud
owner of a shoe box with 40 red wigglers and some damp shredded newspaper
and the complete instructions for their care and feeding. We'll see how it
goes.

Wish me luck explaining this one to my husband.

Cheryl

In article ,
Cheryl Isaak wrote:

Well, this will be interesting. My daughter joined the "Apprentice
Gardeners" program (for third graders) at her school and has been having fun
all year. The "lesson" this week is worm composting. She is now the proud
owner of a shoe box with 40 red wigglers and some damp shredded newspaper
and the complete instructions for their care and feeding. We'll see how it
goes.

Wish me luck explaining this one to my husband.

Cheryl

Corn Meal


Bill

--

S Jersey USA Zone 5 Shade
http://www.ocutech.com/ High tech Vison aid
This article is posted under fair use rules in accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and is strictly for the educational
and informative purposes. This material is distributed without profit.

"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in message
...
Well, this will be interesting. My daughter joined the "Apprentice
Gardeners" program (for third graders) at her school and has been having
fun
all year. The "lesson" this week is worm composting. She is now the proud
owner of a shoe box with 40 red wigglers and some damp shredded newspaper
and the complete instructions for their care and feeding. We'll see how it
goes.

Wish me luck explaining this one to my husband.

Cheryl



Has your husband ever seen the worms & dirt snack that some kids think is so
cool? If he objects to the worms, make him that snack as a form of shock
therapy. Chocolate pudding, with oreo cookies (minus the cream) crumbled on
top, like dirt. Stick gummy worms into some holes in the pudding, as if
they're crawling out.

As far as the real worms, keep them cool. The warmest spot in the
refrigerator is good, or the coolest spot in your basement. I prefer the
refrigerator, though, since that usually means the top shelf, toward the
front. Every time he opens the fridge...hello worms.

Yikes! That seems cold. Why do you put them intot the frig.?

On Jan 23, 10:21 pm, "JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:
"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in ...

Well, this will be interesting. My daughter joined the "Apprentice
Gardeners" program (for third graders) at her school and has been having
fun
all year. The "lesson" this week is worm composting. She is now the proud
owner of a shoe box with 40 red wigglers and some damp shredded newspaper
and the complete instructions for their care and feeding. We'll see how it
goes.

Wish me luck explaining this one to my husband.

CherylHas your husband ever seen the worms & dirt snack that some kids think is so
cool? If he objects to the worms, make him that snack as a form of shock
therapy. Chocolate pudding, with oreo cookies (minus the cream) crumbled on
top, like dirt. Stick gummy worms into some holes in the pudding, as if
they're crawling out.

As far as the real worms, keep them cool. The warmest spot in the
refrigerator is good, or the coolest spot in your basement. I prefer the
refrigerator, though, since that usually means the top shelf, toward the
front. Every time he opens the fridge...hello worms.

Three reasons:

1) If they're not in the fridge, their "home", whatever it may be (box,
plant tray) will be exposed to house heat, which means drying. You *KNOW*
somebody's gonna forget to keep the worm bedding damp. Not wet. Damp.

2) Because *all* sources of worm-raising information suggest keeping them
cool.

3) Stick your hand 6" down into the outdoor soil in April. It's pretty cold,
and the worms are perfectly happy.


wrote in message
oups.com...
Yikes! That seems cold. Why do you put them intot the frig.?

On Jan 23, 10:21 pm, "JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:
"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in
...

Well, this will be interesting. My daughter joined the "Apprentice
Gardeners" program (for third graders) at her school and has been
having
fun
all year. The "lesson" this week is worm composting. She is now the
proud
owner of a shoe box with 40 red wigglers and some damp shredded
newspaper
and the complete instructions for their care and feeding. We'll see how
it
goes.

Wish me luck explaining this one to my husband.

CherylHas your husband ever seen the worms & dirt snack that some kids
think is so
cool? If he objects to the worms, make him that snack as a form of shock
therapy. Chocolate pudding, with oreo cookies (minus the cream) crumbled
on
top, like dirt. Stick gummy worms into some holes in the pudding, as if
they're crawling out.

As far as the real worms, keep them cool. The warmest spot in the
refrigerator is good, or the coolest spot in your basement. I prefer the
refrigerator, though, since that usually means the top shelf, toward the
front. Every time he opens the fridge...hello worms.

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in
:

Three reasons:

1) If they're not in the fridge, their "home", whatever it may be
(box, plant tray) will be exposed to house heat, which means drying.
You *KNOW* somebody's gonna forget to keep the worm bedding damp. Not
wet. Damp.

2) Because *all* sources of worm-raising information suggest keeping
them cool.

3) Stick your hand 6" down into the outdoor soil in April. It's pretty
cold, and the worms are perfectly happy.


Aren't they also dormant when they are cool? How much composting gets done
when the worms aren't doing anything?

"FragileWarrior" wrote in message
...
"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in
:

Three reasons:

1) If they're not in the fridge, their "home", whatever it may be
(box, plant tray) will be exposed to house heat, which means drying.
You *KNOW* somebody's gonna forget to keep the worm bedding damp. Not
wet. Damp.

2) Because *all* sources of worm-raising information suggest keeping
them cool.

3) Stick your hand 6" down into the outdoor soil in April. It's pretty
cold, and the worms are perfectly happy.


Aren't they also dormant when they are cool? How much composting gets
done
when the worms aren't doing anything?


At some temperature, yes. I don't know where the cutoff point is. But,
they're still quite active during cooler times of year when the soil's
chilly enough to be uncomfortable to work with bare hands.

That's strange, MOST of the sources I've seen say that optimum worm
composting occurs at 65-80 and the worms stop composting at around 40,
including this reference from wormdigest.org:

Best Temperature & OK Temperatures
A worm bin will eat up the most food waste when the bedding is 70°F-80°F.
All the bacteria are happy, and worms are most comfortable. Down at 45°F,
the bin slows down, and at 30° worms can freeze.


"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
Three reasons:

1) If they're not in the fridge, their "home", whatever it may be (box,
plant tray) will be exposed to house heat, which means drying. You *KNOW*
somebody's gonna forget to keep the worm bedding damp. Not wet. Damp.

2) Because *all* sources of worm-raising information suggest keeping them
cool.

3) Stick your hand 6" down into the outdoor soil in April. It's pretty
cold, and the worms are perfectly happy.

In article
,
"DWW" wrote:

That's strange, MOST of the sources I've seen say that optimum worm
composting occurs at 65-80 and the worms stop composting at around 40,
including this reference from wormdigest.org:

Best Temperature & OK Temperatures
A worm bin will eat up the most food waste when the bedding is 70°F-80°F.
All the bacteria are happy, and worms are most comfortable. Down at 45°F,
the bin slows down, and at 30° worms can freeze.


"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
Three reasons:

1) If they're not in the fridge, their "home", whatever it may be (box,
plant tray) will be exposed to house heat, which means drying. You *KNOW*
somebody's gonna forget to keep the worm bedding damp. Not wet. Damp.

2) Because *all* sources of worm-raising information suggest keeping them
cool.

3) Stick your hand 6" down into the outdoor soil in April. It's pretty
cold, and the worms are perfectly happy.


My Dad made a box out of brick and mortar. Placed it in our basement ~
about 60 F. 4 feet long 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall. Worked. Grew
tired of it about 5 years latter. 50 years ago. Now I just look at my
wood chip piles for crawlers and transplant them to areas in my garden
that need work. They all do )

Bill

Bill

--

S Jersey USA Zone 5 Shade
http://www.ocutech.com/ High tech Vison aid
This article is posted under fair use rules in accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and is strictly for the educational
and informative purposes. This material is distributed without profit.

DWW wrote:

That's strange, MOST of the sources I've seen say that optimum worm
composting occurs at 65-80 and the worms stop composting at around 40,
including this reference from wormdigest.org:

Best Temperature & OK Temperatures
A worm bin will eat up the most food waste when the bedding is 70°F-80°F.
All the bacteria are happy, and worms are most comfortable. Down at 45°F,
the bin slows down, and at 30° worms can freeze.


"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...

Three reasons:

1) If they're not in the fridge, their "home", whatever it may be (box,
plant tray) will be exposed to house heat, which means drying. You *KNOW*
somebody's gonna forget to keep the worm bedding damp. Not wet. Damp.

2) Because *all* sources of worm-raising information suggest keeping them
cool.

3) Stick your hand 6" down into the outdoor soil in April. It's pretty
cold, and the worms are perfectly happy.





65degF AIR will 'feel' slightly cool to a human, 65deg water, stone or
soil, will likely feel very cold as it sucks the heat right out of you.
Worms are not mammals and are not generating heat. I'd expect 65-70 degs
to be a decent comfort zone for them, a little higher and their
metabolism probably speeds up but their lifespan may shorten. A typical
refrigerator probably extends their lifespan and slows their metabolism.

Most anywhere on earth, 12 feet down is about 65degs or so.

Carl


--
to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:59:17 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Three reasons:

1) If they're not in the fridge, their "home", whatever it may be (box,
plant tray) will be exposed to house heat, which means drying. You *KNOW*
somebody's gonna forget to keep the worm bedding damp. Not wet. Damp.


True. My bin is plastic so there is no mosture loss


2) Because *all* sources of worm-raising information suggest keeping them
cool.

Been doing it for ten years and never heard of putting them in the
fridge. I agree that over 80d is too warm (but won't harm them). Over
the long term, worms in an enclosed environment will adjust their
population to the environment and food volume.


3) Stick your hand 6" down into the outdoor soil in April. It's pretty cold,
and the worms are perfectly happy.

I've been asking my womr bin fellas for years how happy they are and
they will not tell me!

"Brian" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:59:17 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Three reasons:

1) If they're not in the fridge, their "home", whatever it may be (box,
plant tray) will be exposed to house heat, which means drying. You *KNOW*
somebody's gonna forget to keep the worm bedding damp. Not wet. Damp.


True. My bin is plastic so there is no mosture loss


2) Because *all* sources of worm-raising information suggest keeping them
cool.

Been doing it for ten years and never heard of putting them in the
fridge. I agree that over 80d is too warm (but won't harm them). Over
the long term, worms in an enclosed environment will adjust their
population to the environment and food volume.


3) Stick your hand 6" down into the outdoor soil in April. It's pretty
cold,
and the worms are perfectly happy.

I've been asking my womr bin fellas for years how happy they are and
they will not tell me!


Mine are unionized worms. Our written agreement specifies that they
communicate, to avoid disagreements. Their health plan's a bitch, though.

On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:21:59 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in message
...



As far as the real worms, keep them cool. The warmest spot in the
refrigerator is good, or the coolest spot in your basement. I prefer the
refrigerator, though, since that usually means the top shelf, toward the
front. Every time he opens the fridge...hello worms.


Don't put the worms in the fridge! The colder it gets, the slower
they work. In the winter, I cut back on the volume of food I feed
them. They like it dark and warm. No light. In fact, think of where
you find worms in nature - under leaves etc. I cover my worms with a
layer (6 sheets) of damp newspaper laid flat. When I can get shredded
newsprint I use that.

To prevent fruit flies (which are found mostly in banana peel skins)
freeze the scraps first. A fruit fly infestation is a nuisance.

"Brian" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:21:59 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in message
...



As far as the real worms, keep them cool. The warmest spot in the
refrigerator is good, or the coolest spot in your basement. I prefer the
refrigerator, though, since that usually means the top shelf, toward the
front. Every time he opens the fridge...hello worms.


Don't put the worms in the fridge! The colder it gets, the slower
they work. In the winter, I cut back on the volume of food I feed
them. They like it dark and warm. No light. In fact, think of where
you find worms in nature - under leaves etc. I cover my worms with a
layer (6 sheets) of damp newspaper laid flat. When I can get shredded
newsprint I use that.


Yeah....I realized I should not have posted that. Refrigeration is for worms
used for fishing, and it works. But they do get lethargic. I hereby retract
my statement.

In article ,
"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:

"Brian" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:21:59 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in message
...



As far as the real worms, keep them cool. The warmest spot in the
refrigerator is good, or the coolest spot in your basement. I prefer the
refrigerator, though, since that usually means the top shelf, toward the
front. Every time he opens the fridge...hello worms.


Don't put the worms in the fridge! The colder it gets, the slower
they work. In the winter, I cut back on the volume of food I feed
them. They like it dark and warm. No light. In fact, think of where
you find worms in nature - under leaves etc. I cover my worms with a
layer (6 sheets) of damp newspaper laid flat. When I can get shredded
newsprint I use that.


Yeah....I realized I should not have posted that. Refrigeration is for worms
used for fishing, and it works. But they do get lethargic. I hereby retract
my statement.

You must be punished! 99% gold and 1 % dross for all your posts.

Bill who is more like 10% gold and 90% dross and half of my gold is
silver. But me and my dad used to go out to the the local school yard
after a heavy rain and drive in two copper rods about ten feet apart
and hook them to a car battery. Drove the night crawlers up.

--

S Jersey USA Zone 5 Shade
http://www.ocutech.com/ High tech Vison aid
This article is posted under fair use rules in accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and is strictly for the educational
and informative purposes. This material is distributed without profit.