red worms

since red worms are so good for the dirt and composting -do i need to buy them? are they in the ground everywhere and will come to the compost worm box on their own? i saw them on line but it said half a pound for a 10by 10 foot worm box---my new worm box is much smaller and i don't know that i could feed that many!!

I am about to start worm composting. Here is the site address for a helpful page from the county government in my area. It has a list of mail order places and direction on how to make a smaller worm farm -- which is what I am going to be doing.

They say about 1,000 worms (approx. 1 pound) for a container approximately 2' x 3' x 1' deep.

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/deptmpl.asp?url=/content/dep/Composting/worms.asp

Good luck.

Baxter

thanks and i would love to read sometime about how your worms are doing!! i have my worm home ready and now need to order them--who are you going to order from?

Have not decided, but if figure the closer, the less time in the mail, the better.

Red wigglers are also sold in the pet stores as live food. You may also try a bait place. I believe I purchased 1 pound by mail to start my worm box. Be careful not to have too much moisture. Also, when you first add your worms shine a light on the box so they don't try to crawl out the first day or two. "worms ate my garbage" is a good book to read.

They love watermelon.

:)

somewhere i read that if you are doing the worm thing outside (can't imagine having the worm box inside but i guess it is done) you can make it without a bottom--so that is how i made mine--i used those cement blocks that make a circle around a tree)--it is in a very dark place in my yard--so--will the worms crawl out under the ground? i mention this because of your comment ctmggardener about them getting out--i guess i was thinking that once they saw the food and bedding they would just stay--maybe i should put that black garden liner that lets in water on the ground first---

My worm bin was inside the garage. Gardenweb has a Vermicomposting forum and there were people there that had outside worm bins. I think it's too cold in Connecticut to have an outside worm bin go through the winter, but you should have no problem in Texas. If you read through their threads you'll pick up a lot of information.

Hello! I unearthed what I originally thought was some fertilizer pellets but upon further inspection I think they are eggs. There were some baby red worms squirming around in the vicinity...was wondering if they could be worm eggs? If so..lucky me. If not. What the?