Wow! I am so surprised at how fast the worms are making worm castings this year. I may have to harvest before Christmas! How are the worm fosters doing? Please give a status of how the worms are doing and if you have any questions.
Just found this group and would be willing to foster worms for the winter if you still need a volunteer.
Thanks for the offer. Because the worms start dying at temps of 40 or 50 we had to find homes a while ago. We will be doing a worm bin workshop in 2022 that you might want to attend. Follow for more info.
All worms are in foster care for the winter. We will be starting up again when the over night temps are consistantly at 50 degrees, so that the worms can be outside
Hopefully, one day we can have a heated garage or a space where we can continue the program in the colder months. If anyone knows of such a space please let me know. We would need a area that heated and preferably, not a basement, as I avoid stairs when all possible.
A special thanks to all of the wonderful people who became winter worm fosters. You saved lives!
Hello,
Sorry if this information is posted somewhere but is this group for people who want to create their own compost bins with worms? I am just looking for a compost place I can drop off my food scraps, does this org do this? If so when and where?
I live in a very small apartment so the composting myself with worms isn't really an option but I had hoped perhaps I could give my food scraps to anyone in my area that is currently composting? I live in the valley Junction area. Willing to drive to a person's home to drop off. Just wanting to live more sustainably with the distance I travel to drop off compost.
The Wormery is a community composting program is a seasonal program until we can secure a building for winter harvesting. That said, this winter I am looking for volunteers to help with a workshop showing people how to DYI a worm bin, and best practices for successful healthy bin and happy worms. Whether you compost to lower your carbon footprint, to recycling paper/ cardboard packaging, or need a healthy way to dispose your nutritious food scraps, or if you want tocompost to harvest worm casting, or for fishing worms. Whatever your reason, it is very easy to DYI a worm bin. I am thinking a work shop around Jan or Feb...maybe a valentine bin workshop??? Lol Let me know if you would like to be on the planning committee? Teena 515 326 1845 I am hoping we can start up the out door bins and collect food scraps after the over night temps are at a consistant 50 degrees.
I live very close to Valley Junction so east Des Moines would be a bit a drive for me. I've been dropping off at a community garden downtown and wanted a closer option. If there would be a drop off site or member of this group that lives around in that area (valley Junction/Windsor Heights) I could drop my scraps off to?
If anyone is interested in becoming a winter worm foster, please contact me this week. I have indoor worm towers for a $50 investment. Then next Spring, share a few worms with me to restart the program and you will have a thriving compost bin.
If at anytime you decide it's not for you, I will buy back the worm tower for the same $50.00 investment. Best part is that the worms are free. Come and get them before the first frost.
The worm bins I have left are terra cotta colored.
515 326 1845
HARVESTING!!! We have been able to share nutritious worm castings with the many food scrappers who saved food scraps to feed the worms. o secured a few winter fosters to care for the worms this cold winter. At the Nine Square Feed Garden club, volunteers handed out samples of worm castings to each person who stopped at our Womery Worm table to get more information about vermicomposting.
We now have countertop containers for your food scraps. These container are made by Ikea and can also go right into your freezer. Best part is no stinky bags to throw away!
I keep a couple of these on my porch for you to exchange when you drop off your full container. I will clean them and put them back out onto the porch for your convenience, or contact me at 515-326-1845 for a container drop off, or for scrap pick up. I always recommend giving these counter top containers a good scrub before actually putting them in your freezer or on your counter.
As the seasons change and the temps drop, I need to think ahead for the worms. They prefer 50 to 80-degree climate, and Iowa is just too cold. Because this program has grown so large I don't think I can keep them all in my house as I have no basement.
If anyone knows of a place where we can maintain the worms over the winter, that would be great. I have Urban worm bags that are all-inclusive bins that zips up so nothing gets in, and nothing gets out. They are also perfect for someone who has a basement and just wants to foster worms over the colder part of the winter from November to March or so.
As the seasons change and the temps drop, I need to think ahead for the worms. They prefer 50 to 80-degree climate, and Iowa is just too cold. Because this program has grown so large I don't think I can keep them all in my house as I have no basement.
If anyone knows of a place where we can maintain the worms over the winter, that would be great. I have Urban worm bags that are all-inclusive bins that zips up so nothing gets in, and nothing gets out. They are also perfect for someone who has a basement and just wants to foster worms over the colder part of the winter from November to March or so.
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The foster worms are doing great! You’re right that they need consistent moisture. I made sure to open up space for them to travel between bins. They seem pretty happy :)