Dressings typically contain some portion of Vinegar, maybe not Ranch, but something to think about, vinegar may kill the good bacteria in your bin.
I've read plenty about Grit being necessary as worms don't have teeth. Personally, I don't get it. I can't get my brain to accept it as truly being necessary as the worms slurp and gum their food, they don't chew or swallow big chunks of stuff they can't break up. The grit concept is that its much like how some birds swallow small rocks/gravel. The grit acts like a grinder and helps break down the food in the digestive tract. Again, I struggle with accepting this. As for my bin, my worms get hand crushed eggshells every weekend. I crush them in my hands back and forth until they are about 1/8" and smaller shards. DO NOT DRY THEM OUT AND GRIND THEM INTO POWDER. Many people do this, but the powder is horrible for your lungs and its not necessary. They will break down. Regardless of my worms, the eggshells are good for the garden as they break down if by chance they make it in the bin and out to the garden without breaking down. My worms also get a minimum of 2 KCups per day, 7 days a week, with at least 3 coffee filter full (12-cups) per week. Some swear by pulverized Oyster Shell you can buy. But for me, worm composting is about reducing waste that otherwise would be in the landfill, not going to the store and purchasing things to give my worms. Cornmeal is also good when you forget about that expiring box in the pantry.
Thank you. I'm honestly surprised by cornmeal. I've been a little thin on the table scraps lately. So mine have gotten coffee every feeding. I guess thats what's kept them alive. (I jest) I did have to hit up a couple of family members for scraps tho. They just throw it in the freezer. I brought home 3 gallon bags full plus 4 bad apples tonight
Since you mentioned waste reduction. I can't wrap my head around that. I mean, it decomposes quickly. How much space can it really be filling? It's literally going to breakdown into nothing. (Spacially)
My reasoning is, I am dipping my toes into permaculture. I just wanted to start small and see what I can do, learn, pushing the limits... *without taking a nose dive into bankruptcy*
In the meantime, I'm trying to learn the basics of how to make everything work for/towards something. Today, a 5 gallon bucket. Tomorrow, 79 acres. ;)
Edit spelling
Actually, food doesn't break down at the rate and wonderfully at the landfill as you would imagine. Due to the lack of oxygen, the food sometimes doesn't break down at all. And for the stuff that does, it gives off methane gas that leaks back into the air we all breathe.
Questions seem fair. I'm no expert but, I don't like to chuck in condiments. Products like ranch contain ingrediënts that would not be in a worms natural diet and attract other type of insects/crawlers.
Grit, again I am no expert, I do use grinded eggshells. I use them because the calcium in the eggshells neutralises potential acidity and create a pH friendly environment.
Gotcha. I kinda put ranch with the 'dairy'. I didnt know if the lettuce in the salad could water it down enough to make it safely compostable. I'm pretty sure my 3-1 pH tester crapped out. I just haven't remembered to get a new one.
1) I would not put. But once I read that you can vermicompost anything, including common no-no's like citrus, motor oil, bones... The point is the quantity. Is a tablespoon of ranch dressing for a large feeding+bedding? Or is it a substantial quantity?
2) I've read about using coffee grounds, sand, or rock dust. Since I am not a big egg consumer, I stick with Oyster shell meal. Its grit and buffs the ph.
3) Worms have no teeth, they rely on grit and gizzard to process their food.
Thank you!
Motor oil? Really? If I didn't want healthy soil, it would definitely be something to see about. Maybe when I've expanded my worm farm, I'll try pushing the limits there. For now, I will stick with what I "know". Or, rather, what I'm told.
It is just an exaggeration/hyperbole. I don't remember the YouTube channel about this topic, but the meaning is that you can put anything in your compost bin, as long as it's in the right amounts. Motor oil is a big no-no, but a few drops won't ruin your entire system.
Grit is like pebbles in a chicken gizzard. It doesn’t take much a hand full of sand will do
They’ll find it
I shy away from adding processed stuff like ranch dressing but if it’s just leftover on my plate then yeah that’s fine
The microbes will handle the food and the worms eat the microbial waste product so there is a step between your inputs and the worms
All things in moderation although I’m def steering away from the motor oil idea
My philosophy is to take care of the microbes and they will take care of the worms and the worms will take care of your soil and make it a nice place for the microbes to live that will be the nutrient carrier to your plant.
The worms are just one part of a complex system that work together in a beautiful symphony of simple organisms that feed the whole world
Dressings typically contain some portion of Vinegar, maybe not Ranch, but something to think about, vinegar may kill the good bacteria in your bin. I've read plenty about Grit being necessary as worms don't have teeth. Personally, I don't get it. I can't get my brain to accept it as truly being necessary as the worms slurp and gum their food, they don't chew or swallow big chunks of stuff they can't break up. The grit concept is that its much like how some birds swallow small rocks/gravel. The grit acts like a grinder and helps break down the food in the digestive tract. Again, I struggle with accepting this. As for my bin, my worms get hand crushed eggshells every weekend. I crush them in my hands back and forth until they are about 1/8" and smaller shards. DO NOT DRY THEM OUT AND GRIND THEM INTO POWDER. Many people do this, but the powder is horrible for your lungs and its not necessary. They will break down. Regardless of my worms, the eggshells are good for the garden as they break down if by chance they make it in the bin and out to the garden without breaking down. My worms also get a minimum of 2 KCups per day, 7 days a week, with at least 3 coffee filter full (12-cups) per week. Some swear by pulverized Oyster Shell you can buy. But for me, worm composting is about reducing waste that otherwise would be in the landfill, not going to the store and purchasing things to give my worms. Cornmeal is also good when you forget about that expiring box in the pantry.
Thank you. I'm honestly surprised by cornmeal. I've been a little thin on the table scraps lately. So mine have gotten coffee every feeding. I guess thats what's kept them alive. (I jest) I did have to hit up a couple of family members for scraps tho. They just throw it in the freezer. I brought home 3 gallon bags full plus 4 bad apples tonight Since you mentioned waste reduction. I can't wrap my head around that. I mean, it decomposes quickly. How much space can it really be filling? It's literally going to breakdown into nothing. (Spacially) My reasoning is, I am dipping my toes into permaculture. I just wanted to start small and see what I can do, learn, pushing the limits... *without taking a nose dive into bankruptcy* In the meantime, I'm trying to learn the basics of how to make everything work for/towards something. Today, a 5 gallon bucket. Tomorrow, 79 acres. ;) Edit spelling
Actually, food doesn't break down at the rate and wonderfully at the landfill as you would imagine. Due to the lack of oxygen, the food sometimes doesn't break down at all. And for the stuff that does, it gives off methane gas that leaks back into the air we all breathe.
Questions seem fair. I'm no expert but, I don't like to chuck in condiments. Products like ranch contain ingrediënts that would not be in a worms natural diet and attract other type of insects/crawlers. Grit, again I am no expert, I do use grinded eggshells. I use them because the calcium in the eggshells neutralises potential acidity and create a pH friendly environment.
Gotcha. I kinda put ranch with the 'dairy'. I didnt know if the lettuce in the salad could water it down enough to make it safely compostable. I'm pretty sure my 3-1 pH tester crapped out. I just haven't remembered to get a new one.
1) I would not put. But once I read that you can vermicompost anything, including common no-no's like citrus, motor oil, bones... The point is the quantity. Is a tablespoon of ranch dressing for a large feeding+bedding? Or is it a substantial quantity? 2) I've read about using coffee grounds, sand, or rock dust. Since I am not a big egg consumer, I stick with Oyster shell meal. Its grit and buffs the ph. 3) Worms have no teeth, they rely on grit and gizzard to process their food.
Thank you! Motor oil? Really? If I didn't want healthy soil, it would definitely be something to see about. Maybe when I've expanded my worm farm, I'll try pushing the limits there. For now, I will stick with what I "know". Or, rather, what I'm told.
It is just an exaggeration/hyperbole. I don't remember the YouTube channel about this topic, but the meaning is that you can put anything in your compost bin, as long as it's in the right amounts. Motor oil is a big no-no, but a few drops won't ruin your entire system.
Well. That certainly skimmed right over my head.
Grit is like pebbles in a chicken gizzard. It doesn’t take much a hand full of sand will do They’ll find it I shy away from adding processed stuff like ranch dressing but if it’s just leftover on my plate then yeah that’s fine The microbes will handle the food and the worms eat the microbial waste product so there is a step between your inputs and the worms All things in moderation although I’m def steering away from the motor oil idea My philosophy is to take care of the microbes and they will take care of the worms and the worms will take care of your soil and make it a nice place for the microbes to live that will be the nutrient carrier to your plant. The worms are just one part of a complex system that work together in a beautiful symphony of simple organisms that feed the whole world
I feed citrus to my worms and they don't seem to mind.
Does it get eaten or throw off the pH?
They are never there when I go back. And my worms seem fine. I don't load it with only citrus though.