Northwest Redworms

Your Source for "Red Wiggler" Composting

NW Redworms     Redworm information     Compost Products     Non Compost Products     Community Activities     About Us     Redworm whisperer blog      
March 18

Compost bedding for redworms
I get asked questions about compost bedding, like....
What is it?
How much do I use?
Why is it important in the compost?
 
In the next few days I am going to work on answering these questions a little better than I have on the website.
 
First, what is it?
The typical answer is woody type material like dead leaves, paper, sawdust, peat moss, coconut coir, cardboard, straw and so on. Generally alot of wood type material, this is a general/vague way of answering the question. So lets go a little more in depth. The reason this type of material is called bedding is that it has very little nitrogen (nitrates are food for billions of microorganisms in the compost like bacteria) content and what remains is a higher concentration of carbon (all organic material has a carbon base make up). This is the chemistry part of it and if it's as clear as mud I hope to clarify it more as we go. Since there is less nitrates in the bedding there are other organisms that will consume the bedding instead of the aggressive bacteria that you find in the food portion of your compost. Some macro organisms like the bugs you see and some microorganisms like fungi. Before I get carried away the point is these other organisms are slower at breaking down the bedding than the organisms that break down the food. As a result the bedding will last longer in your compost and remain more rigid, so it is considered the structure of your compost that keeps it from compressing into a mush and preventing your compost from becoming anaerobic (without air) and smelly. More later...
 
 
 


7:13 AM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

February 24

Redworm logo wanted
How about a competition for the new Northwest Redworm Logo. I am looking for a simple cartoon like logo wih several redworms worming toward a cedar compost cabin (like the one we feature, see below, showing some tasty compost in the window and a sign saying "Compost Inn") that is sitting among a few Douglas fir trees in the background. Above the trees it says Northwest and under the logo it says redworms. simple and stylish in high resolution digital format.
 
The prize for best logo can  be a medium cedar compost bin kit that can be shipped anywhere in the US. Along with the prize the winner will get acknowledgement for creating the logo on the website with a link to their own website or address for others to contact.
 
This competition will be judged by me on March 1, 2010.
 


1:14 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

February 10

Redworm Wisperer
Hello everyone my name is Doug. I would like to start this blog as an information hub for all the questions that may be asked about redworms and redworm compost. Also to include climate, chemistry, biology, compost critters, redworm life cycle and so on. Think up the questions and I will do my best to answer them all. And please if you will please include a picture of your compost or yourself or both so that we can all get to know each other. I look forward to your questions and input.
 
 


6:43 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)