Need opinion....my daughter wants a Worm Farm in the house
03-10-2011, 10:26 AM
#11
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Location: Michigan
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I have to somewhat agree....I don't like bugs either. I have gone fishing with my husband and he always baits my hook. I think that is why I hesitate, I will be the one taking care of them. :) I love that she loves all creatures and bugs but I just can't decide if I want it in my house. She always insists on keeping stuff on the kitchen counter or dining table. And when people come over they tend to be shocked that this woman who prides herself on a clean house has bugs on her oak table. :)
But there is no doubt I want to get her this or something like it, just not sure what kind. :)
Well, I compost OUTSIDE! The thought of worms in the house just grosses me out. I have tiny ants in the bathroom. They are crawling AROUND the ant traps. Had them off and on all winter. I hate bugs of most any kind, even worms. My husband used to take me fishing, but I couldn't bait the hook. YUK!!!
But there is no doubt I want to get her this or something like it, just not sure what kind. :)
Originally Posted by grann of 6
Originally Posted by nycquilter
I did this over my husband's strenuous and regularly repeated objections. It so greatly reduced our household garbage. You can compost all your food scraps, junk mail, non-glossy papers, including paper towels, paper plates, napkins. I kept the bin (eventually added a second) going for more than two years. This year, between one week and another, the worms all died. I was so sad. Also, the bins began to stink (I mean STINK in big letters). Husband insists I begin a compost bin without hte worms, but I'm not sure...I got to really like the little critters and this from a girl who refused to touch the earthworms in high school and college biology classes when it came to dissection! They are really interesting. Search "worm composting" on the web for more information. Definitely, go for it!
03-10-2011, 10:43 AM
#13
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: The middle of an IL cornfield
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Worm farms would be OK with me, but avoid at all costs the fruit fly hatching project!!!! We had to do that last year for a genetics class. Breed and hatch fruit flies and then count how many had red eyes and how many had white eyes. There were fruit flies in my house for ages after that!
03-10-2011, 11:16 AM
#16
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York City/Manhattan
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I started my worm bin on the cheap. There are bins available for purchase, such as through Gardener's Supply. But I didn't want to spend >$100 on this. I bought two big bins from Home Depot, drilled holes around the top of one to allow in air, put several holes inteh bottom for drainage. Placed that container, with its lid, in the second container (no lid). That way, any drippings were captured. This liquid may smell...And the kitchen counter is so not the place to store this. Think basement or garage. Start it by placing damp newspaper or leaves about 3" deep in the bin, adding the worms. Again, they are available through mail order, about $30-50 a pound. I went to the local farm and garden store and bought worms (red wigglers, genus name I don't recall, species is foetida) for much less than that. Do not use earthworms as their habits are different (sparing you the bio lesson) and won't work. they breed prolifically so you don't need a whole lot at first. Each week, I'd add my waste foods, peelings, rotten food, whatever. place it in a corner of the bin then cover with what is already there. Within a few weeks, you'll notice that they are making dirt. It smells earthy, to me at least though my DH thought otherwise. rotate the corner in which you place the garbage each week. to reduce smell, simply add more paper, I don't know why this works but it does. So I'd add newspapers and junk mail. also coffee after brewing, tea bags. No metals though and no plastics.
03-10-2011, 11:31 AM
#17
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,455
Oh gosh no...I was thinking more like this....
Originally Posted by nycquilter
I started my worm bin on the cheap. There are bins available for purchase, such as through Gardener's Supply. But I didn't want to spend >$100 on this. I bought two big bins from Home Depot, drilled holes around the top of one to allow in air, put several holes inteh bottom for drainage. Placed that container, with its lid, in the second container (no lid). That way, any drippings were captured. This liquid may smell...And the kitchen counter is so not the place to store this. Think basement or garage. Start it by placing damp newspaper or leaves about 3" deep in the bin, adding the worms. Again, they are available through mail order, about $30-50 a pound. I went to the local farm and garden store and bought worms (red wigglers, genus name I don't recall, species is foetida) for much less than that. Do not use earthworms as their habits are different (sparing you the bio lesson) and won't work. they breed prolifically so you don't need a whole lot at first. Each week, I'd add my waste foods, peelings, rotten food, whatever. place it in a corner of the bin then cover with what is already there. Within a few weeks, you'll notice that they are making dirt. It smells earthy, to me at least though my DH thought otherwise. rotate the corner in which you place the garbage each week. to reduce smell, simply add more paper, I don't know why this works but it does. So I'd add newspapers and junk mail. also coffee after brewing, tea bags. No metals though and no plastics.
small science type kit
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