yup too expensive. Its 25 kg
The upside is the extreme quality. I'm starting my own
The upside is the extreme quality. I'm starting my own
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Local materials
- Thread starter Microbeman
- Start date
bigbadbiddy
Well-known member
That's the good thing about high quality worm castings:
They usually come with worms or you can just ask the guy to throw a couple extra in there and then you have everything to start your own worm bin.
Over here it kinda sucks with the cold during winter, they just don't multiply a lot when it's so cold out.
I bet over where you are you throw some goodies in there (malted barley watered in with some molasses really made them explode in my soil tub!) and they reproduce like crazy.
They usually come with worms or you can just ask the guy to throw a couple extra in there and then you have everything to start your own worm bin.
Over here it kinda sucks with the cold during winter, they just don't multiply a lot when it's so cold out.
I bet over where you are you throw some goodies in there (malted barley watered in with some molasses really made them explode in my soil tub!) and they reproduce like crazy.
I'm getting 3 kg of worms to start my worm bins. I have not used the malt but they do like feed soaked with molasses
Hookahhead
Active member
I know you know a lot about microbes and worms, but I wanted to share an informational thread about my worm bins for those who don't.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?threadid=357854
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?threadid=357854
I like to soak peat moss in the bag prior to mixing it. I just blast the hose right in there. It helps a lot with the hydrophobic issue.
My plants in various states of recovery since getting vermicompost, compost and molasses. Most were close to death The little tree beside the composting set up came totally back to life and flowered.
My plants in various states of recovery since getting vermicompost, compost and molasses. Most were close to death The little tree beside the composting set up came totally back to life and flowered.
Rico Swazi
Active member
Bump
Sure looks to be a nice place to settle down, make new friends and enjoy life Microbeman
Love the color of the house, same color as the one I lived in texas. Ristras hanging made the color pop
They were much older but a washer and dryer on the porch sans bitchin tiles, poor people had only cement. .
You are living in style brother!
So hows the garden doing these days?
Curious as to what local materials you have found to be useful that are new to you.
Dried sage brush for example. Have you considered using something similar for a carbon source? peat replacements?
Any new and interesting facets of living hot and dry? I can only imagine joint pain would be less in warmer (hotter) weather.
( at least I hope that is true in your case.)
Last question, does the area where you are at have a spring cacti and flower bloom? Would love to see some hillside pics of the local flora Nothing that google earth could recognize tho, one thing to remember when one is running from the law, no identifiable landmarks!
Sure looks to be a nice place to settle down, make new friends and enjoy life Microbeman
Love the color of the house, same color as the one I lived in texas. Ristras hanging made the color pop
They were much older but a washer and dryer on the porch sans bitchin tiles, poor people had only cement. .
You are living in style brother!
So hows the garden doing these days?
Curious as to what local materials you have found to be useful that are new to you.
Dried sage brush for example. Have you considered using something similar for a carbon source? peat replacements?
Any new and interesting facets of living hot and dry? I can only imagine joint pain would be less in warmer (hotter) weather.
( at least I hope that is true in your case.)
Last question, does the area where you are at have a spring cacti and flower bloom? Would love to see some hillside pics of the local flora Nothing that google earth could recognize tho, one thing to remember when one is running from the law, no identifiable landmarks!
i'll see about the photos. I'm not running from anyone anymore. The hydrangea in the round pot which was destroyed by the roofers is now unrecognizable as the same plant. It is beautiful. It is the one we transplanted and discovered the giant worm capsules. The dead hydrangea in front same thing. I have some strange affinity with hydrangeas. They seemingly thrive after I touch them and I must turn soil acidic because they always turn from pink to blue. I'll take some more photos manana.
From my last farm
From my last farm
Last edited:
To answer a simple question.
Yes.
To make a short answer longer.
Pea gravel doesn't have the same moisture and nutrient holding ability and it weighs more.
Its also harder to get and costs more.
Limited real estate. If I can get more than one quality out of an amendment, I'm happy.
Lava rock another choice. Cheaper and easier to find.
I think MM has his own reasons for using colored pea gravel. Mining minerals or good zen? ("Wow! All the pretty colors. ")
I'll let him answer for himself.
I just like to butt in.
hh made some good points. I used it because it was cheap or free and multi-colored and accordingly, hypothetically will contribute diverse minerals. It is heavy so is not a good material for containers to be moved.
For commercial production I had it tested against heavy metals and for mineral content; about $200 to $300.
Rico Swazi
Active member
Hydrangea looks lovely. Any cacti? Pics would be great when you get the time
my other questions from earlier-
my other questions from earlier-
Its the replacement for peat that I especially interested in.
Sorry..no photos today. Long day. I'm charging up the Nikon though. My helper picked a full Rubbermaid type tub of nut sedge so I'm fermenting it for nutrients ala TimXJay. Not much sagebrush until one hikes up into the mountains. There are lots of cacti, aloe species, palms, many flowers.
I've got dried leaf and sawdust for carbon as well as straw, palm fronds, spent brewers mash. I plan to get a chipper shredder, then we will have lots of material from tree management guys.
I've got dried leaf and sawdust for carbon as well as straw, palm fronds, spent brewers mash. I plan to get a chipper shredder, then we will have lots of material from tree management guys.
If you can get palm tree trunks, bury them and they'll break down nice.
Palm fronds, I just use for ground cover. Thorns down or cut them off while green.
You should have acacia or mesquite, If not plant it. Nitrogen fixer. You gotta like thorns though. Make flour with honey mesquite.
Burpee barbless cacti have nice big fruit and edible pods.
Worms love avocados.
Palm fronds, I just use for ground cover. Thorns down or cut them off while green.
You should have acacia or mesquite, If not plant it. Nitrogen fixer. You gotta like thorns though. Make flour with honey mesquite.
Burpee barbless cacti have nice big fruit and edible pods.
Worms love avocados.
Microbeman, how do use the spent brewers mash? I have access to a few hundred gallon a week. We feed it to our cows.
As for palm trunks I have a swamp full of sago palms that have fallen and broke down over the years and it's some of the richest soil I've seen. I have them taking over some cow pastures and was thinking about cutting them down and extracting the palm hearts the using the trunks for hugelculture. I have also used palm fronds as a mulch with success. Was thinking of using some palm fronds for a mulch indoors but don't want to introduce any microscopic mites and have that headache.
As for palm trunks I have a swamp full of sago palms that have fallen and broke down over the years and it's some of the richest soil I've seen. I have them taking over some cow pastures and was thinking about cutting them down and extracting the palm hearts the using the trunks for hugelculture. I have also used palm fronds as a mulch with success. Was thinking of using some palm fronds for a mulch indoors but don't want to introduce any microscopic mites and have that headache.
