Who says that you need big acreage, fencing, and a place in the country in order to raise small livestock? You can ignore zoning ordinances, noise restrictions, or the neighbor’s objections when it comes to worm farming no matter where you reside.

Composting worms are the perfect breed of livestock for the gardener who wants to raise a little more than fruits, vegetables, and herbs in the backyard. The worms won’t put meat on the dinner table but they’ll happily recycle your kitchen waste and turn it into a rich, organic plant food known as worm castings.

It’s Time to Open a “Can-O-Worms”

I was fortunate enough to inherit a four-story worm bin, complete with red wriggler composting worms when a co-worker relocated out of state this summer (thanks Gretchen)! I’ve written about the perks of vermiculture and worm castings here in the past but this was my first attempt at vermicomposting.

The worms spent the summer contentedly out on the patio but this weekend I decided it was time to bring them indoors for the winter. The transition gave me a perfect excuse to tear things apart and take a close look at what was happening inside the worm bin. The experience was very similar to inspecting a colony of bees inside of a hive.

While there isn’t the same level of complexity, communication, and organization that the bees employ, the worms do enjoy their own sense of community and teamwork. My bin has four stackable trays in which the worms are free to roam around as they forage for food, mate, lay eggs, and do whatever other things worms do.

Touring a Deluxe Multi-Level Worm Condo

The lower level of the bin was full of finished worm castings along with a surprising number of earthworms in every stage of their development; full grown adults, juveniles, new hatchlings, and freshly laid eggs or worm cocoons. I had assumed that all but a few stragglers had abandoned this section of the worm bin to move up to greener pastures but I was wrong.

The second level of the bin was empty except for the commuters traveling up or down to reach the other levels so there wasn’t much to see in this section. The third level is where I thought all the action would be taking place because this is where I had been depositing table scraps and yard waste all summer long to feed the hungry beasts.

A giant overgrown zucchini, water hyacinths out of the pond, those mysteriously half eaten tomatoes left on the vines, weeds yanked from the garden, and other assorted organic yard matter joined the kitchen waste and shredded strips of paper that made their way into the third level to be assaulted in a piranha-like feeding frenzy.

Warning: Compost Under Construction, Do Not Disturb!

It was amazing to see just how quickly the worms were able to devour whatever came their way and convert it into the black crumbly gold of rich worm castings! Unlike bees, it wasn’t possible to actually watch them work because they retreat from sight and disappear the second that a tray is exposed to any light. That led to some interesting bouts of peak-a-boo and hide-and-go-seek between the worms and myself.

The top tray of the bin was a wasteland of dried leaves, stalks, and debris that the worms didn’t seem to be taking much interest in. The only sign of life in this tray was from light colored, threadlike strands of baby worms that you had to look really close to notice. Guess these youngins were still finding their way around, figuring out up from down, and learning what’s good or bad.

After exploring the can-o-worms bin, I spent the rest of the afternoon separating worms from castings. The job was made a lot easier by the worm’s determination to avoid the light of day and move away and down deeper as each thin layer of castings was gently scraped away. They could only run so far until eventually I was left with nothing but a twisted mass of wriggling worms.

Relocating the Composting Worms Indoors for the Winter

Sorting through the castings you could clearly notice some areas containing concentrations of adult worms and others with pockets of barely discernible baby worms. I tried my best to save every single worm but I know that some of the adults and many of the babies will be going off to the garden when I add the castings to bed that I just finished preparing to plant the fall garlic in later this week.

Once the worm bin was cleaned, castings removed, and everything reassembled, order was restored as I divided the worms onto the top of two of the trays where a smorgasbord of delightful organic waste awaited them. Then the entire production was moved indoors to a corner of the room used for propagation and seed starting activities.

I have to admit that I’m very impressed with these red wriggler composting worms and the work that they are doing in their bin. They seem to be healthy and multiplying, with little effort on my part beyond feeding them garbage. Now I’ll see how it goes in the house and over the winter for my small livestock and worm farming operation.

I hate to admit it but summer is over, fall has arrived, and winter is on the way. There no getting around it so I may as well accept it!

Not that I have anything agaist autumn, it’s actually my favorite growing season in the vegetable garden, but I don’t look forward to cold, snow and icy conditions that follow it at all.

“Are You Still Planting Out There?”

A neighbor looked over at the garden a couple weeks ago and was surprised to find that I was still working and planting like it was springtime. I was busy thinning turnips, transplanting kale seedlings, and sowing seeds of mesclun, mache, spinach, winter cress, and other cold hardy vegetables.

With a little luck the garden will continue growing and yielding produce through the month of December here in the Zone 6 region of Central Pennsylvania. The only summer crops remaining in the ground are a couple of tomatillos, sweet potato vines that are rambling out of control, and various frost-tender herbs like basil and epazote. Continue Reading About “Garden Log 9-30-08; So Long Summer, Hello Fall” »

I joined a group of fellow explorers from the PA Backyard Fruit Growers Association this past weekend to take part in a perilous expedition in search of wild Paw Paws in the back country of South Central, PA.

Okay, maybe it wasn’t so dangerous, and most of the Paw Paw trees were actually fairly tame and cultivated varieties rather than those growing wild, but it was still a new and interesting experience for most of our group. The BYFG Paw Paw tours take place each fall but this was my first opportunity to attend the annual outing.

Introducing the Unusual and Rare Paw Paw Tree

If you’re not familiar with the Paw Paw don’t feel bad because they’re pretty uncommon and seldom find their way into the typical backyard landscape. They do grow wild in Pennsylvania and other areas on the East Coast, with a range that extends down into the southern states.

Paw Paws are a medium sized, upright growing tree with large dark green leaves, and clusters of fruit that ripen early in the fall season. The tree is attractive and often takes on a pyramid like shape with a wide base narrowing to a peak at the top.

There are many different varieties of Paw Paws including; Sunflower, Mango, Collins Select, Pennsylvania Golden, Davis, and Rebecca’s Gold. Growers are also currently working to develop new varieties of Paw Paws in attempts to improve its growth, quality, and productivity. Continue Reading About “Stalking the Exotic and Wild Paw Paw Tree” »

Would you like to try your hand at growing a fall veggie garden this year but aren’t quite sure how to manage it because your entire garden is currently over flowing with juicy tomatoes, sweet peppers and other summer crops that are still in full production?

That’s a dilemma that many backyard gardeners are faced with at this time of year and the solution often calls for some rather ruthless decisions and drastic actions… Do you pull out the old to make room for new crops, or do you delay planting and take the risk of running short of growing season to mature those cold hardy fall vegetables?

Growing into the Fall Gardening Season

After all, timing is critical and the changing seasons are unpredictable when it comes to forecasting frosts, hard freezes, and other weather conditions. Then there’s the matter of decreasing day lengths and the reduced levels of sunlight that are the major villains disrupting plant growth and creating a roadblock for the fall gardener.

Personally, mid to late summer is the time of year that I’m looking for excuses to free up garden space for my precious fall vegetable garden, and nothing is sacred that’s left growing in the summer beds. Any slackers, under performers, or has beens are destined either for the dinner table or the compost heap. Continue Reading About “Extreme Makeovers for Awesome Fall Vegetable Gardens” »

The name may sound a little odd or complicated, but foliar fertilization is actually a quick and simple way to deliver nutrients to every plant in the garden. It’s efficient, easy to apply, and fast acting, so any gardener can take advantage of this great fertilization technique.

In short, foliar fertilization is the process of feeding plants through their leaves rather than going the slower route of delivering nutrients through the soil for absorption by the root system. Plant leaves are very effective at absorbing nutrients and making them available for plant growth.

Using Foliar Fertilizers in the Organic Garden

While it’s not a substitute for building a healthy, fertile, garden soil; foliar fertilization is a great supplement for providing an extra boost to your plants in the midst of the growing season. Or to provide specific nutrients such as phosphorous at the time needed to promote flowering and fruiting.

In addition to supplying nutrients and trace elements, foliar fertilizers are considered to be beneficial in easing drought stresses, and in keeping plants strong and healthy enough to help resist insect infestations.

Organic fertilizers are typically mixed with water to form a very dilute solution that is then applied with a garden sprayer, or even a misting bottle depending on the size of your garden. You have many options to explore when it comes to choosing the organic fertilizer to be used in your foliar fertilization program. Continue Reading About “Speedy Feeding with Foliar Plant Fertilizers” »

In the previous article I shared my experiences foraging sea vegetables on Washington State’s San Juan Islands; today I wanted to examine some interesting uses that seaweeds can be put to back home in the kitchen and the organic garden.

I won’t list the many health claims associated with the use of sea vegetables, other than to say that they are very nutritious and rich in vitamins, trace minerals, and even proteins. In addition to the nutritional perks, seaweeds are known to offer medicinal benefits that are well worth investigating.

Will the Real Super Greens Please Stand Up

I’ve always touted leafy greens such as kale and collards as the ultimate nutrient dense health food, but sea vegetables just may have them beat thanks to all the healing elements that they can absorb from the oceans and pass on to our bodies and gardens.

Seaweeds are great for cooking with, and to use as a garden fertilizer and plant growth enhancer. In the past I’ve viewed seaweeds in the kitchen as more of a seasoning and spice than anything else. Strips of kombu were used to season legumes, dulse flakes served as a salt substitute, and nori was used to hold together tasty rice balls.

Continue Reading About “Using Seaweeds In the Home and Garden” »

As much as I love edible weeds and wild plants, I couldn’t have been any more thrilled by the bounty of seaweeds and sea vegetables that I was introduced to and became better acquainted with on a recent trip to the Northwest Coast.

Karen Sherwood of Earthwalk Northwest was the guide and instructor on this seaweed and coastal foraging expedition into the low tides and reefs just off of Lopez Island in Washington State. The days were full of hiking, kayaking, foraging, and fascinating studies on the identification, collection, preparation, and preservation of a variety of sea vegetables.

Letting Your Taste Buds be Your Guide to the World of Seaweeds

The first surprise was how freely we were able to sample the sea vegetables on the beaches we visited. Karen assured us that there were “no seaweeds growing in the local waters that could harm us” and that we were free to “let your taste buds be your guides.”

Even the Desmarestia ligulata seaweed (a.k.a. acid kelp), which generally isn’t recommended for eating because it contains high levels of sulfuric acid, is indeed perfectly edible in small quantities, and is also considered by many to be one of the best tasting seaweeds. Continue Reading About “Sea Vegetables: Harvesting Gifts from the Ocean” »

Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) has been a godsend in battles with destructive caterpillars out in the vegetable garden. One of the most impressive things about Bt (aka Thuricide or Dipel), is that it targets and eliminates bad bugs without harming the non-targeted beneficial insects and pollinators.

B.t. accomplishes this feat because it is based upon a naturally occurring soil bacteria that operates like a stomach virus in causing caterpillars to become sick, quickly stop feeding, and die within days of ingesting even a small amount of the substance. How does that sound — a “bug” for bugs!

Other things that I like about using Bacillus thuringiensis for organic insect control in the vegetable garden include the following features and advantages:

• Ease of Application – B.t. comes in powered or liquid form. The powder can be dusted onto the plants or sometimes comes in a shaker type dispenser. The liquid version of B.t. is my favorite and is simply mixed with water and sprayed onto your veggie plants.

• Extremely Economical – One reason for my preference of the liquid version of Bt is that it seems to be more economical and a small bottle will go a long way. Kept cool and dry, Bt can be stored over a couple seasons, but I only mix up as much as I need for each application. You should be able to locate an 8 oz. bottle of B.t. for around $10. Continue Reading About “Bt: the Organic Caterpillar Control that Works Naturally” »