Nancy Reading

Michael Cox wrote:I've seen details of climate controlled, indoor breeding systems. But they are technologically complicated and not feasible for the lay person.  In a climate where they are free flying and breed for a considerable portion  of the year they are as wonderful as they sound. But if you don't meet that requirement then they basically won't work for you.

Looks like these controlled systems are starting to be fairly widely used to dispose of food waste on a municipal scale in various countries.



It sounds like the Australian system took some development to get right.

Thekla McDaniels wrote:To me it looks like it could be transformed into marvelous rich fertile soil.

I don't see why not! Here's a test pit of my field when I started improving my vegetable area:



It actually doesn't look so bad in my picture, but the grass roots only penetrate the top couple of inches as it is so compacted, and the water was running off the surface rather than soaking in. I needed to put air in my soil (through digging and organic matter). I think water and organic matter are the key for you. The worms will survive your dry summer curled up in their mucus sealed balls, but they will need some moisture to move around and breed.
Another suggestion for you is some sort of cover crop - like fodder radish. That would add organic material deep in the soil, and probably get killed off in your winter. Follow that with woodchip in spring to insulate and add longer lasting carbon and introduce the worms in spring too. They might get going before the summer heat kicks in and have two active seasons, spring and autumn.

Thekla McDaniels wrote:Nice looking worm, Nancy.

Oh it's not one of mine! That photo is from the sussex wildlife trust site. Mine are looking pretty good now though - much improved from the pale sad looking ones I started with.

From wikipedia:

Rayon, also called viscose, is a semi-synthetic fiber made from natural sources of regenerated cellulose, such as wood and related agricultural products. It has the same molecular structure as cellulose

It sounds like it is likely to stain easily... Most of the online advice seems to be to repeat the spot treatment and laundry again (eg wikilaundry). What was the food stuff involved?

(how did that work out?)

Julie - We found your other account and merged them together, you should see the bundle now. Let us know if you still have an issue.

Creeping buttercup is one of my opportunistic plants - I guess as I have a compacted, acidic, damp, former sheep paddock that stack up with what others have said above.

buttercup flowering meadow on Isle of Skye

Since I don't keep livestock the plant is not a problem to me in the tree field, but the seed bank means it is one of the worst ones I have in vegetable growing areas. I find the top pulls off leaving the root, which regrows, and they send out runners which are aptly named, as they can travel many feet in a season!

Hi Jenella - I've pressed some buttons.

Let me know if your stuff doesn't appear for you now

The woodchip might act as insulation, but I think the worms will need a range of decomposing organic material.

I sometimes find my worms curled up in a little ball to hibernate. I think they do that when it is too cold or dry to move around.


sussex wildlife trust agrees with me on that.

No idea how cold they can tolerate. I have heard that worm bins need protection in cold weather, but the worms seem to be fine in my compost bin and soil here (mild frosts only).

Hi Shannon and welcome to permies! It doesn't appear that Mary Ann ever updated us with how she got on with her cuttings - I hate to assume failure, but people are more likely to share successes! Still there are a few methods there to try. I hope one works fo you.
Any chance of saving your bay tree? Is it planted in the ground or in a pot? I'm wondering if it is possible to replant it in a better soil. I nearly lost mine last year as it was rocking in the wind, but some rocks placed around it seem to have stabilised it and it is growing well for me this year.