2023 – Important Update
May 30, 2023
Unfortunately, I’ve decided to wind things down completely with the business this season (2023), but I do have some products available for anyone able to pick up in Waterloo Region.
As of early June, I should have:
– 30 to 40 Easy Worm Mix starter cultures (they will come in 5 gallon HDX bins)
– 2 older model Urban Worm Bags with stands (refurbished)
– Several “VermiBag” systems
– Several “Worm Inn” systems
– Muliple plastic tubs well-suited for worm composting (used but cleaned out)
– Comfrey root starters (Comfrey is fantastic for composting, among other things)
– A 2-bin “Bokashi Living” starter kit (partially used but perfect for getting started)
Again, unfortunately I won’t be shipping anything, so pick-up in Waterloo Region is required.
As always, all purchases still include any and all assistance/guidance you might need.
If you would like to learn more and get in touch, please visit
>> this information page <<
Thanks very much!
“Outdoor Grade” Easy Worm Mix Explained
June 24, 2020
SHORTER VERSION – The “outdoor grade” Easy Worm Mix is a larger volume (~ 18 litres) of living material and worms harvested from outdoor beds. It tends to have a lower density of worms-per-unit-volume (the original mix was usually around 10-12 litres), including different kinds of worms, and a more diverse ecosystem.
It is far better suited for use in a backyard composter, vermicomposting trench or various other outdoor systems than in something like a plastic stacking worm bin. Even something as simple as a buried bucket with holes in it can work very well.
That said, it can still be used for indoor systems – here is a link to a article I wrote about an indoor bucket system I set up with it: Super Simple Breathable Bucket Worm Bin. You simply need to be aware that you will be dealing with a larger volume of material, there may be more small “critters” in your system, and just generally, you will likely need to be a bit more patient.
As I type this (late June 2020), the outdoor grade mix is available for pick-up only, in Waterloo Ontario. It must be pre-ordered and it’s important to realize that turn-around times are going to be slower than normal (likely 1-2 weeks, but under certain circumstances I don’t mind bumping orders up if there is a time-sensitive requirement of some sort).
As always, purchases include full support, and any virtual assistance you need – and guaranteed success if you are willing to follow my recommendations.
LONGER VERSION
For quite a few years I have been selling Red Worms in the form of a starter culture known as “Easy Worm Mix”.
The product was inspired by the great results I’ve witnessed, starting new systems with worm-rich material from active systems over the years.
The idea is that you don’t just get a big gob of stressed out worms in a small amount of sterile bedding. You get a much larger quantity of rich, living habitat material that contains lots of worms of all sizes, often many cocoons as well, along with a diverse ecosystem of beneficial composting organisms.
Most people don’t realize it, but the living material itself is nearly as valuable as the composting worms, helping to balance things out and protect the worms early on (when newcomers can often make a lot of mistakes).
To learn more about Easy Worm Mix I highly recommend you read through these resources:
Easy Worm Mix FAQ Page
Easy Worm Mix Guide
This now brings us to…
“Outdoor Grade” Easy Worm Mix
Last season I rolled out a new indoor production approach for Easy Worm Mix. Batches of mix were prepared over time in a small indoor bins. It helped me to standardize the process a lot more, as well as helping me avoid bottlenecks during more challenging times of year (eg cold and hot/dry periods).
I am very happy with the approach, but the 2020 season brought with it a whole new set of challenges that made it much more difficult to continue setting up lots of these bins. I needed a simpler approach in order to continue selling Red Worm culture mixes. I still had older outdoor systems with plenty of worms in them, and I also saw a great opportunity to show people how to harness the “power” of composting worms in their own backyards.
Being largely home-bound early on, I’ve ended up re-booting multiple backyard composters and setting up other outdoor systems (with plenty of help from my son) this season with great results.
I am hoping to write more about this in other upcoming blog posts, but here are some articles on my other site you may want to check out in the meantime:
“Vermicomposting Trench Worm Bins” – this talks about a series of plastic tub systems I installed in an old vermicomposting trench.
“Backyard Vermi-Filtration, Fertilization System” – this is about an old leaky rain barrel that I’ve converted into a “vermi-filtration” system that will be used to convert greywater (etc) into a beneficial “tea”, used to hydrate/fertilize garden plants this summer.
[NOTE: If you are Canadian, please don’t order worms from the Red Worm Composting website – I have a largely US-based audience for that site and all those worm orders are actually fulfilled by a drop-shipper south of the border]
Hope this provides some clarification about the “outdoor grade” mix. If you have any questions about the product or about setting up outdoor systems with composting worms, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
If you are ready to place an order (for Waterloo ON pick-up), you can do so via this page: Pick-Up Order Pricing
Easy Worm Mix 2019 – Important!
March 26, 2019
As I wrote in my last post, order preparation for Easy Worm Mix has changed a fair bit this season.
Instead of relying on outdoor production beds (which translates into a later start, supply bottlenecks throughout the year, and a late fall season shut-down), I’ve been rolling out a new indoor production system. Each starter batch of Easy Worm Mix is prepared by hand (with love – haha) – although, in some cases I do have multiple batches together in a larger system – and then left to sit for at least 6 weeks.
This gives the initial stock of “breeder” worms ample opportunity to produce loads of cocoons, and for may of those cocoons to hatch out (and the young worms to start growing).
Some Important Facts to Keep in Mind
1) Adult worms can release 3 cocoons per week, 2) Hatchlings tend to start emerging after 21 days, and 3) Each cocoon averages 3 hatchlings.
Starting with 100+ breeder worms, it’s easy to see that you will end up with lots of worms and cocoons by the 42 day (6 week) mark – and so far I’ve been thrilled with how the batches have been turning out. In past seasons, the # of cocoons (which, in a lot of ways are the most important part) I ended up with in the mix varied widely, largely dependent on the time of year.
It’s amazing what can happen with a fully climate-controlled, consistent/systematic approach! There will literally be NO batches of Easy Worm Mix that don’t have lots of cocoons in them!
But this brings us to a VERY important point…
It’s critical to realize that Easy Worm Mix is what I like to refer to as a “nursery mix/culture” – much of the vermicomposting potential arrives in the form of very small hatchlings/juveniles and cocoons. Both of these can be quite difficult to see, especially for the untrained eye. The image above shows what the cocoons look like – without those red arrows, they certainly wouldn’t be as obvious, would they? And that’s close up!
And here is what a shot of what the mix might look like if you dumped it out into a bin:
Not very exciting, is it? But don’t be fooled by appearances – you are looking at some incredible worm composting potential right there.
This is probably also a good time to also mention the importance of using ALL the material – please do not attempt to separate the worms from the habitat mix (unless you plan to start a separate system for each – and even then you should simply split up everything between the systems). Not only will you lose all the valuable cocoons and countless tiny worms, you will be tossing a highly valuable habitat/food starter for your new system.
Even if you can’t quite fit it all in your bin (eg. you are using a single tray in a small stacking bin), just save what have left over and gradually add over time – or start up a separate bin!
This mix is going to be fantastic for starting a new system. If you’ve set things up properly (don’t ever hesitate to e-mail me with questions about this), it will likely seem as though the population is “exploading” (mainly because young worms are growing quickly and becoming more visible) quite quickly. And one of the great things about cocoons and hatchlings is that you end up with worms that are better adapted for their new environment (there is literally scientific research to back this up)!
As I’ve said elsewhere, the mix isn’t necessarily going to be ideal for everyone. For example – if, for some reason you need loads of bigger worms right away (eg for fishing or live food), this won’t be an ideal product for you (but you can certainly grow loads of bigger worms using this culture IF you are patient and use various nutritional/spacing etc strategies). If you are trying to start up a massive system, this also may not be ideal (again, unless you are willing to be more patient – since these worms DO grow in number quickly).
Anyway – I just want to make sure everyone is clear on this early on. Don’t hesitate to drop me a line any time with questions – and don’t forget that, as a customer, you are entitled to as much ongoing support as you need! My main goal is to help you achieve successful vermicomposting!
😎
Oh, one last thing…
Full Disclosure – There may still be cases where orders are filled more quickly by harvesting from very productive outdoor beds (i.e. the way I did it in the past). This will only be at times when I have access to material that is very rich in both worms and cocoons (at least as rich as the mix from the indoor production bins) and when demand is very high (eg during the spring).
Red Worms – Spring 2019 Update
March 7, 2019
Spring is nearly here (although, it still feels like January as I type this in early March!), and unlike past seasons, it is almost time for our “official opening” (March 18, 2019). Normally, I would need to wait for outdoor beds to thaw out and worms to get active again, but thanks to a new 4-season outdoor bed and a brand new indoor production approach, I’m already very close to being “ready” for order-fulfillment.
Aside from helping me get a nice early start, this is good news for WCC customers because:
1) It is a lot less likely I will end up with worm supply bottlenecks this year. Outdoor beds are great – but Mother Nature makes things challenging at times (to say the least), and there isn’t always a steady, predictable supply of worms available. I should be able to start seasons earlier and end them later than normal (potentially even remaining open during the winter for local pick-ups).
2) Easy Worm Mix production will now be highly-controlled and optimized, resulting in an even higher-quality Red Worm culture mix for customers.
3) I should end up with even more time for customer support (unlimited support is included), and hopefully new website content creation as well.
Pre-ordering opened up back in early February, and quite a few people have already reserved their bag(s) of Easy Worm Mix. If you are hoping to get yours by late March or early April I highly recommend getting your order in soon. Once the snow really starts to melt, a lot more people will be thinking composting, and demand may outstrip even the improved supply.
Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions!
😎
Splitting The Easy Worm Mix Test Bin
April 22, 2015
Earlier today I “split” my Easy Worm Mix test bin and then created a video to show you how it was done (and to provide you with some info on “splitting” in general).
I had hoped to get to this last week, but alas things have been pretty busy (tis the season! lol).
Everything still looked great inside the system. It looked as though the worms had literally processed ALL the food waste I’d added. There even seemed to be some roaming around on the sides of the bin (likely due to higher moisture levels up top as the upper bedding layer became moistened – but also could be an indication of hunger).
With the worm population split between two systems, my hunch is that there will be a LOT of worm reproduction going on over the next couple of months.
As touched on in the video, I’ll probably wait for at least a few days (realistically, it will probably be early next week) before adding more food to both bins.
I’ll definitely keep you posted!
😎
If you haven’t been following along, these other Easy Worm Mix posts may be of interest as well:
Feeding My Easy Worm Mix System
Straw Bale Gardening With Easy Worm Mix?
Easy Worm Mix Update
NEW – Easy Worm Mix
Bag Equivalents
August 14, 2014
IMPORTANT UPDATE: March 17th 2015
We now sell a product called Easy Worm Mix – it comes in a single larger bag (like the white bag shown below). It is no longer based on “bag equivalents”.
ALL INFORMATION BELOW IS NO LONGER RELEVANT – Refer to the Composting Worms page for up to date product information.
Yesterday I opened up a box of (what I thought were) my usual breathable worm bags, only to realize with horror that I had ordered a much larger size by accident. After some initial cursing and teeth gnashing , I reached the conclusion that I could still use the bags. I’d simply switch from individual bags to “bag equivalents”.
What exactly are “bag equivalents”?
I will fill the smaller bags (luckily I still had a handful of them when the new bags arrived) with Composting Worm Mix and then transfer the worm-rich material into one of the larger bags before packing and shipping, or handing directly to a customer.
Same quantity of worm mix – the only difference is that it comes in a single bag (or two bags, in the case of larger pick-up orders).
What’s funny is that I actually think this could prove to be a superior approach. The single bag is easier to pack (and protect), and the worms have even more of a consistent, supportive environment to dwell in before being transferred to their new home.
😎
Worm Inn Update- Limited Quantities Available
August 6, 2014
IMPORTANT UPDATE – APRIL 2015 – For current information relating to Worm Inns please refer to the Worm Inn Page (the blog post below is now outdated)
I decided to start selling Worm Inns again this year – including the new Worm Inn “Mega”.
But since I really wasn’t sure how much interest there would be, I only shipped up a small quantity of them (with two color options each). Interest in the regular Worm Inns hasn’t been all that strong, so I won’t be continuing to sell them (for the time being). In light of this, you can now get a regular Worm Inn (plus special corner pieces for building PVC pipe stand) for only $75 + shipping.
Interest in the Mega has definitely been higher – and I will continue to make them available (also since I have one of my own set up right now, with plans to set up another very soon). Nevertheless, I have still slashed the price from $145 + shipping to $125 + shipping (includes special corner pieces for PVC stand + plans for the easy-to-build wooden stand).
Here is ALL That is Left:
Regular Worm Inns
Green – 3
Port – 3
Worm Inn Megas
Port – **SOLD OUT**
More Megas are on the way, but 2-4 of them are already accounted for. If you are interested in a Mega make sure to get in touch ASAP.
I’ll be so bold as to say that there is no better vermicomposting system for home-scale indoor use than the Worm Inn. They are forgiving (tough to “overfeed”), you don’t need to deal with “bugs” and worms escaping, and they are very effective for turning kitchen scraps into beautiful vermicompost. Learn more >> HERE <<!
Kitchen Scrap Holder – FREE with Local Worm Orders!
May 31, 2013
IMPORTANT UPDATE (SPRING 2015) – This promotion has ended
We have a limited number of BioBag kitchen scrap holders available as free gifts for those who place pick-up worm orders!
These breathable pails work great with small paper bag inserts that are readily available in regions where “Green Bin” programs exist – and really, any small paper bag should be fine (we actually don’t recommend using biodegradable plastic bags since these can take a lot longer to break down).
Here is a link to an interesting fact sheet from the Region of Waterloo, including information on how to make your own origami liner insert!
Make Your Own Kitchen Pail Paper Liner
This promotion will last only as long as our (limited) supply of these pails lasts, so if you happen to live in Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge (or really any location you are willing to drive to Elmira from!) and are in the market for composting worms – be sure to get your order in now!
NOTE: These containers offer a great way to collect kitchen scraps for you backyard vermicomposting systems.
European Nightcrawlers
March 27, 2013
I’m pleased to announce that we’re adding a NEW worm to the Worm Composting Canada line-up this (2013) season – the European Nightcrawler (Eisenia hortensis). If there was ever an “ultimate” all-in-one earthworm, this would be it! Euros (also sometimes referred to as “ENCs”) are a larger (as you can see above) cousin of the Red Wiggler (Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei), so they are also excellent composting worms. Some might even say they are “superior” composters to their well-known counterparts in some ways.
Due to their size and resilience, ENCs they are also a fantastic fishing worm. Unlike Canadian Nightcrawlers (“Dew Worms”), Lumbrucus terrestris, which are often “too big” for a hook, and Reds which can be a bit on the small size, Euros tend to be closer to “just right”. Add to that their vigorous wiggling action and durability, and you’ve definitely got a winner in the eyes of even the most stubborn bait fisherman.
Initially, our Euros will be sold in mixed cultures with Reds (we’ll continue to sell pure cultures of Reds as well) – in essence, providing customers with the best of both worlds (“worms”? lol). In the past I haven’t recommended that these two species be kept together since I was under the impression that Reds would out-compete the Euros over time, but recent testing has completely changed my opinion on this.
That being said, Euros ARE much better suited for certain types of vermicomposting systems than others. They prefer diving down and hanging out in zones with higher moisture content, so they are not well suited for stacking bins and other types of flow-through units. Where they can excel is in typical enclosed plastic tub systems, and backyard composters (set up and maintained for vermicomposting).
UPDATE: `We only sell Red Worms now – you can learn more on our Composting Worms page
Early Spring 2013 Update
March 17, 2013
IMPORTANT UPDATE – APRIL 2013 – We are now open for business. If you would like to order Red Worm Mix you can do so on the “Shipped Order Pricing” or “Pick-Up Order Pricing” pages (the latter is of course intended for those who plan to drive to Elmira ON to pick up their worms).
I am currently (mid-March) gearing up to start selling composting worms again. Hoping to be back in action by the end of the month at the latest.
If you are interested in purchasing our Red Worm Mix, be sure to sign up for the notification list. I will keep everyone posted!
Worm Castings 2012
April 3, 2012
I’m happy to report that worm castings are finally available for sale! I have sent an notice out to the email list, but figured I should probably post the message here as well.
I’ve decided to extend the “Crazy Castings Sale” from last year
as a reward for all of you patiently waiting. This means you
can purchase 11 litre sacs of castings for only $5 (total) each.
If you know anything about the price of worm castings, you will
know that this is a truly “crazy” bargain (actually had a fellow
castings seller telling me off when he saw what I was charging).
[UPDATE: The $5/bag pricing is now only available on orders of 40 or more bags. Our pricing on smaller quantities is still low, but not as “crazy” as it was.]
Very important to keep the following in mind, however:
1) This is a limited time offer – once my current stock of
castings is gone (don’t worry – there will be more), I will
be raising the price. [UPDATE: The $5/bag pricing is now only available on orders of 40 or more bags. Our pricing on smaller quantities is still low, but not as “crazy” as it was.]
2) At this time we are only accepting online pre-orders for castings. This really helps to streamline everything, and means you will end up with a faster turn-around time (since the bags can be left out for pick-up even if we’re not around).
3) The PICKUP12 discount code does not apply to castings orders
(but if you order worms for pick-up at the same time you can
still apply it to them)
4) As you might have guessed already, I am not shipping castings.
They can only be picked up here in Elmira, Ontario. It would
cost customers FAR more for shipping than for the material itself!
I’m thinking about potentially creating some smaller specialty
castings products (castings tea bags etc), but we’ll have to see.
5) I have order buttons for 1-10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 bags. The pricing for 1-10 bags is $7 each, but there are discounts for larger quantities.
If you are interested in placing an order for pick-up, just follow this link:
WORM CASTINGS
Thanks for your interest!
8)
Closed for the Season
December 22, 2011
I just wanted to let everyone know that red worms won’t likely be available for the next couple of months. Be sure to check back in February if you are still looking for worms then.
Happy Holidays!
8)
Fall Worm Availability
November 6, 2011
With the cold wet weather of fall it has become a lot more difficult to concentrate worms for the “Red Worm Culture” mix, so that is no longer available. Our “Compost Ecosystem” (aka “Eco-Mix”) product is still available for the time being – not 100% sure how far into the winter I will continue to ship that. Rest assured, there are plenty of worms in the Eco-Mix, and next season I will actually be switching over to a single “Red Worm Mix” product that’s very similar to the current Eco-mix (but with a boost in worm numbers).
If you would like to order Eco-Mix, please refer to these pages:
Pick-Up Order Pricing
Shipped Order Pricing
Thanks
8)
Eco-Mix Is Available!
August 2, 2011
Thanks to some rain and a little TLC, our beds are back to the point of being able to yield good supplies of “Compost Ecosystem” (aka “Eco-Mix”). Again, this is Red Worm inoculum mix that simply contains fewer worms than our “Red Worm Culture”. It’s still great for starting a vermicomposting system (as long as you go easy on the feeding for the first little while), and it’s also a fair bit cheaper!
In all honesty, given the amount of rainfall (or lack thereof) we are likely to see this month, there’s a decent chance that we won’t have Red Worm Culture bags available until September, but I don’t foresee any more shortages of the Eco-Mix prior to the end of the season.
We also still have plenty of worm castings – still available at our ultra-low price! I’ve been seeing fantastic results with my crop plants (mostly tomatoes & squash this year) – so if you want to provide your veggies with a nice late season boost, this is definitely a great option! I’m planning to add a blog post with photos of the garden a bit later this week, so stay tuned!
8)
Red Worms Temporarily Unavailable
July 13, 2011
***UPDATE (Sept 4th)*** – Both worm mixes are available, and can be purchased on these pages:
Pick-Up Order Pricing
Shipped Order Pricing
Unfortunately, a very dry summer (and limited available time for maintenance) has taken its toll on our outdoor worm beds, so we’ve decided to shut down worm selling for a couple of weeks while we get the beds back in good shape and our worm densities back to where we want to see them.
Our “Crazy Castings Sale” is of course still on, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you are interested in purchasing some of this material.
8)
Worm Castings – Waterloo Region
June 27, 2011
As mentioned on the homepage, we now have worm castings (aka “vermicompost”) available for sale in 11 litre quanties. For the time being, these bags are for pick-up orders only (so ideally suited for those living in the region) – but we are getting things rolling with some TRULY “crazy” pricing! (shop around for castings and you’ll see what we mean).
$5/11 litre bag (HST inc)
Some may be wondering what exactly “worm castings” are. Technically speaking, the castings themselves are literally the poop pellets (for lack of a better term – haha) created by earthworms – in this case “Red Wiggler” composting worms. In some ways the term “vermicompost” is more appropriate, however, since it’s next to impossible to create a material that is 100% pure worm castings (some material simply will not have passed through the digestive system of a worm).
Worm castings, and vermicomposts in general, have been found to have unique beneficial properties not found in most “normal” composts (ie those not produced via vermicomposting). While they are certainly a valuable natural “fertilizer”, academic research has demonstrated that there is something beyond the N-P-K fertilizer value of this material that can stimulate additional growth in plants – even when plants have been provided with all the nutrients they need in the form of a typical inorganic fertilizer.
This is a “living” material, absolutely loaded with beneficial microorganisms which can help plants to obtain nutrients and fend off attack from pathogens. As such, we recommend that you store your unused castings someplace protected from temperature extremes (a garage or basement could be a good location).
To learn more about worm castings be sure to check out the new Worm Castings Page.
If you have any questions or want to arrange a pick-up, please don’t hesitate to drop us a line!
Spring 2011
April 11, 2011
My apologies for leaving the blog unattended for SO long! The good news is that I’m finally getting around to updating the site and getting things rolling for the 2011 “worm season”!
As some of you (who have been in touch recently) will know, this delayed spring certainly hasn’t helped me get things rolling in terms of filling worm orders. I am now getting ready to start taking “Compost Ecosystem” (aka “Eco-Mix”) orders (hopefully starting this week), but “Red Worm Culture” bags won’t be available until later in the month.
In an effort to make things more efficient, I’d decided to add online ordering to the site this year. In case you are wondering why I haven’t done so already it’s primarily because Canada Post is simply far too unpredictable and highly variable with their shipping rates/times. If I was shipping stereo components or something like that it wouldn’t really matter, but with live organisms this is certainly a very important consideration. As such, I’ve always handled orders on a case by case basis. While this certainly works just fine, as you might imagine it is WAY too time consuming, so I need to try something new this year.
So I’ve decided to pare down my product offerings and to come up with all-inclusive pricing for the regions I’m able to ship to. I’ll write more about this fairly soon, but the bottom-line is that ONTARIO|MANITOBA|QUEBEC will be my primary shipping range – the only provinces I will be shipping Red Worm Culture to – but I will ship Compost Ecosystem to BC|AB|SK|NB|NS|PEI.
For those who are still a wee bit confused about all this “Compost Ecosystem”/”Red Worm Culture” stuff, the good news is that I will finally be creating a video explaining what exactly these are and how they differ from one another. It a nutshell, the Ecosystem mix has a lower concentration of worms in it (although I’m actually including more worms in the Eco-Mix this year than in previous years) – but it’s still a GREAT mix for inoculating a composting system (especially your typical “backyard composter”). Apart from the worms, the material typically contains plenty of worm cocoons, beneficial microbes, and a wide array of other composting critters.
Anyway -that’s basically it for now! You can definitely expect to see more posts on the blog this year and more exciting stuff coming your way!
Stay tuned!
8)
Agroinnovations Interview – Part I
March 22, 2010
Just a quick post to make people aware of the publication of “Part I” of an interview I took part in a couple of weeks ago. It is especially geared towards those just getting into worm composting – seasoned veterans may not get much from it (but ya never know).
As my own worst critic (and then some), I found it difficult to listen to it myself – but hey, you can’t get better at something unless you actually DO it, right?
🙂
I am very glad I took part, and want to thank Frank Aragona, host of the Agroinnovations Podcast, for inviting me to participate.
Episode #84: Red Worm Composting (Part I)
I will post a link to Part II once it is published next Monday.
A ‘Bag of Worms’ – In More Detail
August 19, 2009
My new Red Worm starter culture bags as compared to a ‘Compost Ecosystem’ bag (foreground)
***NOTE: This post was written in August of 2009. Please visit the Red Worm page for current pricing and shipping information. You will see below where changes have been made (and explanations added)***
As I mentioned yesterday, I am no longer offering specific quantities of worms. Instead, I have decided to switch over to a ‘Red Worm Starter Culture’ approach, in an effort to keep the business up and running while I put my focus elsewhere for the next few months. My hope is to be able to bring back the smaller (specific) quantities in time for next spring, when I should be able to dedicate a lot more time to this endeavour.
[UPDATE: I am very happy with the way the ‘culture’ and ‘ecosystem’ products have been received by customers thus far, and plan to continue focusing primarily on this approach. That being said, if you are in need of specific (larger) quantities of worms, don’t hesitate to get in touch]
In a lot of ways, I think this is still a win/win situation, since customers will be getting worms that have been handled (and stressed) a lot less, and packed with loads of great ‘compost ecosystem‘ material (containing plenty of baby worms and cocoons, along with other beneficial compost critters). Aside from being a great inoculum for your worm bin, compost ecosystem also has a lot of ‘habitat’ and ‘food’ value to help your worms get adjusted to their new home much more easily!
Just so you know, research has shown that each Red Worm cocoon, on average, releases three new worms, and as I’ve discovered via my own experimentation, baby Red Worms can grow to adulthood in a matter of a few weeks under the right conditions. In other words, aside from all the adult worms that are already included your starter culture, you should expect to see plenty more before too long!
So where does this worm-filled material come from?
The material selected for my starter culture bags will only come from highly productive worm beds. It will also typically be further concentrated to ensure that there will be lots of adult worms in the mix. [UPDATE: Culture is still harvested from highly productive zones, but it is now always concentrated further as well]
A typical hand-full of material (and worms) that will go into a starter culture bag (along with plenty more just like it)
I can’t guarantee any specific exact number of adult worms, or worm weight – but customer satisfaction is extremely important to me, so rest assured you will get good value.
As you can see in the first picture, the bags themselves are somewhat larger than those used for compost ecosystem (and previously used for concentrated worm orders). When full, they’ll typically weigh around 3 1/2 lb or so (at time of packing – will likely lose moisture if shipped), and contain close to 3.5 litres of ‘stuff’ (worms plus material).
In all honesty, I had hoped the bags would be somewhat larger so that I could offer ‘small’ and ‘large’ options, but as it turns out the difference in size between these and the compost eco-bags isn’t enough (in my mind, anyway) to bother with this approach. If I get some larger bags sometime in the future, I may explore this option then.
Ok – well, I think that basically covers it! If you have ANY questions, and/or would like to order one or more of these bags, please visit the Red Worm page then send me an email.
8)
Buy a Bag ‘O’ Worms!
August 18, 2009
I just wanted to write a quick update regarding some upcoming changes I’ll be making here at Worm Composting Canada. For the time being I will no longer be offering smaller, specific quantities of worms – I need to take some time away from the business, which means I’ll have far less time to dedicate to actual harvesting of worms.
In an effort to keep things rolling along (and to help streamline the business in general) I’ve decided to offer a new line of products – appropriately called “Bags of Worms”. There will be two sizes available – small and large. The small size will be the same as our standard ‘compost ecosystem‘ bags, and the large ones will be somewhat…uhhh…larger! [UPDATE: There is actually only one size available]
😆
All joking aside, I will be writing another post very soon with some pictures and exact specifications.
[UPDATE: That post can be found >>HERE<<]
The bags will be filled with material and worms from thriving worm beds, so there will still be a lot of adult worms in the mix. Like our ‘compost ecosystem‘ product, there will also be a lot of small worms and cocoons, along with plenty of other composting organisms. One large bag should easily provide enough worms to populate a small to medium sized worm bin. With discount pricing for multiple bag orders, this product will also be a great option for those interested in stocking a larger system, or just generally starting with more worms.
Aside from helping the worms to make a much easier transition into a new system in general (due to all the food/habitat material that comes with them), this option also ensures that the worms don’t end up stressed out and injured due to all the handling/harvesting that typically takes place.
Stay tuned – more info to come soon!
8)
Worm Inn Pro – COMING SOON!
July 8, 2009
I’ve been sold out of ‘Worm Inns’ for quite some time now, and have decided to discontinue selling my ‘mini’ worm bin system/kits (apologies for not updating the page until today!), but I am very happy to announce that my second batch of Worm Inns are on there way to me now, and will hopefully be here by the end of next week (July 17, 2009).
I’ve decided to no longer carry the regular Worm Inns, opting instead for the new ‘Worm Inn Pro’. This model is similar to the ‘regular’ version in every way except for the lid design. The original screen simply attached via velcro in four spots – in the Worm Inn Pro the screen is attached via a continuous zipper. In my opinion this is a huge improvement since it will greatly improve the chances of keeping pesky flying bugs (like fruit flies and fungus gnats) out of the system. Should you happen to develop an infestion, it will also help to keep it contained a lot more easily.
I should mention that this system does NOT come with a stand, but I’ve found that an inexpensive laundry hamper stand can work very well to support the Inn. Alternatively, you may opt to simply hang the system using bungy cords or something similar.
I currently have a couple of the older versions up and running in my basement, and have been really pleased with the results. I harvested beautiful vermicompost from my original Worm Inn several months ago, and will be doing so again very soon.
I plan to write more about my experiences with the Worm Inn and will be making a video about the system as well. If you would like to learn more, or reserve a Worm Inn Pro (or make reservations for your worms at the Inn? haha) be sure to fire me an email. Just so you know, I’ll only have 10 units (5 colours) in my first batch, so they will likely go pretty fast.
To learn more, and to see what colours are available, be sure to check out the ‘bins and kits‘ page.
8)
Happy Earth Day!
April 22, 2009
I just wanted to write a quick post wishing everyone a Happy Earth Day!
Waterloo region is distributing rain barrels again this year (on Saturday April 25th) – they cost $30, but that is very cheap considering what they cost at stores (closer to $100). Learn more >>here<<.
I got one of these barrels a couple of years ago and have really appreciated having it. I actually keep a couple of plastic garbage cans for water storage as well. Whenever my main barrel fills up I transfer water over to the other bins, thus freeing up more space in the barrel, rather than letting it overflow. I end up with a lot more rain water for use around the property.
The region is also continuing to distribute FREE backyard composters this year as well (available at your local landfill station) - I highly recommend you take advantage of this if you have not already done so. In case you are wondering, composting worms work very well in one of these systems, but it is important to make sure you keep it moist (since they don’t let rain in), and also provide the worms with a decent habitat (i.e. a bunch of grass clippings and yard debris won’t cut it). I will likely be writing a post about this very soon so stay tuned!
[tags]waterloo, guelph, cambridge, elmira, kitchener, rain barrels, composting, composters, vermicomposting, red worms, red wigglers, earth day[/tags]
Spring has Sprung
April 17, 2009
Well, it has been ages since my last blog post here (I’ve remained quite active over on the Red Worm Composting blog) – I should definitely get things rolling again here!
As some of you will know, I had a bit of a slow period during the long winter months and had to essentially close up shop until the end of March. I am happy to report that we are back in action and ready for worm orders.
Now is a great time to get your backyard composting systems back up and operational. Many don’t realize it, but composting worms are actually extremely well suited to life in one of these systems – as long as you provide them with a nice moist habitat and plenty of carbon-rich materials (fall leaves, shredded cardboard etc) they should thrive. They will also help to speed up the composting process greatly!
Unfortunately the European Nightcrawler remains on the ‘most wanted’ list for many people (myself included) – it doesn’t look good for this season I’m afraid – but hopefully I will have a good stock of them at SOME point. I will certainly let everyone know if/when this happens.
The good news is that I have a variety of options for those who want to compost with Red Worms. A great option for anyone simply wanting to inoculate their backyard composter is the “Compost Ecosystem” bag – while cheaper than 1/4 lb of worms, this little ‘bag of life’ can really pack a punch – it is full of Red Worm cocoons, and lots of other critters that will help get your composting system going. It is like a ‘composting activator’ on steroids.
🙂
For those of you who want to get a little more serious with your vermicomposting efforts (at least in terms of seeing results more quickly), selecting one of our other worm order options will be the way to go. If you purchase Compost Ecosystem along with a worm order you will also get a significant discount. For 1/4 lb orders, you can get an Ecobag for an additional $7 ($3 off regular price), and for orders of 1/2 lb and above, your Ecobags will be $5 (half price).
Worm orders come with some compost ecosystem as well, but adding some extra to your system is not a bad idea – this is the habitat these worms are used to so it can really help them settle in more quickly, not to mention boosting future populations of worms (did you know that each worm cocoon hatches an average of 3 new worms?).
Some will be disappointed to hear that I’ve decided to discontinue selling worm bin Kits (still need to update that page). I will likely be making a new video to show you exactly how I made these bins – I love helping people do these sorts of things themselves anyway. Saves customers money, and let’s me focus on what I love to do – growing worms!
8)
We DO still have one ‘Worm Inn’ left – it is purple. This is the very last one to sell for $45 – with the current exchange range, at that price I’m basically selling the system at a loss.
I recently harvested worm compost from the bottom of one of my two active Worm Inns and was hugely impressed with the quality of the material – beautiful ‘black gold’. So much nicer than the sludge I’ve grown accustomed to finding in the bottom of an enclosed plastic bin. It’s amazing what a little extra air flow can do!
I also still have lots of food scrap holders and biobags, all priced to clear!
Ok – I think that’s enough for one blog post. I hope to start posting a lot more regularly in coming weeks.
**NEW** – Compost Ecosystem
December 10, 2008
I wanted to let everyone know that I am offering a new product – what I’m referring to as ‘Compost Ecosystem’. This material offers an inexpensive way for anyone to create their own thriving vermicomposting bin or backyard composter.
When most people think of vermicomposting they think WORMS, and understandably so. But is actually a very complex ecosystem, with countless micro- and macro-organisms working together to break down and stabilize waste materials.
Our Compost Ecosystem product is like ‘compost activator’ on steroids. In reality, you don’t even need to buy activator to get your compost bin going (although it certainly can help to get things going right away) since these microbes are everywhere, including the surfaces of the materials you are composting. The larger organisms however – especially composting worms – take longer to arrive in your heap (if EVER), so it really helps to add these early on. Better yet, why not create you own thriving compost system indoors during the winter. This way you will have lots of great material to add to your outdoor composting systems in the spring, assuming you don’t want to use it to create your own permanent indoor worm bin.
Simply mix some moistened shredded cardboard or newspaper with some fruit/veggie scraps in a rubbermaid bin (with drilled ventilation holes for best results), add the bag of Compost Ecosystem, put the lid on then let it sit. Easy peasy.
If you wait a few weeks to open it up again you will be amazed by what you find!
The Compost Ecosystem is also a fantastic educational tool. Adding 1 or 2 bags to a terrarium, along with some fall leaves and food waste can provide children with a first-hand look at the decomposition process. Great for lessons in ecology and invertebrate biology as well.
In order to eliminate confusion about this product, here is a breakdown of the scenarios in which it can and cannot be used effectively.
Great For:
– Innoculating composting system with beneficial organisms
– Helping worms to settle in to a new worm bin
– Slowly creating your own worm bin
– Science projects involving decomposition (but see “Not Great For” section below for exceptions)
– Teaching children about ecology
– Raising your own live fish food (again, this can take some time)
– Anyone in remote locations having trouble tracking down Red Worms (since can be shipped anywhere)
– Anyone looking for ‘set it and forget it’ approach
– Anyone not wanting to invest a lot of money just yet.
Not Great For:
– Processing all your waste food scraps right away
– People who want to see instant results in general
– Adding directly to your garden (your soil/plants will benefit but the organisms will not thrive)
More Info:
Compost Ecosystem is a specially mixed blend of partially worm-worked materials. It contains a wide variety of organisms, worm castings, worm cocoons, and other partially degraded organic matter. It smells like a rich garden soil.
Each bag breathable bag contains nearly 3 litres of the mix, which is shipped relatively dry to reduce weight and protect against freezing.
While we can’t guarantee that the contents of each bag will be identical (in fact, we can guarantee that they will NOT be), we can guarantee that you will receive worms and cocoons, along with other compost heap creatures (if there is a specific kind of organism you want other than worms, please feel free to let us know and we may be able to adjust the mix accordingly). That is to say, this is not simply old worm bedding that’s been haphazardly scooped in a bag. Each bag is mixed from a number of sources, and in most cases will be augmented with additional organisms.
Unlike our densely packed worm shipments, a bag of Compost Ecosystem can also be shipped anywhere in Canada all winter long. We will likely be shipping worms less and less in coming (winter) months, thus this allows people to get a jump-start on composting season.
If you would like to learn about pricing for Compost Ecosystem (along with shipping info) be sure to check out the Red Worm page (and scroll down).
[tags]compost, compost activator, inoculum, spawn, microbes, beneficial microorganisms, compost starter, red worms, red wigglers, sow bugs, mites, ecosystem, decomposition, science projects, worm bins, composters, backyard composting, cocoons, vermicomposting, worm composting[/tags]
The Worm Inns are HERE!
November 19, 2008
For some reason I thought I had written a post announcing the arrival of my Worm Inns. A recent email from someone inquiring if I’d have them available in time for Christmas served to jog my memory (thanks again, Kirk!) and make me realize that a blog update is way overdue.
The Worm Inn pictured to the right is my own test model. I originally had it hanging from the ceiling in my basement, but ended up transferring it to a laundry hamper stand after finding a nice one at Canadian Tire on the weekend. As you can see, it works quite nicely as a holder for the system.
My first batch of Worm Inns will be a bit of a test to gauge interest – so I only have one or two (at most) of each colour/design. I am going to put together a proper Worm Inn info section (with pictures) on the Worm Bins page, but in the meantime, here are the different options and the numbers available:
Flower Power – 1
Beige – 1
Dark Brown – 2
Maroon – 2
Green – 1
Camouflage – 1 (this is the design pictured above)
Purple – 1
Black – 1
The Worm Inn
October 11, 2008
I totally forgot to mention in my update post that I will have a brand new vermicomposting system available for sale very soon. It is called the ‘Worm Inn‘, and was actually created by my good friend, Robyn Crispe. There is a bit of a funny back story to all this as well.
Some time ago I came up with a very kooky vermicomposter idea called the “Creepy Pants Vermicomposter” – basically an old pair of jeans filled with bedding and composting worms, then fed with food waste. In theory it looked good, since it was a really inexpensive way to create your own ‘flow-through’ vermicomposting system – but in reality it was a bit of a mess. Not too surprisingly, the pant legs started to grow mold, and I even ended up with a serious infestation of fungus gnats as well.
Little did I know that, despite the limitations of the Creep Pants, I still somehow managed to inspire another avid vermicomposter to come up with her own version – which as you can see is a far cry from my moldy creepy pants.
😆
Robyn has not only created a really cool system for herself, but she is REALLY running with this – turning her creation into a full-fledged business venture. Needless to say, I want to see her do really well with this, and I love the look of the Inn, so I’ve decided to start promoting them as well. I will be selling them in the US (via drop-shipping) on Red Worm Composting, and will be testing them out in the ‘real world’ up here in Canada (promoted via this website). I will of course be testing one out myself, and will be sure to write more about that in coming weeks once my first shipment arrives.
Stay tuned!
8)
Back to Bloggy Business
October 11, 2008
I know there aren’t many people keenly watching this blog, but I just thought I should pop by to offer an apology to anyone who has been expecting more frequent posts. It has been a pretty crazy summer, with a lot on the go. I am definitely going to try to post more often from here on out though.
One important update I should mention (written about elsewhere) is the fact that my project with Crossroads restaurant was discontinued at the end of August. Unfortunately I just couldn’t handle all the waste materials, and more importantly all the time and energy required to handle these materials. I definitely bit off more than I could chew. I was hopeful that Anton (the owner) would let me scale back and take only certain waste materials, but it seems it’s an ‘all or nothing’ deal, so I am not longer receiving any wastes from them.
It was a hugely valuable learning experience for me, and hopefully the Crossroads folks aren’t left feeling even less enthusiastic about this sort of project. They should be proud – over the course of several months they helped to divert literally tons of organic waste from the landfill! Not only was it diverted, but it was used to create an incredibly bountiful garden (the tomato and zucchini harvest was insane), thanks to the help of my wiggling friends. I also got some nice pumpkins out of the deal (grown in my ‘Sandbox Self-Fertilizing Garden‘).
I am definitely enjoying a somewhat more relaxed fall, but still have a lot on the go so there is never a dull moment. For some reason, red worm orders have really picked up. I guess now that people are out of vacation mode they are once again thinking about this sort of thing.
With the cold weather approaching, now is a great time to start indoor composting with your very own worm bin. Get all that ‘black gold’ ready for the spring growing season!
😉
Ok – I think that’s enough for now. Again, you should expect to see more from me in coming weeks/months.
Welcome to WormComposting.ca
May 8, 2008
Well, this is the first official (non-test) post here on the new site! We are starting to get things rolling here and should be in full swing within a few weeks.
By the way, you’ll notice that I use the term “we” a fair bit on the site. While it is primarily just a ME at the moment, and am working closely with a number of people, and enlisting the help of family and friends as well. So don’t worry – it’s not some kind of multiple personality disorder or anything like that!
😉
Here’s where we (there I go again – haha) stand as far as worms and other products goes…
Currently we have Red Worms (Eisenia fetida) ready to be sold – smaller, orders are preferable for the next couple weeks while I get myself organized a little.
I should be ready to start selling European Nightcrawlers (Eisenia hortensis) before the end of the month (May), but unfortunately just don’t have enough to part with any at the moment.
We are also going to be selling other products from the website, such as worm bins, castings and biodegradable waste bags (the list of products will continue to grow) – hopefully by the end of the month!
As far as ordering goes – for now, please just send me an e-mail to let me know you are interested in making a purchase and we will take it from there.
I’m going to be using Paypal as my payment handler – they have a very secure online payment system. For those who have their own Paypal account it will simply withdraw money from that account, while for those who don’t it simply let’s you pay by credit card (I’m really happy they changed the policy – previously in Canada you had to have a paypal account in order to use it). Just so you know, you won’t see ‘Worm Composting Canada’ on the receipt (issued by Paypal) – it will be ‘Compost Guy’ and/or my name.
As mentioned on the homepage, if you are a U.S. resident hoping to purchase worms please fire me an email. I am working closely with a great supplier south of the border so we are definitely able to help you get your worms.
Ok, that’s all for now! If you have any questions or comments don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Regards,
Bentley
[tags]vermicomposting, worm composting, red worms, european nightcrawlers, waterloo region[/tags]