No worms - what's wrong? - June 8th, 2005 at 05:56 AM
I started a compost heap about 10 days ago. It was about 3' x 3' and as close to 75/25 as I could get. I watered as I layered, not too much, not too little (ie - I think I did it all 'right'), but when I turned it (twice now), I didn't see any worms. Ants, rolly polys (potato bugs, or whatever), but no worms. I was really surprised, because a good deal of my yard already has lots of worms...I was sure they'd make it to the heap! They're not there...what could be wrong? Shouldn't they be there by now?
What I added: grass clippings (fresh/green, dried/brown), leaves, white paper, cardboard, dog hair, kitchen scraps, coffee & filters, tea bags, flat soda, hmmm...yard waste (green)...that's all I can think of right now. I did put some branches/twigs on the bottom for aeration, and had some layered throughout for better circulation...
I was away for about 5 of the 10 days, so I don't know if it steamed at all while I was away - it's warm now in the center...not hot, but warm. Nothing is containing it (it's just mounded in one area of my yard). I stopped adding to it 2 days after I built it. It's definitely shrinking, and it's looking mostly brown-ish. Not quite black gold, but I think it's getting there. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Mary
What I added: grass clippings (fresh/green, dried/brown), leaves, white paper, cardboard, dog hair, kitchen scraps, coffee & filters, tea bags, flat soda, hmmm...yard waste (green)...that's all I can think of right now. I did put some branches/twigs on the bottom for aeration, and had some layered throughout for better circulation...
I was away for about 5 of the 10 days, so I don't know if it steamed at all while I was away - it's warm now in the center...not hot, but warm. Nothing is containing it (it's just mounded in one area of my yard). I stopped adding to it 2 days after I built it. It's definitely shrinking, and it's looking mostly brown-ish. Not quite black gold, but I think it's getting there. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Mary