Until I moved to my present address over 5 years ago I had good results
with compost making. I use a 3 bin system - 1 - filling, 2 - maturing
and 3 - ready for use. In the past the third bin always had a huge
number of pink worms which appeared from nowhere and greatly improved
the texture and quality of the finished compost. Materials composted are
grass clippings, shredded prunings and kitchen vegetable waste.

Since moving to my present address there has been a total absence of
worms in the compost. I have tried adding some from a neighbour's bin
and have even - against my better judgement and the habits of a lifetime
- bought some in. None has survived!

While the compost produced is acceptable, it is noticeably inferior to
the stuff processed by worms

Any ideas of what might be wrong? Bins 1 and 2 are wooden, bin 3 is
plastic (inherited with property) and all are on an earth base.

Jim

Have bin 1 and 2 any worms? It's bin 2 where you really need them.

It's difficult to get the right conditions in a plastic bin, in my experience.

Have all 3 bins got bases which are open to the ground?

If the bases are closed, then cut away sections of them to allow contact with the soil. Otherwise, make sure the moisture balance is OK, and try adding some ordinary garden soil. I always get hundreds of the worms on sheets of rotting cardboard - try adding an old cardboard box, without shredding it.

"Jim Allan" wrote in message
...
Until I moved to my present address over 5 years ago I had good results
with compost making. I use a 3 bin system - 1 - filling, 2 - maturing and
3 - ready for use. In the past the third bin always had a huge number of
pink worms which appeared from nowhere and greatly improved the texture
and quality of the finished compost. Materials composted are grass
clippings, shredded prunings and kitchen vegetable waste.

Since moving to my present address there has been a total absence of worms
in the compost. I have tried adding some from a neighbour's bin and have
even - against my better judgement and the habits of a lifetime - bought
some in. None has survived!

While the compost produced is acceptable, it is noticeably inferior to the
stuff processed by worms

Any ideas of what might be wrong? Bins 1 and 2 are wooden, bin 3 is
plastic (inherited with property) and all are on an earth base.

Jim

The only clue I could offer is water. Do you water your compost with water
from the tap and it is detrimental? I water mine with water from the butts.
My daughter who has a massive compost area, (A JCB Shovel can get in)
doesn't do anything with hers except turn it and let rain water do the work
and hers is built in the form of a concrete bay. Concrete block sides and a
concrete base. And yes, millions of little pink works :-((

My bins. Only tiny compared, fit for our tiny gardens
http://www.myalbum.com/Album=A7TCLLF7

Mike

--

....................................
Remember, a statue has never been erected to a critic.
....................................

Jim Allan wrote in
:

Until I moved to my present address over 5 years ago I had good results
with compost making. I use a 3 bin system - 1 - filling, 2 - maturing
and 3 - ready for use. In the past the third bin always had a huge
number of pink worms which appeared from nowhere and greatly improved
the texture and quality of the finished compost. Materials composted are
grass clippings, shredded prunings and kitchen vegetable waste.

Since moving to my present address there has been a total absence of
worms in the compost. I have tried adding some from a neighbour's bin
and have even - against my better judgement and the habits of a lifetime
- bought some in. None has survived!

While the compost produced is acceptable, it is noticeably inferior to
the stuff processed by worms

Any ideas of what might be wrong? Bins 1 and 2 are wooden, bin 3 is
plastic (inherited with property) and all are on an earth base.

Jim

I have only 2 ideas and may be wrong or right.
1/ Are the heaps nice and moist?
2/ Are you unintentionaly cooking them by direct sunlight?

Worms come naturally in a compost heap without having to introduce them, so
something is wrong and I hope my suggestions help.

Baz

kay wrote in news:kay.825f736
@gardenbanter.co.uk:


'Jim Allan[_2_ Wrote:
;918468']Until I moved to my present address over 5 years ago I had good
results
with compost making. I use a 3 bin system - 1 - filling, 2 - maturing
and 3 - ready for use. In the past the third bin always had a huge
number of pink worms which appeared from nowhere and greatly improved
the texture and quality of the finished compost. Materials composted are

grass clippings, shredded prunings and kitchen vegetable waste.

Since moving to my present address there has been a total absence of
worms in the compost. I have tried adding some from a neighbour's bin
and have even - against my better judgement and the habits of a lifetime

- bought some in. None has survived!

While the compost produced is acceptable, it is noticeably inferior to
the stuff processed by worms

Any ideas of what might be wrong? Bins 1 and 2 are wooden, bin 3 is
plastic (inherited with property) and all are on an earth base.

Jim

Have bin 1 and 2 any worms? It's bin 2 where you really need them.

It's difficult to get the right conditions in a plastic bin, in my
experience.

Have all 3 bins got bases which are open to the ground?

If the bases are closed, then cut away sections of them to allow contact
with the soil. Otherwise, make sure the moisture balance is OK, and try
adding some ordinary garden soil. I always get hundreds of the worms on
sheets of rotting cardboard - try adding an old cardboard box, without
shredding it.





Yes, cardboard should always be kept and used in the heap if possible.
A bit off the thread I know but worth mentioning.
We try not to throw anything away that can be useful to compost.

Baz

The only clue I could offer is water. Do you water your compost with water
from the tap and it is detrimental? I water mine with water from the butts.
My daughter who has a massive compost area, (A JCB Shovel can get in)
doesn't do anything with hers except turn it and let rain water do the work
and hers is built in the form of a concrete bay. Concrete block sides and a
concrete base. And yes, millions of little pink works :-((

Thanks for all replies. To answer some of the points:

1. Rainwater used to water the compost
2. The bins are open-bottomed on an earth base.
3. Moisture content seems OK.
4. Not cooked by direct sunlight.

I've used the same system for over 40 years and it's only since moving
to my present address that the worms have deserted. Obviously something
is not to their liking :O( I'll persevere.

Jim

On Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:10:31 +0100, Jim Allan
wrote:

Until I moved to my present address over 5 years ago I had good results
with compost making. I use a 3 bin system - 1 - filling, 2 - maturing
and 3 - ready for use. In the past the third bin always had a huge
number of pink worms which appeared from nowhere and greatly improved
the texture and quality of the finished compost. Materials composted are
grass clippings, shredded prunings and kitchen vegetable waste.

Since moving to my present address there has been a total absence of
worms in the compost. I have tried adding some from a neighbour's bin
and have even - against my better judgement and the habits of a lifetime
- bought some in. None has survived!

While the compost produced is acceptable, it is noticeably inferior to
the stuff processed by worms

Any ideas of what might be wrong? Bins 1 and 2 are wooden, bin 3 is
plastic (inherited with property) and all are on an earth base.

Jim

I emptied my small compost bin yesterday, as it happened a bit too
soon as it was not well-enough rotted down, BUT seething with worms!

Pam in Bristol

The two are connected. Once it is well enough rotted, the worms move on.

I emptied my small compost bin yesterday, as it happened a bit too
soon as it was not well-enough rotted down, BUT seething with worms!

That was helpful!

Jim

On Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:58:06 +0100, Jim Allan
wrote:


I emptied my small compost bin yesterday, as it happened a bit too
soon as it was not well-enough rotted down, BUT seething with worms!

That was helpful!

Jim

You asked "where are the worms?" I answered.
Try looking in a heap of rotting stable manure.


Pam in Bristol