There are a couple of types of worm farms, the composting and the bait farms. My interest is in the latter and I have been thinking of buying an already completed one ready to go, there are several on line. As a hobby with benefits, I would have bait when ever I wanted to fish and since worms multiply I could sell the surplus in camp bringing me in contact with other fishermen.
So the pros and cons of the exercise:-
Pro as mentioned availability and possible part time income plus contact with others in camp. Environmentally friendly using up leftover vegetable and peelings. Surplus wet newspapers and cardboard can be used for bedding. There is a tap to remove the "worm tea" apparently valuable to manure pot plants.
Con finding the right size to be able to travel in the bus. Keeping the farm cool in the summer apparently worms do not like the temperature in the farm to get over 10 degrees neither do they like to get below zero. Just another job in my busy life.
There are no doubt other considerations and I would be interested to find any others from the forum who may have cultivated worm farms and any experiences that they may have had. Plus any ideas that members may have on the subject.
Hi john my concern would be state borders with composting fruit and veg ect would the fruit fly inspectors let you through or not?
Otherwise I like your idea .with enough worms I wouldn't think smell would be a problem if there is a smell something is wrong, I have raised a few worms in my time still have lots doing there thing in the yard and I think is over about 20 c when they may get upset but if the mass ie size is large enough they will simply go to the Center or coolest part getting too dry is worse than temp in my experience.
Nomes said
06:55 PM Oct 6, 2015
Agree with Woody or Sue, as long as you can take them interstate and find the coolest part of your bus they should be ok.
You can make them yourself much cheaper than the commercial ones, then buy a box of worms.
Here is a link where they used Styrofoam boxes for climate control and one made from black plastic containers, maybe you can custom make one using a black plastic container and smaller styrofoam boxes to fit the space in your bus.
My tip is to wrap your vege bits in half page of newspaper making a small parcel and dampen with water before placing it in the bin. No citrus or onion and dice your scraps. Worms love avocado skins.
While you are parked up, you could put a reflective tarp over the top.
If you can't play the video's let me know and I will translate.
Good luck.
iana said
07:48 PM Oct 6, 2015
I think you should do a google on worms and vibration. I think vibration causes them to come up to the surface. We have a worm farm, they eat heaps, when they're hungry be careful when opening the lid! One of the problems we have is finding different names for them, there are only so many names in this world.
Another thing , there is usually an orgy going on in some place in the box, knock first before you open the lid.
Putting Bennjie or Curlie on a hook, how could you!
Nomes said
10:03 PM Oct 6, 2015
I looked up the vibration bit but it didn't say what happens.
They get shipped all over the country in boxes on trucks.
I think John is going to have to test that theory or you could take yours for a little holiday! hehe
Izabarack said
06:00 AM Oct 7, 2015
Friend raises compost worms in Victoria. A kilo of these worms go through a kilo of vegetable matter, per day, hence their value to those who want to use them in compost heaps. He also sells the worm castings. Just an alert that you may need to consider how you will feed any worms you may want to produce as a salable product.
Iza
yeoeleven said
08:03 AM Oct 8, 2015
Thanks for the input, I have watched the videos from the link that Nomes put up and the most likely for space reasons would be the nesting boxes. My guru for all things organic and natural is Mezzie and tomorrow I will be able to discuss the subject with her.
Another thing that I have just thought about is why not have another box and grow mushrooms? I would already have the mushroom mulch and another box on top will take little space.
John
Radar said
08:50 AM Oct 8, 2015
Hi Yeoeleven
My brother inlaw is a very keen fish person of some note, he believes the reason his mushrooms grow so big is they are placed in his shed near where his visiting fish buddies come to tel stories of the ones that got away or the bag they got that day.
Now my thinking is if you placed your computer ontop of your mushroom farm one day and then the next day on the worms outside where the grey nomads meet to talk, it would help with the growth of both them and you would be on a real winner.
Said with tongue in cheek, best of luck. Ralph.
Ps. If I was on the road full time, I would for sure have a mushroom farm on the go.
Nomes said
01:03 AM Oct 9, 2015
I would think growing mushrooms in coffee grounds/grinds would suit you best.
Cafes are happy to give them away, I go to Macas every week and collect them for the vege garden at the preschool garden I look after. (The kids love crumbling them up to put on the gardens.)
There are a couple of types of worm farms, the composting and the bait farms. My interest is in the latter and I have been thinking of buying an already completed one ready to go, there are several on line. As a hobby with benefits, I would have bait when ever I wanted to fish and since worms multiply I could sell the surplus in camp bringing me in contact with other fishermen.
So the pros and cons of the exercise:-
Pro as mentioned availability and possible part time income plus contact with others in camp. Environmentally friendly using up leftover vegetable and peelings. Surplus wet newspapers and cardboard can be used for bedding. There is a tap to remove the "worm tea" apparently valuable to manure pot plants.
Con finding the right size to be able to travel in the bus. Keeping the farm cool in the summer apparently worms do not like the temperature in the farm to get over 10 degrees neither do they like to get below zero. Just another job in my busy life.
There are no doubt other considerations and I would be interested to find any others from the forum who may have cultivated worm farms and any experiences that they may have had. Plus any ideas that members may have on the subject.
http://www.ecovalleyworms.com.au/fishing-worm-farm/
John
Otherwise I like your idea .with enough worms I wouldn't think smell would be a problem if there is a smell something is wrong, I have raised a few worms in my time still have lots doing there thing in the yard and I think is over about 20 c when they may get upset but if the mass ie size is large enough they will simply go to the Center or coolest part getting too dry is worse than temp in my experience.
You can make them yourself much cheaper than the commercial ones, then buy a box of worms.
Here is a link where they used Styrofoam boxes for climate control and one made from black plastic containers, maybe you can custom make one using a black plastic container and smaller styrofoam boxes to fit the space in your bus.
earthwiseharmony.com/GARDENS/EH-Home-Made-Worm-Farms-How-to-Build-Your-Own-Worm-Farm.html
My tip is to wrap your vege bits in half page of newspaper making a small parcel and dampen with water before placing it in the bin. No citrus or onion and dice your scraps. Worms love avocado skins.
While you are parked up, you could put a reflective tarp over the top.
If you can't play the video's let me know and I will translate.
Good luck.
Another thing , there is usually an orgy going on in some place in the box, knock first before you open the lid.
Putting Bennjie or Curlie on a hook, how could you!
I looked up the vibration bit but it didn't say what happens.
They get shipped all over the country in boxes on trucks.
I think John is going to have to test that theory or you could take yours for a little holiday! hehe
Iza
Thanks for the input, I have watched the videos from the link that Nomes put up and the most likely for space reasons would be the nesting boxes. My guru for all things organic and natural is Mezzie and tomorrow I will be able to discuss the subject with her.
Another thing that I have just thought about is why not have another box and grow mushrooms? I would already have the mushroom mulch and another box on top will take little space.
John
Hi Yeoeleven
My brother inlaw is a very keen fish person of some note, he believes the reason his mushrooms grow so big is they are placed in his shed near where his visiting fish buddies come to tel stories of the ones that got away or the bag they got that day.
Now my thinking is if you placed your computer ontop of your mushroom farm one day and then the next day on the worms outside where the grey nomads meet to talk, it would help with the growth of both them and you would be on a real winner.
Said with tongue in cheek, best of luck. Ralph.
Ps. If I was on the road full time, I would for sure have a mushroom farm on the go.
Cafes are happy to give them away, I go to Macas every week and collect them for the vege garden at the preschool garden I look after. (The kids love crumbling them up to put on the gardens.)