For those of you using a worm bin to compost your food scraps, here are a few thoughts about worms in the colder weather: Worms will multiply more slowly and eat more slowly in cold weather, so if your bin has recently been set up it might take them a little while to catch up on your scrap production. If you are making more food scraps than the worms can eat, try chopping up any solid scraps (stalks etc) to make them easier for the worms to handle. Try to keep your worm bin at a reasonably warm ambient temperature. If you live somewhere like Whangarei or Auckland it doesn't matter so much, but in frost-prone areas you might like to consider moving the worm bin to a sunnier part of your property, or covering it in sacks or old carpet underfelt, or even moving it inside your carport or garage. Make sure the contents of your bin don't get too wet over winter. If you have a drainage tap in the bottom of your bin make sure you open it often to let liquid drain out. Also consider putting the bin somewhere out of the rain, and make sure it's covered (plywood, sacking, etc weighed down with a brick.) Ensure there is plenty of 'bedding' material in the bin. When you first set it up you would have used shredded newspaper or similar as the first layer. Keep adding fibrous material like paper to ensure the worms have an ongoing supply of bedding. This may include paper towels, paper bags, torn up egg cartons, or even coconut fibre or straw (not green grass clippings). Keep an eye on your worm bin and notice any changes. A vinegar smell means the food is going 'sour'. Sprinkle on a spoonful of lime (available at garden centres) to keep it 'sweet' and take the steps above to ensure the bin isn't getting too wet and the worms are handling the volume of scraps. Finally, avoid disturbing the worms too much in very cold weather. They will all huddle together in the middle of the bin where it is warmest - avoid digging around too much and forcing them to the edges of the bin where it's colder. Happy winter worming!
Submitted by Lindis on 14 March 2009 22:30:39
