Worm Project

I started a new project today. I'm going to see if I can raise worms. At first, I never saw the point of raising worms. They naturally gravitate towards the rabbit manure pile and then I throw the manure in the garden complete with worms so why make extra work for myself? I've changed my mind because 1) rabbits make a lot of poo and rats like to nest in the hay so anything that can make the pile go down faster is good. 2) The finished product is apparently marvelous for the garden. 3) Chickens eat worms, since I'm trying to raise chickens as naturally as possible, worms seem like a good food supplement.

It does sound like a good idea, doesn't it? Unfortunately, I'm running into problems before I even start. Almost everything I've read says to get red wigglers. I'm not buying worms when the ground is crawling with them. Red wigglers are not native to where I live and I'm wary about introducing any new life form to an area. So right off the bat, I don't have the recommended 1 - 2 lbs of worms to start my project. The other thing that needs to be solved is actually finding info on raising worms in cold climates. There's oodles of information on raising worms in areas where the frost line is two feet or less. So may-be worms can't be raised in colder climates but doesn't really make sense. Worms live here so there must be a way to raise them here. Another thing is that apparently only red wigglers can be raised in bins - I don't understand that, either.

So armed with very little knowledge, I going to try vermiculture and hopefully not murder a bunch of innocent worms in the process. I am using a five gallon pail. I do have buckets that would work but the pail is narrow and tall, I don't know if worms would crawl out of a low bucket and I don't particularly want to find out. Finding a mass exodus of worms the in basement is not something I would enjoy though I'm sure M. Night Shyamalan could find movie inspiration in such a scenario. After washing the pail out, I put about 4 - 6 inches of brown leaves in the bottom and then a bunch of bunny manure. It's moist, like a damp sponge which is the recommended environment for worms. I covered the top with cardboard just in case the worms can slither out. I think I might punch a couple of holes in the top for ventilation. I will keep it in the basement firewood room where it's dark and stays cool even on the hottest days.

I'm going to get worms from the compost, manure and leaf piles I have. Whenever I'm out, turning the piles or putting it on the gardens, I'll snag whatever worms I find and put them in my bucket. If the worms don't do well, I'll let them go. If they do well, and multiply, I figure by next spring I'll have enough to start a worm pit. I have all winter to figure out how to make a cold climate pit with local worms. You'd think that would be enough time.