Worm Bedding can STOP Nutrient Deficiencies in your Garden - Red Wigglers

Making my worm bedding and adding items to help the spring garden
Play list for the Red wigglers only here
Red Wiggler Compost Worms
They have been in 10 -gallon totes of various shapes since the beginning.
These red wigglers have been composting in my basement since May of 2019. The first bin was restarted August of 2021, The second bin August 2021, Newest bin started December 6th 2021
I am an Amazon affiliate. The items below are the Amazon affiliate links for the items I use in my wormery. I have read and recommend these books. The cost is the same to you, but the channel will be get a small commission if purchases are made using the links.
Down to Earth Organic Alfalfa Meal
Tetra 16172 Aqua Safe Fish Tank Water Conditioner
BLACK+DECKER Coffee Grinder
pH meter TDS meter compo pack
Mesh bags to make worm tea
Coco coir Coco Bliss
Organic Kelp Fertilizer
Liquid Kelp
Unsulfured Black Strap molasses
Utility Tub - 26" X 20"
Aurora 18 sheet shredder
SE 5-Piece Set of Patented Stackable 13-¼” Sifting Pans - GP2-5 SET
SE Patented Stackable 13-1/4" Sifting Pan, 1/4" Mesh Screen - GP2-14
SE Patented Stackable 13-1/4" Sifting Pan, 1/8" Mesh Screen - GP2-18
SE Patented Stackable 13-1/4" Sifting Pan, Mesh Size 1/12" - GP2-112
Bon Tool 11-407 Utility Tub - 26" X 20"
Tetra 16172 Aqua Safe Fish Tank Water Conditioner
Worm Farmers Handbook Book
Worms Eat My Garbage Book
Vermiculture and Technology Book
Worm Farm Revolution
Uncle Jims European Night Crawlers
Uncle Jims Product page

[PlantObsessed]

Cardboard Shredder
Egg Shell Grinder
Coco Coir
Alfalfa Meal
Gypsum
Kelp Meal
Azomite
Liquid Kelp
Molasses
Greensand

[A-V]

That's some ultra premium high-end bedding. I miss some of the old defunct worm farming channels too - perhaps the ones I miss the most are (as you mentioned) The Crazy Worm Lady & the London Worm & Garden channels. It's fortunate that a couple newer worm farming channels - like this one - are just as interesting as those were :)

[doe]

Became a worm farmer 5 days ago. Thanks for the info.

[emilyfleischmann]

My worms like to play! They're little aerialists, so strong stretching to move from one finger to another if my fingers are spread. I think I want them to coach me!

[RuralVermiculture]

That’s probably the most work I’ve seen go into preparing bedding. Thinking of your garden well in advance! I like it. Good show!

[marlenen]

I make a similar prepared bedding, however I find it’s easier to mix everything in when I put the coco coir in a bucket, add several gallons of warm water, then add the molasses, egg shell, coffee, a tiny Mycorrhiza fungi starter, humachar, maybe ash if you have it, Azomite, Neem seed meal, alfalfa and anything else you like into the coco bucket. Let it mix well, I prefer a soupy consistency. Then pour half of it into a tub of shredded cardboard & paper and dried leaves, add a little fresh cut grass for fun. Then just keep adding cardboard and the coco coir mix, I use the cardboard to wipe out the bucket. Oh, and I usually can find some larger cardboard pieces from my active bins to toss for the microbes. It’s easy on the hands and I can get a head start on bedding. Currently I have some mushroom compost I’ve been throwing in too.

I think the worms do enjoy the different textures, that’s why they seem to be more active in bins with mixed materials rather than just one single thing like peat moss. I throw in old cotton clothes, cover with cut up fabrics or burlap. The worms sometimes need the friction to get the cocoons off of them, is my understanding. Grape vines tike forever to breakdown in the bins but the worms seem to love crawling around them, like kids on the monkey bars. 😅

[erical]

I never thought to pre-load neutrients into my bedding but what a great idea! Totally changing my process going forward.

[lindap]

Thank you for mentioning worms "playing". I wondered why I find worms in my burlap blanket.

[winstonsmiths]

Recommend using a cross-cut shredder. It makes smaller pieces and the paper crinkles which allows air to penetrate the bedding even when moist. Sopping wet? No, it will collapse somewhat but better than longer flat pieces of paper and cardboard. And it makes your private documents impossible to read, no account numbers make it through intact. To save on wear and tear of the shredder, I peel apart the cardboard when possible prior to shredding. I like the brown packing paper that comes with Amazon boxes!

[DaKineGardenStuff]

I use up cardboard boxes like crazy! So awesome they're a 'no cost' bedding! Thanks for your vids! 🙂

[mikkosgarden]

quite the prepping for your bedding, I knew you did prepare it, but never knew how much work went into it. Thanks for the explanation.

[All-About-the-Dog]

Love the “play” idea. I come from the dog training and enrichment world and have been wondering lately if worms find enrichment in having hidey holes and tunnels.

[kdog]

This very interesting videos sort what im hoping with my worm bin to break down the soils and make it more refined and readily available to the plants.

[peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo]

Good morning, Ann, this is an excellent video. Great tutorial on bedding.
Chilly morning here and I can't hear your Mother-in-law shivering 🥶

[corwin]

Have you ever tried adding organic granular fertilizer to the mix? Like Jobes tomato and vegetable fertilizer? Would that help it give the nutrients faster being in the castings?

[Vermicompost]

I am learning so much from this video!! I was today years old when I found out what the word azomite means!!! Yes, I do think the worms like to "play" or feel the different textures😂 Your DIY tower does great!! I think the difference between your tower and the VermiHut trays are the number and size of the holes. But worms travel all up in down in both so they both work well!! I find lots of worms in all the layers but they are definitely concentrated in the top tray which is the only tray I feed. Excellent video!!🪱🪱🪱

[AJsGreenTopics]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. 🙂

[tolgaswp]

Great bedding video. I add Gypsum too. It's agricultural gyspum, it's like the stuff they use in drywall. It's also mined. It's a form of rock dust as well in a way so it could also be a grit. I'm doing more research but seems good so far.

[jerrycallison]

thanks for another great video. I appreciate the way you explain why you do what you do rather than just saying to do such and such. Knowing why is so important.

Speaking of some of the older channels, I really miss the Halls, one of my early sources. (I still go back and look at his videos from time to time.) Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. The Iowa Worm Composting was another good one, but I've seen nothing from Rick in two years. I hope he's OK.

[shadyman]

Great mix for a garden bed, too! Hmmm...Great info.