Every now and them it is time to give that ole compost a bit of a turn. I had picked-up some fresh stall mest out in the countryside, so I wanted to make a hole in the compost in the darlek that Eileen gave me donkey’s ears ago. So put a shovel-full of it into the middle of the still uncomposted material in the hope that it would accelerate and stay active throughout the winter. I can tell you we were shocked when the first fork moved the upper layer aside: A closer look. That mass of worms were quick to wriggle back down under the surface. That means that there were more than we can see on the foto up above. This compost id destined for the veggie plots and greenhouse. We will add this to the other bags full behind the garden house. Remember those?
Thanks Daniel and Jewell— It is so good to see them. Now I can hardly wait to spread them out in the veggie beds. I do have to say when I go to plant things in the spring, the mulched beds look just like this…thanks to the very thick mulch layers (and if there are no moles present). I am very happy today.
Very cool, Sjoerd! I have 3 worm boxes in my basement for food scraps. I mix in the cardboard-ish egg cartons, so they get a, "balanced" diet. I started out with 1 and kept splitting them. The compost out back is yard waste. I don't put food out there because of rats. I've seen a hawk eating one, up the alley and there's apartments at the end of the alley that have a dumpster. I don't want their rats coming my way.
Oh thanks much, Willow. I wonder if they have rolled themselves up for a good sleep, or if they are still eating. It sounds like you are having success with your worms.
Yes, I've been doing worm boxes for many years. These guys are very happy! In the 80s and 90s, when I lived in Washington State I went to different schools and started them.
@Sjoerd The worms pictured in your compost is funny . Well… sort of …tell you why later. But first the intended purpose for your compost piles are lots of those perfectly fine looking wiggly worms is a ‘Good Thing’ . That’s a good sign of healthy compost. Gardening 101 good healthy worms in compost = healthy plants. Here’s the catch…I put down tons , literally dump truck loads of compost on my garden beds with lots of worms. But…No one told me there was a down side to all those ‘delicious’ worms in the soil . I can’t help but chuckle after all the years and time I spent trapping moles because they are attracted by those fat juicy delicious worms. Ironic isn’t it. Of course worm elimination has been my entire focus all summer but for totally different reasons. I have developed a whole new meaning for the word ‘Worms’ which equal ‘Mole holes’ and miles of tunnels as far as the eye can see. I lost count after 220 holes and accompanying mounds. Besides , how many gardeners get to stomp their newly planted treasures back in the ground the next day because all the new plants are popping up and out of their planted spots propped up by the mole tunnels. They had taken over very early in my quest for a garden. It was an innocent mole claim at first just tunneling under plants in the early days. Until it became a full fledged defensive tactic to protect my precious plants. I had to take a stand and declared war. Out all day today mulching leaves which call on those lovely worms in the pastures and gardens. My many attempts to discourage them from moving in is to clear out all worm food. I know it sounds counter productive , but what’s a girl to do? In my little section of land worms are the enemy. Sounds very incongruent. But let me explain. I have absolutely nothing against those nice juicy lil worms , but they have created a nightmare in my little neck of the woods. Still many , many years later I am determined to keep the moles from turning my garden and pastures into a huge mole habitat. I’m still mowing mushrooms to and fro in absolute horror. Each one is as poisonous as the next and of course where they are growing is over areas where the moles latrines / living quarters were located. Which is for all intense and purposes literally wall to wall. Inside their tunnels the mushroom spores are sprouting up like white headed monsters tempting the dogs and horses . It took me 4&1/2 hours to mow and mulch the pastures today. Lucky to have a nice long sunny break , but very chilly , saving those ski cloths for warmth is a ‘Good Thing’.
