Wood Worm Farms

The aquaponic systems is still functional. I changed the bell siphons in growing beds, added a small aquarium to the system, in hope to keep there some small fish, replanted a new generation of water cress. For some reason water cress in one of the beds constantly dies. It seems like some harmful creature is hiding there. May be it's a peaceful Eisenia Fetida, that I released there to process solid fish waste?
Starting from approximately mid-March, fish shows extraordinary appetites. Luckily there was a chance to collect for them "wild" worms. Only one day this year... They grew significantly and seem to accept their role of home pets. They less get scared, bag for food, eat from hands. They finished all the collected worms in less then 2 months, eating as much as a 15cm nightcrawler for a fish a day!
With such a metabolism the inadequate growing bed got even more inadequate, so I change 4 gallons of water every week. I use rain water from my rain barrel.

[ add comment ]   |  permalink  |   ( 2.4 / 16 )

Here are the first results. There is no big difference difference in germination for the both lots. In control lot 71 0f 72 germinated, in test lot 69 of 72 germinated. The ratio of germinated seed in compost to ones in empty medium is 97%, that is still normal.

[ add comment ]   |  permalink  |   ( 2.6 / 8 )

Here is a small video on how to start a new worm compost bin. For our wooden worm bins it's pretty simple, but could give some ideas.

[ 1 comment ] ( 6 views )   |  permalink  |   ( 3.7 / 9 )

This year started very fruitfully is sense of grass clippings. Mild winter and alternations of rain and sun created good conditions for grass. So I am back to my neighborhood compost collection. They go to a hot compost pile, and then to worms.

The compost pile of the previous year settled down and the compost is ready. It's also well mixed with underlying clay soil, probably by the action of earth worms, that I released there.
Here are two pictures of compost pile with a distance of almost a year.

[ add comment ]   |  permalink  |   ( 1.9 / 7 )

This is absolutely essential standard test for any ready compost. I need it to prove to myself, that worm compost is really helping plants to grow.
I found this test in Midscale Composting Manual from Olds Colledge, Alberta, Canada.
Page 15 :
...

Compost is mature when two of the four tests are met.
1. Two of the following three tests shall be met:
a. C:N< 25:1
b. Oxygen uptake < 150mg O2/kg organic matter (volatile
solids)/hour.
c. The germination of cress (Lepidium sativum) and /or radish
(Raphanus sativus) seeds in the compost:
* Test seed germination shall be > 90% of control seed
germination.
* Test growth rate shall be > 50% of control growth rate.

...
The compost is taken from an outdoor pile, full of worms. The compost is cured for, at least, 6 months. It seems like condition b. is satisfied. Let's wait and c...

[ add comment ] ( 1 view )   |  permalink  |   ( 3.1 / 22 )