Every day, unless the weather is really brutal, I walk through the garden and the greenhouse before going into the house. This probably sounds silly in the winter; but I have to see if anything has come up or grown. Earthworms go into the earthworm habitat whenever they are found; but I only disturb them once a week. If it is really cold, their peace is not disturbed then.
Normally it seems that I have to dig over a foot to find any at all. Then there are only a few. Where did they go? Yesterday, March 9, I got a surprise. With the first handful of medium my hands were full of wiggly little earthworms. They still are not eating the cornmeal that is sprinkled on the top of the tub. There is obviously plenty of feed in the medium which is finished compost. The castings will be harvested when they start eating the cornmeal.
The goal is to have enough earthworm castings by good Friday to fill the planting holes for the tomatoes. That may not happen; but possibly there will be enough if mixed ½ and ½ with garden soil. That should be rich enough.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Showing posts with label Earthworms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Earthworms. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Yesterday was so beautiful, I had to go home and play in the yard. The hard cold spell that just ended left dead tomato plants (in the greenhouse raised bed) and high gas bills. It also left a bunch of wood ashes. We let the woodstove go out so it could be cleaned. Ashes go in the compost. A little bit of compost got turned as well and the earthworms got fed. The cold weather did not hurt them. They are wiggling away. It is almost time to clean their bin.
I haven’t made up my mind whether to consider the raised bed in the greenhouse as a failed experiment or try again. I will be moving the lights to the bench area for use on the bedding plants. The space where the bed is would make a good spot for a cabinet or a workbench. The little growies are very happy with the warm sunshine. I started some more basil and parsley plants; because there are never enough of them. They are great companion plants.
Today is order day from Burpee’s for the spring seeds and the rest of the greenhouse plantings. I’m so excited. Ordering seeds is one of the most difficult and exciting parts of the spring garden. Seed catalogs really start the dream juices going.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
I haven’t made up my mind whether to consider the raised bed in the greenhouse as a failed experiment or try again. I will be moving the lights to the bench area for use on the bedding plants. The space where the bed is would make a good spot for a cabinet or a workbench. The little growies are very happy with the warm sunshine. I started some more basil and parsley plants; because there are never enough of them. They are great companion plants.
Today is order day from Burpee’s for the spring seeds and the rest of the greenhouse plantings. I’m so excited. Ordering seeds is one of the most difficult and exciting parts of the spring garden. Seed catalogs really start the dream juices going.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Earthworm Habitat
As mentioned in an earlier blog, the lack of livestock deprives the gardener of manure. Inspired by this situation, I decided to make an earthworm habitat. A tenant left an old plastic washtub with holes drilled in it at a vacant rental house. This was turned into an earthworm habitat. It was buried in a shady spot in the garden that was not much good for planting. This spot is under the fig trees.
Finished compost was used as the medium to fill the tub. Some worms were captured from the compost bins and the garden to populate the “farm”. A little plain corn meal was sprinkled on the top to feed the little critters and the whole thing was covered with an old trashcan lid. Then there was an amazing discovery.
The potting soil was getting really low yesterday so some finished compost was screened to make potting soil. Virtually every forkful of compost had 3 to 5 earthworms. I hope this means that the compost that was put into the habitat originally was also full of earthworms. How nice would it be to reach in and grab a handful of medium and have it wiggle?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Finished compost was used as the medium to fill the tub. Some worms were captured from the compost bins and the garden to populate the “farm”. A little plain corn meal was sprinkled on the top to feed the little critters and the whole thing was covered with an old trashcan lid. Then there was an amazing discovery.
The potting soil was getting really low yesterday so some finished compost was screened to make potting soil. Virtually every forkful of compost had 3 to 5 earthworms. I hope this means that the compost that was put into the habitat originally was also full of earthworms. How nice would it be to reach in and grab a handful of medium and have it wiggle?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Livestock for a Travelin' Man
It is difficult to find livestock, that can be kept in the city. Goats are definitely out. Chickens or rabbits would be fine; but no rooster. For someone who travels, daily care becomes impossible. For someone who really misses having livestock there has to be something. Bees would be nice and they would complement the garden. They pollinate; but they don’t make manure. The final choice is earthworms.
Earthworm dodo (castings) is some of the best stuff on earth. Earthworms only need to be fed once a week. The only real concern in our area would be freezing. The earthworm “farm” can be placed in the greenhouse in the winter. That takes care of that. Having studied the subject extensively on the internet and in gardening books, the “farm” design decided on will be a 18” square plywood box with a screen bottom and a plywood cover. It will be filled with peat moss and loamy dirt. Earthworms don’t like sand.
The earthworms will come from Renfrow’s Hardware Store. They will be fed grass clippings and cornmeal. The castings will go into the garden. The excess earthworms will go into the compost bins and the raised garden beds. Of course I will take them out occasionally and play with them in the yard. I may even take one or two of my favorites for a walk. I don’t think my wife will let them sleep inside on cold nights but we will see. I’m glad we own our home. At least I won’t have to pay a pet fee.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Earthworm dodo (castings) is some of the best stuff on earth. Earthworms only need to be fed once a week. The only real concern in our area would be freezing. The earthworm “farm” can be placed in the greenhouse in the winter. That takes care of that. Having studied the subject extensively on the internet and in gardening books, the “farm” design decided on will be a 18” square plywood box with a screen bottom and a plywood cover. It will be filled with peat moss and loamy dirt. Earthworms don’t like sand.
The earthworms will come from Renfrow’s Hardware Store. They will be fed grass clippings and cornmeal. The castings will go into the garden. The excess earthworms will go into the compost bins and the raised garden beds. Of course I will take them out occasionally and play with them in the yard. I may even take one or two of my favorites for a walk. I don’t think my wife will let them sleep inside on cold nights but we will see. I’m glad we own our home. At least I won’t have to pay a pet fee.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Magic in the Garden
Science has an explanation for the way plants make something from nothing. The idea of photosynthesis seems to depend on the conservation of mass & energy. If E=mc2, how much sunshine does it take to make a cornstalk or a squash vine? It can’t be much. Where does the mass of mushrooms originate?
Many years ago spontaneous generation was disproved. We know that maggots make flies. Earthworms are hermaphrodites; but it still takes 2 to tango. They lay big eggs that make a lot of little earthworms. Their manure is the richest natural fertilizer one can obtain that doesn’t have weed seeds. I still like to think of these things as magic, or at the very least divine. I know the way that the growing garden makes me feel is magic; or is that just a chemical/electrical reaction in my nervous system?
Scientists really like to spoil all the fun. Where do scientists come from anyway? Is that spontaneous generation or photosynthesis?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Many years ago spontaneous generation was disproved. We know that maggots make flies. Earthworms are hermaphrodites; but it still takes 2 to tango. They lay big eggs that make a lot of little earthworms. Their manure is the richest natural fertilizer one can obtain that doesn’t have weed seeds. I still like to think of these things as magic, or at the very least divine. I know the way that the growing garden makes me feel is magic; or is that just a chemical/electrical reaction in my nervous system?
Scientists really like to spoil all the fun. Where do scientists come from anyway? Is that spontaneous generation or photosynthesis?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Monday, October 12, 2009
New Raised Beds
This long weekend saw some progress in the garden. The lumber has been identified for 4 new raised beds. One which was built this morning is 3’ X 8’. Two of the others will be 4’ X 12’ and will be used for squash. The other one will be 3’ X 12’. There may be another bed 4’ X 4’ to accommodate a stump. The stump is too much trouble to get out; but it can be worked around.
Most of the fallow part of the garden was tilled this weekend. That is needed before the beds can be built. The soil is tilled as deep as the tiller will go. The box is built on top of the ground and filled with compost and the loose dirt around the bed. The bed can then be planted or left for the spring. The beds that are left for spring get a layer of mulch. The spaces between the beds (30”) is mulched as well. In the spring the mulch will be pulled off of the beds and left in the paths to conserve moisture, prevent weeds and provide a home for earthworms.
The new compost system works great. There won’t be enough compost for all of the new raised beds so “black gold” will be purchased from compost central. A pickup truck full is $24.90. This is really beautiful compost and well worth the money.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Most of the fallow part of the garden was tilled this weekend. That is needed before the beds can be built. The soil is tilled as deep as the tiller will go. The box is built on top of the ground and filled with compost and the loose dirt around the bed. The bed can then be planted or left for the spring. The beds that are left for spring get a layer of mulch. The spaces between the beds (30”) is mulched as well. In the spring the mulch will be pulled off of the beds and left in the paths to conserve moisture, prevent weeds and provide a home for earthworms.
The new compost system works great. There won’t be enough compost for all of the new raised beds so “black gold” will be purchased from compost central. A pickup truck full is $24.90. This is really beautiful compost and well worth the money.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Monday, December 15, 2008
Green in the Greenhouse
Green in the Greenhouse
Lots of stuff is coming up in the greenhouse already. I’m getting a few early lessons as well. I planted the basil way too thickly. Most of it is planted several to a pot or in egg cartons. Now it has to be separated. This is very tedious and time consuming. I really love basil though. Almost everything planted in dirt has come up. Very little of the stuff planted in rockwool has. Part of the reason may be that I planted larger seeds in rockwool. They may take longer to germinate.
The fallow part of the garden is getting a 6” layer of leaves. The soil was worked very deeply earlier as the dead and finished plants were pulled off. I think of mulching as making an earthworm heaven. Earthworms are the real heroes of organic gardens. As they move through the soil, they wiggle through the soft earth making tunnels that aerate the ground. When they come to a harder spot, they munch their way through. When they find something organic they eat it. An earthworm produces its weight in “castings” every day. Earthworm castings are some of the richest fertilizer known.
Compost and organic matter are really tasty and attractive to earthworms. Artificial chemical fertilizers are not only yucky tasting. They irritate their soft skin. Make an earthworm heaven in your garden.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Lots of stuff is coming up in the greenhouse already. I’m getting a few early lessons as well. I planted the basil way too thickly. Most of it is planted several to a pot or in egg cartons. Now it has to be separated. This is very tedious and time consuming. I really love basil though. Almost everything planted in dirt has come up. Very little of the stuff planted in rockwool has. Part of the reason may be that I planted larger seeds in rockwool. They may take longer to germinate.
The fallow part of the garden is getting a 6” layer of leaves. The soil was worked very deeply earlier as the dead and finished plants were pulled off. I think of mulching as making an earthworm heaven. Earthworms are the real heroes of organic gardens. As they move through the soil, they wiggle through the soft earth making tunnels that aerate the ground. When they come to a harder spot, they munch their way through. When they find something organic they eat it. An earthworm produces its weight in “castings” every day. Earthworm castings are some of the richest fertilizer known.
Compost and organic matter are really tasty and attractive to earthworms. Artificial chemical fertilizers are not only yucky tasting. They irritate their soft skin. Make an earthworm heaven in your garden.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Flatulence in Earthworms
Flatulence in Earthworms
I am so conservative with composting materials that I even take home the scraps and coffee grounds from the office. I found some leftover beans that I would no longer be comfortable eating; so I put them in the compost. My compost bins are so full of earthworms that I think of the compostables as earthworm food. I wonder if these beans will give the earthworms flatulence. That could give a whole new meaning to one of the benefits of earthworms which is soil aeration.
The sun is back out and I am feeling better. I can’t wait to get back into the yard. I wonder if the rain has made anything grow yet. My intentions for the day are to till some more of the front yard and saw up some more firewood. I may work on the watermelon fence a little too. My travel schedule is pretty brutal from now until the beginning of June; so I may not write a lot. I am trying to get my garden on “auto-pilot” so my wife will not have to do too much while I am gone.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
I am so conservative with composting materials that I even take home the scraps and coffee grounds from the office. I found some leftover beans that I would no longer be comfortable eating; so I put them in the compost. My compost bins are so full of earthworms that I think of the compostables as earthworm food. I wonder if these beans will give the earthworms flatulence. That could give a whole new meaning to one of the benefits of earthworms which is soil aeration.
The sun is back out and I am feeling better. I can’t wait to get back into the yard. I wonder if the rain has made anything grow yet. My intentions for the day are to till some more of the front yard and saw up some more firewood. I may work on the watermelon fence a little too. My travel schedule is pretty brutal from now until the beginning of June; so I may not write a lot. I am trying to get my garden on “auto-pilot” so my wife will not have to do too much while I am gone.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
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