Question 1

How Much Waste Can I Add To My Worm Composter?

Accepted Answer

Volumes of Waste
It will take a few months for the worms to make their first usable batch of worm compost , although everyday they will eat around half their own weight in food and produce worm casts which you will see as black dot in amongst the waste. Adding small amounts of food frequently is best and as the worms start breeding you can up the amounts. As a guide as long as you can see a few worms working in the top layer of waste – you can add more - there is NO need to wait until they have eaten the previous food.

Question 2

How to know if my wormery is too wet

Accepted Answer

You will soon see if your worm composter is too wet – it looks visibly sodden. To check pick up some of the made compost/bedding and squeeze… It should have the consistency of a wrung out sponge. If water leaks out between your fingers – then it’s too wet. (If it’s dry and crumbly… it’s too dry.)
If your worm bin is outside rain can get in through the loose fitting lid or through the air holes. Make sure your bin location is under shelter such as an awning, covered patio, shed or garage.
A sheltered worm bin that is too wet usually means something is out of balance. It may be that you are adding lots of moist food scraps but the drainage and air holes are blocked. Check this out and clear them if they are blocked, and then take remedial action.
Here are the best ways to dry out a vermicomposting bin in three easy steps:
1: Stop adding very moist scraps until the problem is under control. Avoid fruits, especially melon flesh. If the worm bin has a tap, open it until the problem is solved.
2: Add more bedding. For example, use coconut coir, pure peat moss, or shredded black-ink newspaper. Add a few handfuls of dry bedding on top.
3: Add a moisture mat – this will tend to keep the waste moist but at the same time soak up excess water.

Question 3

Where do I put my wormery? Indoors or outdoors? Which temperatures are optimum for my worms?

Accepted Answer

Composting with worms operates year-around. You can place your wormery either **indoors** or **outdoors**. It is important to always ensure that the earthworms have an **optimal temperature of approximately 20 C/ 68 F as well as a correct level of moisture** in the substrate.

During winter you shouldn't leave your wormery without insulation, so it doesn't freeze through. In the summer it shouldn't be exposed to direct sunlight, to prevent water evaporation and overheating. **The temperature in your wormery should not drop below 5 C or exceed 25 C.**

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Question 4

Why have I got Fruit Flies in my Subpod?

Accepted Answer

Fruit flies can enter Subpod when you are adding your food waste.  They can also get into the system before your food scraps are added to Subpod if there’s a loose lid.
 
The more thoroughly you stir your food waste into the bedding, the less likely you will have a problem with fruit flies and other insects.  If you add more moist bedding (carbon), it’s easier to bury the food waste thoroughly. Make sure that the larger holes on the sides of your Subpod are below the soil line in your garden bed.
 
Any fruit fly larvae that finds its way into the Subpod will slowly diminish over time if the above techniques are used.

Question 5

What can I use the Bokashi Juice for?

Accepted Answer

Bokashi juice contains nutrients from the food waste and is packed with micro-organisms so it makes a great free fertiliser!
it is really strong so it needs to be diluted with water at a 100:1 ratio, that really is 100 parts water to 1 part bokashi juice, - think a couple of spoonfuls for every litre of water.

Pour the concentrated Bokashi juice directly into kitchen and bathroom drains, toilets and septic systems. It helps prevent algae build-up and control odour. And as a huge bonus, it contributes to cleaning up our waterways as the good bacteria compete with the bad bacteria! A win win.

Question 6

What food should I add to my wormery and when?

Accepted Answer

The main thing to ensure your worms work well for you is to feed them regularly with kitchen scraps. Usually adding waste every couple of days is the most efficient way of ensuring they are working. They don’t like a glut of waste, and underfeeding means you won’t get them working to their optimum level.
The ideal diet for composting worms is non acidic fruit and vegetable peelings but they can deal with just about any kitchen waste including grains, tea bags, pasta, hair, and more. Where possible avoid meat scraps, salty/spicy food waste, oily sauces and yogurt.

Question 7

How Can I Dilute And Use Worm Tea?

Accepted Answer

Worm tea is an excellent liquid fertilizer for herbs and indoor plants as well as the garden. It contains high amounts of nutrients and enzymes that promote growth and help build plant resistance against pests. You can collect worm tea in a plastic or glass bottle. It's ideal to dilute it with 10 parts water. Use the diluted worm tea for watering plants or spray it on their foliage.

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Question 8

How many Subpods do I need?

Accepted Answer

The average family generates 7kg (15lbs) of food waste a week, just for reference. 
 
We have designed the Subpod to be used for a family of up to four people, processing around 15kg (33lbs) of organic waste per week.

It will take from six weeks to three months to get your Subpod working at this capacity, depending on the season and how much you feed it. The worms need to settle in and build up their numbers.

Subpod is modular, so If you have more than 30L/15kg of waste per week, you can choose to connect two or more Subpods and create a bench seat, or install in separate garden beds.

Question 9

How does DE Powder (Diatomaceous Earth) work?

Accepted Answer

https://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/products/diatomaceous-earth?_pos=1&_sid=fdc3360f1&_ss=r

It works by absorption of oils, waxes and lipids on the coat of insects, to which it is applied, whereby they lose water and of dehydration. It is harmless to earthworms as they do not have a chitinous waxy coat. It could dehydrate other useful insects though, if applied in large enough dry quantities in the garden, but mixed into compost /soil or growing media which then gets watered frequently, in the quantities recommended does not pose a problem.

Our product labels comply with recent legislation and do not claim to control insects the DE CLEAN & DRY product is a Dessicant, Absorbent and Deodoriser.
In fact in the soil or compost certain diatomaceous earth with high plant available silica, has many benefits for plant growth- Proven in trials we have done here in Wales, with our Diature product 'SimplyGrow'. Other companies have done large field trials in Australia and India with a similar diatomaceous earth which has to have specific high plant available silica(PAS). Not all DE (diatomaceous earths) have this high PAS.
Benefits:
Faster seed germination, improved mineral uptake and hence flavour, more viable pollen and improved flower/fruit set, stronger stems and leaves, Improved yield and more efficient use of applied fertiliser, stimulates plant self defence aginst fungal and insect attack, holds and releases water as needed. suitable for organic compost soils and growing media. Proven results from seed to harvest. (This is mostly due to the physical properties, cation exchange and very high surface area of the DE).

Question 10

Monthly Competition

Accepted Answer

Enter our monthly competition below 
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