October 29, 2008
We don’t have any pets. This is probably a very good idea because we’ve had trouble keeping our worms alive and are already on our second batch, after only owning the wormery for a year.
My latest problem with the wormery has been fruit flies. Thousands and thousands of them swarming out when you take the lid off – yuck. I didn’t dare go back for 2 whole weeks. I have however found a really good website called: www.wormcity.co.uk which has given me hope. The problem was that we have one of those layered wormeries which makes compost in each layer and the worms should travel up through it. I filled the second layer and started on the third. But the 2nd layer started to go down as it decomposed and the worms couldn’t reach the top layer. So after taking advice from wormcity I bravely emptied the top layer into the next layer down and then covered it with soil (the fruit flies breed on the exposed food apparently). I am now less scared of going near the wormery and the bottom layer actually looks like compost now.
Maybe i could be trusted with a goldfish soon!
Entry Filed under: getting there, trying. .
1.
Liam Martin | October 30, 2008 at 11:17 am
Hey there,
Great blog, by the way!
With your layered Wormery, do the trays rest on each other, or on the compost on the tray below?
Really, you need one with the second design, as then the top tray will stay in contact with the material in the next tray down as it compacts and the worms can continue to migrate upwards.
Hope you see great results!
Liam Martin
http://www.OriginalOrganics.co.uk
2.
Ronnie | November 3, 2008 at 8:20 am
Hiya
Glad you got your problem sorted out, and that our advice was helpful.
its worth remembering that fruit fly eggs are often present on the food when its put in the wormery, so the flies just hatch out.
fruit flies do not harm your wormery in any way, in fact they aid the composting process, , however as you said – they are annoying to us
Best Of Luck
Ronnie
http://www.wormcity.co.uk
3.
tryingtobegreen | November 11, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Thanks for the advice. It does sit on the compost in the tray below except if the tray gets really low which is what happened to me. The first one was too full, the second was too empty. I am just learning at the moment. Looks pretty good now. Am just worrying that they’ll get a bit cold over the winter. Should i consider covering them in bubble wrap or something?
4.
wormcity | December 5, 2008 at 9:46 pm
hi
yes if you have a greenhouse or shed, move the wormery into there, or wrap them in bubble wrap, it all helps to keep your worms warm