CommunityLatest post
Good Energy
I have been thinking about the chain or web of good energy in our communities. There are many of these, and I have two that I am part of.
WormMainea's Blog
Browse by topic
Previous posts
Behind the Scenes
Celebrating WormMainea's 20th Anniversary!
This month we celebrate 20 years of WormMainea.com! I have met so many interesting people over worm conversations.
Garden Tips
Beneficial Reuse of Autumn Leaves: Make Leaf Mold
Leaf mold is the end product of deciduous tree leaves broken down slowly by fungi — and it's one of the best soil amendments you can make for free.
Large Scale
More Thoughts on Scaling Up
A good rule of thumb is that you want the worms to have access to about 75% of their body weight in food they can eat per day — but in practice it's more nuanced than that.
Native Plants
Native Plant Update
Since my last post on my native plants, my plants have moved from the seedling bed to their final planting locations — with mixed results.
Native Plants
Native Plants
Having removed the invasive plants from my yard, I am now continuing the next step: adding more native plant species, starting from seed.
Large Scale
Large Scale Vermiculture at the Maine State Prison
I was invited to visit the Maine State Prison to see their large-scale vermiculture project — and everyone involved should be commended.
Community
Barter is Better
For the past few years I have had a barter offer on my web site. I've had some great barters that I'd like to share.
Bugs
Fungus Gnats
"When I took the lid off the bin I noticed tiny little black flies flying out..." — here's what they are and how to get rid of them.
Large Scale
Interesting Vermibusiness Model
A grower in Taiwan contacted me to share a community-based vermibusiness model that's worth knowing about.
Garden Tips
Wood Chips and the Hidden Benefit of Thrift
Ramial wood chips from your local arborist are one of the best free soil amendments you can get — here's how to source them.
Energy
Going Electric
As a homeowner who strives for efficiency, I've been grappling with energy choices whenever we face a replacement. Here's where we've landed.
Worm Bins
Help! My Worms Are Crawling Out of the Bin. What Do I Do?
It could be a few things: too warm, too wet, too noisy. Here's how to diagnose and fix it.
Vermicomposting
Biochar as Compost Deodorizer: Vermicomposting Experiment Report
One of the issues that prevents people from composting indoors is smelly compost in the kitchen collection container. I have a solution — biochar.
Gifts
35th Anniversary Edition of Worms Eat My Garbage
The new 35th anniversary edition of Mary Appelhof's classic book is now available — and I was delighted to serve as an invited reviewer.
Worm Bins
Making a Soil Sieve to Screen Compost
After many years of hard use, I needed to make a new soil sieve. Here's how I built one for about $25 in about 60 minutes.
Red Wigglers
Hype About Worms Destroying Old-Growth Forests — and Reality About Red Wigglers
I receive many questions about compost worms escaping from the worm bin to destroy forests. Here's what the science actually says.
Vermicomposting
What's in Your Worm Bin?
You may think you have mostly worms in your bin, but you'd be wrong. Your bin is a very complex and diverse ecosystem with hundreds of species.
Worm Bins
What Is the Best Size for My Worm Bin?
Really that is determined by what works for you in the space you have. Here are my suggestions and considerations.
Seasonal
Overwintering Red Wigglers Outside
Without fail I get questions this time of year about keeping worms outside over winter. Here are the facts and your options.
Garden Tips
Leaf Blowers Are Evil!
There are few things I hate more than a leaf blower. They are loud, smelly, and potentially dangerous to your health.
Compost Tea
Worm Compost Tea vs. Worm Bin Drainage
I want to make an important distinction: worm compost tea and worm bin drainage are not the same thing.
Community
Meeting Fellow Vermicomposters — Anyone Can Vermicompost
When I started WormMainea, I assumed those visiting my site would be a narrow portion of the population. I got it completely wrong.
Community
The Joys of Teaching Vermicomposting
I really enjoy teaching vermicomposting to school children — and one unexpected side effect has caught me by surprise.
Looking for older posts?
Visit the original WormMainea blog archive for posts going back to the very beginning.
Visit Blog Archive