Even seemingly easy duties, like elevating the standard earthworm, might be carried out in additional methods than one, nonetheless all variations should observe sure primary rules.
In a video from Bangladesh, villagers present the viewers increase earthworms in cement rings, sunk into the soil. The ground is roofed with a sheet of plastic to maintain the worms from escaping. The worms are ate up chunks of banana corm and the ring is roofed to maintain out the rain, however nonetheless retain some moisture.
My grandfather used to boost worms in a pressed-board field on his again porch. He fed them on strips of newspaper and used espresso grounds. So I knew that there was a couple of solution to increase worms, however I didn’t fairly realise what number of choices there have been, till I noticed two small, household corporations in Cochabamba, Bolivia at an agricultural honest. Each corporations increase earthworms and promote the worms, the humus they make, and the surplus moisture collected within the course of (to make use of as fertilizer—utilized on leaves or the soil).
One firm experimented with varied varieties of containers. The worms died in plastic ones, however they thrived within aluminum cylinders, wrapped in foam (to maintain them cool) within a metallic barrel. A screened base with a tray collects the humus, whereas worm meals (particularly composted cow manure) is loaded into the highest of the barrel.
A second firm had a distinct devise. They use stacks of plastic-covered picket trays on a slight slant, and so they feed the earthworms corn plant residues, semi-composed cow manure, and kitchen scraps. Earthworms have their favorite meals. “Earthworms like all the cucurbits (like squash), however nothing bitter,” defined Silvio Gutiérrez and his spouse, the corporate house owners. “They don’t like citrus in any respect.” Earthworms will eat paper, however they like egg cartons.
So right here we’ve a Bangladeshi cement ring, a Bolivian barrel and a set of picket trays. It looks as if a variety of other ways to boost worms, which is a vital subject, as a result of the night-crawlers, as my grandfather used to name them, assist to complement the compost, stabilise it and so they enhance the soil with the helpful micro-organisms they launch.
All of those worm brooders share sure core rules. The worms are saved cool, not allowed to flee, and are ate up natural matter (relying on what’s plentiful regionally) and the earthworms usually are not allowed to get too dry or too moist.
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