wormery - can o worms

hello chaps
I have been given a can o worms, minus any worms or bedding or anything. Please can you tell me if I need to purchase a prepared bedding block, or whether I can use shredded paper/cardboard/etc to start it off. Ideally I would like to spend as little as possible on this - I'm not being stingy, I would just rather spend the money on plants!
We have a local angling suppliers from whom I can buy 1kg of dendra worms for �£19 (I think from looking at various websites that's not a bad price!)

I'd be very grateful for any ideas, many thanks
lynne

 

lynne hopefully you have a container I started mine many years ago it was a 45gall. plastic drum I drilled 1" holes all over it some in the bottom, cut a 8"square near the bottom and put a hinge on it I started filling it with all the usual compost materials in no time at all a thriving colony of brandlings, they reside on mass in the top 12" of the bin devouring everything put in and out the bottom I collect beautiful compost courtesy of worm and co.
a link here to help you on your way.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/gardenerscorner/londonshow7.shtml

 

thanks for this - I've actually been given the "Can o worms" wormery
here's a link to it!
http://wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop/foundoption.lasso?findit=Can-O-Worms&-session=shopper:AC8F645007a4b144B0loR1BC563B

They suggest that one should use specially prepared bedding, and it's this that I'm wondering about.

 

dear Lynne ive just looked in a book All About Compost written by Pauline Pears, it reckons a deep bed of moist shredded card or paper is fine otherwise you could use shop bought compost or leaf mould.

 

Hi Lynne,
I have had a wormery for about 15 years now. I atarted off with a small tin of tiger worms. Can't remember how much I paid for them but it wasn't much. The gardens full of em now!If ever I need to supply them I just put a flat board on the floor near to the wormery and in a day or so lift the board and there they are, dozens of the little fellows(hermaphrodytes I mean).
Cheers,
John

 

Hi, you can get red brandling worms from fishing tackle shop a lot cheaper, my partners a fisher man and he had a wormery but I got rid of it to put in more plants, he used shredded newspaper and potato peelings exc.... and soil, on top he put old peice of carpet to keep it moist.

 

I bought my dendro worms from Tadley Angling, near where I live, and a very friendly bunch of chaps they are too!
They're happily munching their way through my kitchen s****s now, and I worry about them all the time!

 

Hi Tropical. You mention brandling worms. If I were to introduce a different variety would there be a bit of competitiveness. Also I spotted the biggest worm I had ever soon the oth day when moving a compost. It was as thick as my finger. didn't see the full length, it escaped!!

 

Probably a Lobworm J B largest of about 20 species found in Britain,they are the ones that leave the large worm casts on lawns they can grow to 20+cm

 

I'm just contemplating getting a Can-o-Worms. My garden's pretty tiny so no room for a full compost, but this sounds just the ticket.

Has anyone else had experience of using this product?
Lynne - how did you get on with yours in the end?

Also - in the reviews of it on Amazon someone said they kept it in their kitchen(!) Is this advisable?? I don't want a worm infested house!
http://www.amazon.com/Can-O-Worms/dp/B000CQP7RI

Lastly, I've had problems in the past with both rats and mice - how secure is this type of thing from such pests?

 

For anyone still interested in the Can o worms, I bought mine from Tescos last night (value pack with worm voucher) for the princely sum of �£46.

 

:( My Tescos told me they have no plans to stock this item. :(

I really want one but I am not paying �£100 for one. As much as I would like to be greener, I can buy 20 litres of tomatorite for that money which is about 8-10 years worth ! :rolleyes:

 

Freecycle is your friend!
That's where I got mine from.

 

BM can you not ask them to do a stock check at other nearby branches? :(

Freecycle is good- but you have to be fast when they are offered. But hey, why not ask- you never know your luck!

 

I've just bought some 'how to build a wormery cheap' plans off ebay. its a link to a web site with distructions to follow. I haven't looked at the site yet but if its any good i'll let you know. I'd better not give the direct website link on here cos I doubt the seller would be too happy, but their user name on Ebay is how_2_build_a_wormery if you want to have a look. item no 180213128972