Worm castings

[mella l]

Today I read a very interesting news article about composting.

The article isn't available for a link darn, but suffice to say worm castings are ono for the garden minded. Here is link to a site where you can read up on how beneficial they are to plants.

http://www.vermiculture.com/soilbuilder/...plain.html

So question is are there worm farms on the Big Island? Would this be a new business opportunity for someone with a little space on their hands?

Thanks for any insight on this worm potty subject!


mella l

[Les C]

A friend of mine is doing vermiculture in HPP, but she bought some Arkansas or Alabama wrigglers (or whatever) and she's afraid of letting them get loose. I'm not sure why she had to buy some, we've got tons of them in our yard in Volcano! As far as I can tell, there aren't any native earthworm species.

[Carey]

Mella. Piper Sheldon of Hawaii Rainbow Worms runs worm composting programs around the Island for the County. her web site is:
http://www.hawaiirainbowworms.com/
for information on upcoming composting & worm workshops (includes a worm composter & Hawaii grown worms), Check Recycle Hawaii calendar:
http://www.recyclehawaii.org/calendar.htm
Not sure, but seem to remember that bringing worms to Hawaii may be a problem... Piper would know.



Edited by - carey on 07/18/2007 20:26:48

[Mitzi M]

I made a kinda hippie-style compost pile with no bin or anything - just right on the ground. I put all my veggie waste in with layers of yard clippings and covered it with an old rug to keep it evenly moist and warm. The earthworms just showed up and they've stayed right there ever since. (There isn't much soil here, but it's shady and the forest trees do provide some leaf mulch.)Hmmm... I don't think they are native...I wonder. But at any rate, they are here in lower Puna, so if you make it attractive enough for them, maybe they will come.

[Carey]

Just got this note from Donna:
"Compost/Worm Compost Workshop
Saturday, November 10, 2007, 2:00-4:00 pm at
Pa’auilo School, upper campus. Cost: $10/adult--kids free.
COMPOST HAPPENS! Please join us for a fun, interactive and informative workshop on home composting. The first half of our workshop will discuss backyard composting: basic methods for soil improvement and a better environment.
WORMS, WORMS, WORMS! The second half of this interactive workshop will explore worm composting in Hawaii: Fun and easy worm composting, techniques, and how to turn your kitchen scraps into garden "gold" or free fishing bait.
Space is limited, so register today. Call Donna Mitts @ 776-7713 or 936-2117 cell to reserve your spot.
For information, directions, and upcoming events, see: www.HawaiiRainbowWorms.com
Workshops sponsored by our friends at Recycle Hawaii and the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management."

[JayJay]

Anyone who can find a regular source of grass clippings from a large lawn can produce worm castings. Simply place in a pile in semi-shade and let nature turn the whole pile into castings before your eyes. At my garden in Seattle I had a commercial lawn cutting service dumping truck loads of clipings,(they were happy because they didn't hae to pay the fee at the dump. Each pile would break down eventually into pure castings in one year which I sold to the various hydroponic grow shops in the area in white poly buckets with my brandname. They would repackage the castings and sell them to the various growers in the area.

JayJay

[mella l]

Here is the worm thread! Short but sweet, on castings.

mella l

[emorata]

i'm bringing over a worm bin, my sister is giving me so i look forward to making my own liquid gold castings....looks like composting is in the picture big time since i don't have too much soil on my property also.

i look forward to taking some of these inexpensive courses that are being offered above.

noel

[Carey]

Hey Noel, the worm class this Sat. has been moved to Keaau (due to VOG) so it is around 20 miles closer.....
Worm class will be from 2-4pm at the Keaau Transfer (The Volcano & Pahoa Classes will now be at the Keaau Transfer)