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)
Comments
19 Responses to “A ‘Bag of Worms’ – In More Detail”
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I am interested in purchasing 2 bags of red wigglers for a classroom composting project. Do you offer school discounts?
I am a teacher in Hobbema AB and would like to buy 2 bags of worms for grade 4 science. How much will the total cost be? How do we pay you? and how soon do we get the worms?
Thanks, Marion
how do I order
Hi,
I was wondering how much it would cost in shipping to montreal, qc, also I was wondering if during composting if there is any heat generated? My son needs to do a science project and he wanted to do it on composting and the energy it may create.
Thank you,
Nathalie Gerardis
Hi Everyone – very sorry for the delay responding to these – I am not notified when comments are added. Please contact me via email to inquire about ordering (be sure to include your location and postal code if shipping is required) or anything else. You can find my contact page in the “about us” section, and I have also included my address at the end of the above post.
THANKS! 🙂
Hi,
I picked up three bags from Bentley the other week. Get way to boost an existing system or start a new system. From one bag alone I have seen after three weeks over 500 worms young and mature. Great way of packaging your product.
Thanks
Stephen
greetings, i was interested in purchasing a $20 bag of red wrigglers, and have it shipped to peterborough, ontario. what would be the total cost, and how do i place an order?
regards, john
Wow – thanks Stephen! I appreciate you sharing your kind words (I wrote “worms” on the first try – haha)
JOHN – as mentioned above, I recommend that people send me an email to get the ball rolling. THANKS!
Hey there i was wondering if and when would be too late in the winter for a shipment of worms to arrive safely in Nova Scotia. The temperatures here have been rarely above freezing in the past weeks and i suspect wont rise much untill the spring. Any info is appreciated.
I am interested in buying worms. Could you please tell me the cost of 1 lb. of worms including shipping.
Bert Dirkzwager
#1 330 13th. Ave N.E.
Swift current, SK
S9H 2W1
I am interrested in buying one of your worm ins I live in Roswell NM 88203 USA
Sorry for the delay responding everyone!
Craig – I prefer not to ship out as far as Nova Scotia (Canada Post takes too long). Check out “The Worm Firm” in NS – they should be able to help you out.
Bert – you are a little out of my range, and I no longer sell by the pound.
Gary – Please visit my Red Worm Composting website (http://www.redwormcomposting.com). I drop-ship Worm Inns in the US, and they can be purchased there.
Thanks
We are starting a Community Garden here and are looking to start compost as our soil is what they call hog-fuel from the old mills. How much will some worm cost me to get started? Say a pound. I live at postal code V0P1X0.
Blessings
Tena Douglas
Tahsis, BC
Hi Tena,
You are probably better to look for a local worm supplier (should be quite a few in BC). It seems that Canada Post can get worms out to the west coast in a reasonable amount of time (as far as worm shipping goes, that is)
i have large amounts of worm castings available. do you know anyone who would be interested? I would give some away for plant growth studies for their testimonials.
Just wondering why you sell the worm inns instead of the worm factory type dwellings. I am wanting to upgrade to a better system from my rubbermaid bin type dwelling. What are the benefits to the worm inn? I believe the other system allows the worms to move on once they have composted one level and just move to the next level. I am a true newbie and don’t understand the benefits and differences.
Thanks.
CHRIS – Not really sure who would want castings at this time of year, but feel free to email me in the spring.
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CINDY – In all honesty, I am not a big fan of the stacking systems. I really like the Worm Inn because it is a single compartment unit (but still flow-through) and it has phenomenal aeration which really helps the vermicomposting process. Just my 2 cents 🙂
What is the cost of the new bags of worms? Do you ship in the winter. Live in Ontario Where are you located?
Hi Colleen,
We are closed this winter unfortunately. Should be back in action by early April.
Located in Elmira