I've been laughed at!!! Y'all have to understand when I say I'm excited because I have worms.
things gardeners say that make others go "hmmm..."
Worms are the best. A few weeks back, I went fishing at a local lake. We didn't use all our worms. I asked some of the other fishermen for their unused worms also. I then "planted" the spared worms in one of my garden beds.
I built a "cheap and easy" worm bin, and ordered a pound of worms. They seem to be fine, and I'm really excited about what I'll get out of this.
Worm composting, awesome. I converted some large plastic bins into regular compost bins (drilled holes in them) Then I just layer moist brown: moist green in the 20:1 ratio suggested somewhere. Then I shake and manually turn the bins once in a while. I want to try vermicomposting next. What did you use for your worm bin and worm medium?
when I say how happy I am that my pet bunny is a prolific "pooper". The black gold concept simply escapes most non-gardeners.
Well, I can't make it come up as a link, but this is what I used for instructions. It really is cheap, and it really is easy. It's now on the floor of my pantry full of my little friends of the vermiform persuasion, who are busy making poop as I sit here.
http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Easywormbin.htm
vossner, good one! Who wouldn't like a gallon of rabbit poop?
Oh, it did come up as a link. Cool. That was my first time.
Thanks, checked out the link (well done-I haven't figured out the hyperlink thing yet). Genius cheap plastic compost factory design.
I try and rescue worms. Every time the sprinklers come on the worms get up on the sidewalks. I'll go down and scoopem up before the sun cooks them. They get relocated to the garden beds. I am trying out worm castings on some of my plants this year.
Surprisingly some people think you strange when you say you'd like it to rain and rain a loooong time. =)
What a great idea brigidily! I read the link and think this is a great project for the kiddos. Something to start tomorrow! I have empty bins in the garge just getting dusty.
Most people don't understand why I'm excited that I have caterpillars on my plants!! So I have to explain that there are certain plants that I plant just for the butterflies to lay eggs on so the caterpillars are GOOD!
Scoolie, I'm a worm rescuer too, I hate it when the birds drop them on the driveway and leave them there to die. A worm is a terrible thing to waste ;)
lol...I agree on the no-wastin' earthworm idea. konkreteblond, if you want a good plant or vine for propagating caterpillars...then get a passion vine. I can't remember the name of the particular species....but they make beautfiul butterflies. Here is the same butterfly on a blue aster bloom this Spring. :)
I have 2 passion vines and I love them. Planted a red one just today! And the cats do seem to love them. Especially those Gulf F(sp). I have a few in chrysallis stage on the purple vine.
Do they make edible berries knolan?
I'm not from Texas, can I comment anyway???!!!
Whenever I expand a flower bed by digging up more sod, I spend an incredible amount of time trying to get all the worms out of the sod so I can put them into the bed itself!!!
Yup. There are worm lovers out here in the Pacific Northwest, too. Gardeners are nuts everywhere, I guess!
I haven't seen any berries but they are supposed to produce a passion fruit. Although, Im told they're not very tasty.
They have to be ripe or they will pucker a sewer pipe. You can even make a jelly from them.
Regarding worms the old timers know how to bring them to the surface to fish with. They rake up leaves and wet them down leaving them overnite. They then take a stick and somehow beat on the ground. When the leaves are raked off, the biggest and best worms have surfaced. I have never witness this but have heard too many different old timers tell they do it.
The butterfly is the Gulf Fritillary and the passionvine is their host plant. I have a purple one that has a mind of it's own. This year it's spread out from where I would like it but I'm finally getting it rerouted.
I have trouble keeping any eggs on my vines, much less the cats. The ants take them all! So today I saw one around the vine so I rescued the only 3 eggs I could find. I don't like to raise the GF's inside but I need them to eat some of this vine!
Knolan, I've not had personal experience with the red vine but have been told by others who have that it's not native to the US and is poisonous to the GF cats. They say they will eat it but the cats will die. Look at the list of host plants that DonnaB recently reposted and see if you see the info. Just a head's up.
My incense passion vine seems to play host to ALOT of caterpillars. The blooms are the lavender color and so pretty... Ahh...yes...now I've seen the name of that butterfly and the Gulf Fritillary was it. They're very prolific in my garden...but sometimes eat my passion vines to a knub!
I believe that's the same vine I have. It smells really good right now. Later in the season tho it seems to smell different, like worse. Is that my imagination? I'm needing cats to eat mine because it's going to be too big. It's just such an easy place for spiders and wasps to hide and wait for lunch.
Koncrete, you're right, I was told at the nursery where I purchased the red passion vine that the cats do not or should not eat the read. However, we found a great big fat cat on him while we were there. Hope the little bugger doesn't get sick and die. We moved him onto a purple passion vine that another lady was purchasing. She didn't mind when told what would happen. Thank goodness!
When diseases or pests pop up in the garden- I always say..that's irranoying.
I was beginning to think Y'ALL were strange, talking about cats eating this vine. Then it clicked you were talking caterpillars. Okay, I'm back on track now.
But, we're strange anyway. Well, I should speak for myself. I'm strange anyway.
I'm not strange and I don't smell when I sweat ;)
hhahahahahaha!
I've been called a lot worse than "strange..."
I'm enjoying this thread! LOL
"A Worm is a terrible thing to Waste" LOL So true!
Everybody around here thinks I've lost my mind for having a dump truck load of mushroom compost brought in. Some say I'm 'weird'. ;) '
Lin
Your not weird at all.....just a "strange specialist" who know what they're doing.
Dancey.....A truckload of mushroom compost is NOT strange, that's smart!
I once grew mushrooms in my kitchen (A Christmas present mushroom kit for dear mom) but had to hack it all up after a couple of months. It wasn't the nicest thing to have growing in your kitchen.
Well I thought it was a smart move. Hubby was shocked! I didn't tell him until the guy was here to unload. lol
I should have kept count of how many wheelbarrow loads I've carried to my gardens. With my Mother's gardens and mine we're making a big dent in the pile of compost. ;)
I don't think I would want to try to grow mushrooms in my kitchen either. I imagine that could get pretty goooey.
Lin
We are getting a few showers this week. Yipeeeee! We could use a lot. Anybody else getting some rain?
Lin
OH YES!!!..raining here and my yard is soaking it all up...
My yard is drenched. Literally. But I won't complain. Once it stops it could be quite a while before we see it again.
I got over an inch of rain this weekend. All my plants are looking like they liked it.
My feet are squishing in the grass as I walk and we're headed for another down pour. I'm trying really hard not to complain but this is getting ridculous!