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The Burlap Effect
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Posted by jim08204 (My Page) on Tue, Aug 24, 10 at 13:52
| Special thanks to Mendopete for mentioning the use of burlap in bins. I cut a piece, folded it to make 4 layers and laid it on top of my bins. I then added a layer of composted cow manure, fruits and veggies and soaked it with ACVT. Not only do the worms seem to enjoy playing in the burlap, it makes harvesting very easy, as I just lift the burlap up and out and let them all slide off into a tray. - Jim |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: The Burlap Effect
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| I think the The Burlap Effect is caused by the combination of air, moisture, and surface area (in the burlap) for microbes. The stuff does sound magical. |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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| Jim, welcome to th burlap fan club. It will always have a place in my woem systems. |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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| HI All; I done an experiment in breeding worms using burlap to get cocoons that were easy to harvest. Make 12-15 layers folded and stapled and cut one edge so it can be like pages of a book. wet/dampen burlap and put 50 worms in each page and feed with oatmealuncooked just sprinkled lightly with egg shell powder mixed with oatmeal spritz with plant mister. After 8-10 days harvest cocoons. I fed every other day or so. when ever oatmeal was gone. |
Here is a link that might be useful: breeding worms in burlap
RE: The Burlap Effect
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| Where do you get burlap? I found a price of $219.00 for a 12 inch by 12 ft. roll. Seems rather expensive. Dave Nelson |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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| No, no, no. The reason things are packed in burlap is because it is or should be cheap, cheap, cheap. 50#'s of potatoes should be in them. That must be some kind of exclusive designer burlap. But then again even cheese cloth I have seen has been expen$ive. Nothing to do with vermicomposting should be $$$. Designer worms? Cool brands of vermicastings? Not to do with this post but along the same thought process as far as the peat vs coco fiber debate please include the cost and carbon foot print of shipping. Then tell me about the moral issues when the real facts are known. |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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Dave, I love using burlap with worms, but I would not consider that price! Find a coffee-maker and hit 'em up. I get organic coffee-bean bags free by the dozen. They are about 12 square-foot of material each. I began using them because they are free, and they replaced old carpet that was rapidly decomposing. I also cover all my compost piles in burlap when they cool down. It is very useful gardening material.
Pete |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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| My local fleet/farm store has used coffee bean bags for under one dollar each and they are big bags. Check out sporting goods stores there is burlap material used to construct hunting blinds. This burlap is printed with camo patterns and comes in a roll about 3-4 foot by 25 foot for about 20 dollars, and while it cost more than used coffee bean bags It surly Is cheaper than Dave found. Keep hunting! Curt equinox; I agree |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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| I regularly buy bean coffee and snacks at a free trade coffee store. They have lots of burlap bags for sale but I think they ask about $3.75 per bag. I hope I can remember to ask next time I go there. Dave Nelson |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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| Hi All; You can find burlap at any good garden center. The one I use sells 25,50,100,200,500 foot rolls 3' wide. I don't use muck just to experiment with for the most part. |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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| lkittle- I like that book idea! I got mine on Ebay. It's made by Dewitt. - Jim |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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| Hi All; I just thought that with the other thread about cocoon harvesting and shipping to friends the burlap might help with some of the seperating out of the cocoons. It also gives a way to see the little buggers more quickly. I got the idea from C Morgans little books the books make a good little infromation liberary. I have all of his books for a referance liberary. |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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| How long do you leave the burlap with the "goodies" in it for the worms to migrate up into it? I'd like to try it, but I'm wondering how long it would need to sit there for most of the worms to migrate into it. Deanna |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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Deanna, I do not add food to the burlap. I just soak it and lay down on top of the bed. I put food under it. Yesterday I soaked a new bag in AVCT for about 10 minutes, let it drip for a minute, and placed over the top of my older burlap. Today it looked like a pin cushion with worms dangling out of the weave. I usually see mature worms in the material until the cocoons start hatching. This occurs when the material is falling apart.
Pete |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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| Deanna- I use manure and food on top and the worms are in it the next day. I did two harvests this way. The burlap showed wear on the second, but it looks like I was able to remove about 1/2 the worms out of the bin. - Jim |
RE: The Burlap Effect
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I used to use burlap regularly to harvest.
Lay the burlap on top of the new bin. Spread inch or so of vc and worms on top of the burlap under a light and they naturally migrate through into the new bin. Have a coffee or do some housework, come back, scoop the castings into your storage container, spread out some more dirt with worms, and leave them alone again.
The burlap doesn't last long, so I now use an orange bag that large bags of carrots and onions comes in. Works the same easy way for harvesting, and lasts longer. |
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