DWW wrote:

That's strange, MOST of the sources I've seen say that optimum worm
composting occurs at 65-80 and the worms stop composting at around 40,
including this reference from wormdigest.org:

Best Temperature & OK Temperatures
A worm bin will eat up the most food waste when the bedding is 70°F-80°F.
All the bacteria are happy, and worms are most comfortable. Down at 45°F,
the bin slows down, and at 30° worms can freeze.


"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...

Three reasons:

1) If they're not in the fridge, their "home", whatever it may be (box,
plant tray) will be exposed to house heat, which means drying. You *KNOW*
somebody's gonna forget to keep the worm bedding damp. Not wet. Damp.

2) Because *all* sources of worm-raising information suggest keeping them
cool.

3) Stick your hand 6" down into the outdoor soil in April. It's pretty
cold, and the worms are perfectly happy.





65degF AIR will 'feel' slightly cool to a human, 65deg water, stone or
soil, will likely feel very cold as it sucks the heat right out of you.
Worms are not mammals and are not generating heat. I'd expect 65-70 degs
to be a decent comfort zone for them, a little higher and their
metabolism probably speeds up but their lifespan may shorten. A typical
refrigerator probably extends their lifespan and slows their metabolism.

Most anywhere on earth, 12 feet down is about 65degs or so.

Carl


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On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:04:06 -0500, Cheryl Isaak

I have been worm composting for over 10 years. I invested in a Can o
Worms and it has been an easy "hobby". I feed them coffee grounds and
veggie scraps (pre-cooked. The recycling benefits outwheigh the plant
nutrition benefits.

It is a good lesson for your child on diverting food waste from
landfills/garbage disposal. The science of worms is also fascinating.

Good Luck.

On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:21:59 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in message
...



As far as the real worms, keep them cool. The warmest spot in the
refrigerator is good, or the coolest spot in your basement. I prefer the
refrigerator, though, since that usually means the top shelf, toward the
front. Every time he opens the fridge...hello worms.


Don't put the worms in the fridge! The colder it gets, the slower
they work. In the winter, I cut back on the volume of food I feed
them. They like it dark and warm. No light. In fact, think of where
you find worms in nature - under leaves etc. I cover my worms with a
layer (6 sheets) of damp newspaper laid flat. When I can get shredded
newsprint I use that.

To prevent fruit flies (which are found mostly in banana peel skins)
freeze the scraps first. A fruit fly infestation is a nuisance.

On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:59:17 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Three reasons:

1) If they're not in the fridge, their "home", whatever it may be (box,
plant tray) will be exposed to house heat, which means drying. You *KNOW*
somebody's gonna forget to keep the worm bedding damp. Not wet. Damp.


True. My bin is plastic so there is no mosture loss


2) Because *all* sources of worm-raising information suggest keeping them
cool.

Been doing it for ten years and never heard of putting them in the
fridge. I agree that over 80d is too warm (but won't harm them). Over
the long term, worms in an enclosed environment will adjust their
population to the environment and food volume.


3) Stick your hand 6" down into the outdoor soil in April. It's pretty cold,
and the worms are perfectly happy.

I've been asking my womr bin fellas for years how happy they are and
they will not tell me!

"Brian" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:59:17 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Three reasons:

1) If they're not in the fridge, their "home", whatever it may be (box,
plant tray) will be exposed to house heat, which means drying. You *KNOW*
somebody's gonna forget to keep the worm bedding damp. Not wet. Damp.


True. My bin is plastic so there is no mosture loss


2) Because *all* sources of worm-raising information suggest keeping them
cool.

Been doing it for ten years and never heard of putting them in the
fridge. I agree that over 80d is too warm (but won't harm them). Over
the long term, worms in an enclosed environment will adjust their
population to the environment and food volume.


3) Stick your hand 6" down into the outdoor soil in April. It's pretty
cold,
and the worms are perfectly happy.

I've been asking my womr bin fellas for years how happy they are and
they will not tell me!


Mine are unionized worms. Our written agreement specifies that they
communicate, to avoid disagreements. Their health plan's a bitch, though.

"Brian" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:21:59 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in message
...



As far as the real worms, keep them cool. The warmest spot in the
refrigerator is good, or the coolest spot in your basement. I prefer the
refrigerator, though, since that usually means the top shelf, toward the
front. Every time he opens the fridge...hello worms.


Don't put the worms in the fridge! The colder it gets, the slower
they work. In the winter, I cut back on the volume of food I feed
them. They like it dark and warm. No light. In fact, think of where
you find worms in nature - under leaves etc. I cover my worms with a
layer (6 sheets) of damp newspaper laid flat. When I can get shredded
newsprint I use that.


Yeah....I realized I should not have posted that. Refrigeration is for worms
used for fishing, and it works. But they do get lethargic. I hereby retract
my statement.

In article ,
"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:

"Brian" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:21:59 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in message
...



As far as the real worms, keep them cool. The warmest spot in the
refrigerator is good, or the coolest spot in your basement. I prefer the
refrigerator, though, since that usually means the top shelf, toward the
front. Every time he opens the fridge...hello worms.


Don't put the worms in the fridge! The colder it gets, the slower
they work. In the winter, I cut back on the volume of food I feed
them. They like it dark and warm. No light. In fact, think of where
you find worms in nature - under leaves etc. I cover my worms with a
layer (6 sheets) of damp newspaper laid flat. When I can get shredded
newsprint I use that.


Yeah....I realized I should not have posted that. Refrigeration is for worms
used for fishing, and it works. But they do get lethargic. I hereby retract
my statement.

You must be punished! 99% gold and 1 % dross for all your posts.

Bill who is more like 10% gold and 90% dross and half of my gold is
silver. But me and my dad used to go out to the the local school yard
after a heavy rain and drive in two copper rods about ten feet apart
and hook them to a car battery. Drove the night crawlers up.

--

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http://www.ocutech.com/ High tech Vison aid
This article is posted under fair use rules in accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and is strictly for the educational
and informative purposes. This material is distributed without profit.

"William Wagner" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:

"Brian" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:21:59 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in message
...



As far as the real worms, keep them cool. The warmest spot in the
refrigerator is good, or the coolest spot in your basement. I prefer
the
refrigerator, though, since that usually means the top shelf, toward
the
front. Every time he opens the fridge...hello worms.


Don't put the worms in the fridge! The colder it gets, the slower
they work. In the winter, I cut back on the volume of food I feed
them. They like it dark and warm. No light. In fact, think of where
you find worms in nature - under leaves etc. I cover my worms with a
layer (6 sheets) of damp newspaper laid flat. When I can get shredded
newsprint I use that.


Yeah....I realized I should not have posted that. Refrigeration is for
worms
used for fishing, and it works. But they do get lethargic. I hereby
retract
my statement.

You must be punished! 99% gold and 1 % dross for all your posts.

Bill who is more like 10% gold and 90% dross and half of my gold is
silver. But me and my dad used to go out to the the local school yard
after a heavy rain and drive in two copper rods about ten feet apart
and hook them to a car battery. Drove the night crawlers up.


I think that violates the Geneva Convention. :-)

On Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:54:08 -0500, William Wagner wrote:

Bill who is more like 10% gold and 90% dross and half of my gold is
silver. But me and my dad used to go out to the the local school yard
after a heavy rain and drive in two copper rods about ten feet apart and
hook them to a car battery. Drove the night crawlers up.

30 years ago I knew a girl that did something similar only the ones she
used were shorter and plugged into a wall socket. 110 Volts. They had
bicycle grips as handles and you just pushed them into the damp ground. It
was actually kind of cool to put your hand on the ground in between the
spikes. You got a tickle. Not sure I'd want to try that today but I was
young...........

Steve

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in
news
"William Wagner" wrote in message

rnews.net...
In article ,
"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:

"Brian" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:21:59 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Cheryl Isaak" wrote in message
...



As far as the real worms, keep them cool. The warmest spot in the
refrigerator is good, or the coolest spot in your basement. I
prefer the
refrigerator, though, since that usually means the top shelf,
toward the
front. Every time he opens the fridge...hello worms.


Don't put the worms in the fridge! The colder it gets, the slower
they work. In the winter, I cut back on the volume of food I feed
them. They like it dark and warm. No light. In fact, think of
where you find worms in nature - under leaves etc. I cover my
worms with a layer (6 sheets) of damp newspaper laid flat. When I
can get shredded newsprint I use that.


Yeah....I realized I should not have posted that. Refrigeration is
for worms
used for fishing, and it works. But they do get lethargic. I hereby
retract
my statement.

You must be punished! 99% gold and 1 % dross for all your posts.

Bill who is more like 10% gold and 90% dross and half of my gold is
silver. But me and my dad used to go out to the the local school
yard after a heavy rain and drive in two copper rods about ten feet
apart and hook them to a car battery. Drove the night crawlers
up.


I think that violates the Geneva Convention. :-)



I think you mean the Wormeva Convention.

In article ,
says...
On Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:54:08 -0500, William Wagner wrote:

Bill who is more like 10% gold and 90% dross and half of my gold is
silver. But me and my dad used to go out to the the local school yard
after a heavy rain and drive in two copper rods about ten feet apart and
hook them to a car battery. Drove the night crawlers up.

30 years ago I knew a girl that did something similar only the ones she
used were shorter and plugged into a wall socket. 110 Volts. They had
bicycle grips as handles and you just pushed them into the damp ground. It
was actually kind of cool to put your hand on the ground in between the
spikes. You got a tickle. Not sure I'd want to try that today but I was
young...........


Ever try licking a 9-volt battery across both terminals?

It wasn't especially traumatic, or anything, but I only did it
once.

But, oddly, I think there were about four times of putting a
device plug halfway into a wall socket, and then touching my
finger accosts both of the still-exposed metal contacts. A kind
of vibrating sensation.

But I turned out to be a rather safety oriented adult. Really.


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Hi There
I am new to worm farming and i didnt know where to start but just wanted to give it a go. So thought i would have a search around the internet to see what info was available and couldnt really find much! However i did find a really great book to download which was incredibly informative and really easy to read. Now I am so excited as i have a better understanding as a complete novice and i highly recommend it to anyone starting out.
I found it under this website: Beginners Guide to Starting a Worm Farm

would appreciate any further advice from anyone.

Allotment Lady