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  • Home
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    • Worm Castings
    • VermaPlex
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    • Combo Packages
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    • European Night Crawlers
    • Grow Worms
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Our Products
  • Worm Castings
    • What Are Worm Castings
    • Benefits Worm Castings
    • Best Worm Castings
    • Worm Castings Analysis
    • How To Use VermaPlex And Black Castings
  • VermaPlex
    • VermaPlex Analysis
  • VermaMax
    • VermaMax Fertilizer Applications
    • VermaMax Analysis
    • Chicken Litter Organic Worm Castings Fertilizer
  • Black Sea Kelp
  • Bulk Quantities
  • Testimonials
  • Articles and Info
    • Why Black Castings Work
    • Worm Castings Compared To Vermicompost
    • Organic Fertilizers vs Chemical Fertilizers
    • Grow Chia
    • Bamboo Plants Fertilizing
    • Compost Pile Starter
    • Winter Vegetable Garden Tips
    • Fall Vegetable Garden
  • Vegetable Gardening
    • Radish Growing
    • Grow Organic Sweet Corn
    • Grow Organic Beans
    • Grow Lettuce
    • Growing Tomatoes
    • Pepper Plants
    • Growing Onions
    • Growing Carrots
    • Growing Cabbage
    • Growing Cucumbers
    • Eggplant >
      • Eggplant Nutrition Facts
  • Organic Fertilizer Applications
    • Vegetables Application Rate
    • Field Crops Application Rates
    • Nursery Application Rates
    • Grass Forage Application Rates
    • Turf Lawn Application Rates >
      • Turf Lawn Fertilizer Calculator
    • Nut Trees Application Rates
    • Fruit Application Rates
    • Herbs and Spices Application Rate
    • Lawn Fertilizer
    • Transplant Trees
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a blog by a dog

Worms & Castings News

4/1/2019

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Worm Castings & Earthworms new online store

buy-fishing-worms
Used by Permission: Monroe Cartoonist
Recently, we updated our online store for a more streamlined shopping experience.  Both websites, Monroe Works and Earthworm Works,  point to one store for convenience. Here's our updated store link: earthworms and worm fertilizers are for sale. 

We appreciate you being a loyal customer. If you have any issues or suggestions for the new store, please let us know in the comments.

Spring planting is already started here in Florida, and up north it starts sooner than you think.  Fish are a'biting, too.  So, scoot over to the the new store for your organic worm castings fertilizer and the best fishing worm ever: European Night Crawlers.
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October Lawn Care - Florida

10/12/2017

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What to do this month for your lawn/pasture

Picture
October is a transition month here in Florida.  Sometimes (like this year) it's hard to tell that it's really fall.  In fact, it's as hot and humid as any August.  Except there has been a change - no more daily downpours; the light is getting shorter; the grass is growing slower.
During October, here are some tips on your what needs to be done to your grass this month:
  • It's too late to seed, but you can still add plugs and sod. Remember to add VermaPlex® to any new sod for best results.
  • The grass is still growing, just slower.  Keep mowing. (You are checking your blades for sharpness, right?)
  • Even though some places are still getting hammered and even getting tropical downpours, this can all dry up in no time.  Be vigiliant and water when needed.  The sun is still hot.
  • If you haven't' already, apply your high nitrogen fertilizers like VermaMax Granules® to Bermuda before the grass completely slows down too much.  It will continue to grow until it gets really cold, but, hey, that could happen at any time now.  Water after applying
Fertilizers for now:
  • Apply your fall feeding of VermaPlex®
  • Apply VermaMax Granules® to your Bermuda grass (hold off on the VermaPlex® until two weeks after.)
Hang in there - it really is going to cool down.  I promise.
Grass/Lawn Application Rates
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Bulk Worm Castings specs

8/17/2017

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Convert measurements bulk castings

 ​Our bulk worm castings are shipped in 1 ton super sacks.  For those using cubic yards for figuring your usage, here are some specs FYI:
  • One cubic yard of worm castings weights 1200 pounds
  • There is 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard
  • There are 45 cubic feet per 1 ton super sack of castings
  • One ton of worm castings equals 1.6 cubic yards.
Bulk Organic Worm Castings
What Pure Worm Castings Looks Like

Applications of worm castings

Click here for information on use and application rates  for various crops.
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July 13th, 2017

7/13/2017

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which came first: The chicken or the fertilizer?

Organic Chicken Litter Fertilizer
Archie The Rooster
Now,  Archer up there will be the first to tell you he's a really handsome fellow.  But he's not just another pretty face.  His manure is one of the most valuable organic fertilizers known.

Get more nitrogen and calcium

Nature is truly a wonderful thing.  Did you know you can feed chicken manure to earthworms in your vermicomposting bin or worm farm?  Just be careful....it's hotter than most any other organic material.

And, did you know you can improve your worm castings fertilizer's  nitrogen and calcium content by adding composted chicken litter?  That's why VermaMax Granules® is so potent. It's a blend of worm castings and organically composted chicken litter.  But this chicken litter has the unique quality of being composted with the help  of VermaPlex®​ liquid.  

The combination of the purest worm castings on the planet and super-duper composted chicken litter produces an organic fertilizer that packs a powerful punch.  Not only does VermaMax® contain extra, readily available nitrogen for high-users like corn, the calcium content is through the roof.  A whopping 6.72%!

Calcium is extremely difficult to obtain organically and that's one of the criticisms used by certain unenlightened individuals against organic fertilizers.  With VermMax®, you get extra calcium AND extra nitrogen in one easy-to-apply soil amendment.

Vermax® For Extra oomph

  • For corn and other high nitrogen users

  • For extra green lawns
    ​
  • For golf courses and sports fields​
VermaMax Granules® is available in 40 pound bags and in bulk ton totes (contact us for a quote!)
Shop
Bulk Info
Organic Chicken Litter Fertilizer
VermaMax®
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Quality of worm castings

10/26/2015

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Q & A 

Q: I'm considering a cheaper worm castings product.  How do I determine the quality of the castings?
A:  Cheaper is cheap for a reason.   If you want to find out how "pure" the cut-rate worm castings you've found are, here is a test:

Worm Castings Purity test

  • Add one inch of the castings to an empty 20 oz water bottle.  
  • Add water, not all the way to the top.
  • Shake bottle up and let sit for 15 minutes.
  • As a comparison, do the same with our Pure Black Castings™.
Results:
  • An inferior product will have garbage floating to the top (like peat moss or un-decomposed organic material.) If "filler" has been added, there will be a layer of sand in the bottom.
  • Pure Black Castings will have nothing floating on top and only castings in the bottom.
Also, check for moisture content.  A wetter product will weight more, so you are getting fewer castings.  Pure Black Castings™ have less than 30% moisture.

Don't settle for less

Black Castings™ are considered the gold standard of organic worm castings.  Rigorous production criteria insures a quality product in every bag.  
Bulk
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Purest Worm Castings
Black Castings: The Purest Worm Castings On The Market
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Raised Beds

9/1/2015

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raised bed advantages
Free standing raised bed .

Advantages of Raised Bed gardening

Do you have poor soil or bad drainage?  Is your landscape boring or too steep?  If you've considered raised bed gardening but thought it was too expensive or time-consuming, you might want to reconsider.  Raised beds just might be worth the time and money.
Raised beds solve many gardening problems such as:
  • Poor drainage
  • Poor soil
  • Sloping ground

Plus raised beds can add beauty and interest to a boring landscape by:
  • Adding height to flat gardens
  • Providing level planting areas on steep grounds

Adding pavers and gravel around the beds creates a cozy court yard effect.  The beds design can be flexible - rectangular, square or in corners.
Raised Bed Gardening
Raised beds designs are flexible.

Building Raised Beds

A variety of materials can be used to construct raised beds:
  • Bricks
  • Blocks
  • Wood
  • Free standing mounds

Raised Bed Soil and Planting Medium

Raised beds hold lots of soil.  There are packaged pre-mixed planting soils available at local gardening centers, but mixing your own is more economical.  For a good planting soil mix:
  • 1/3 peat moss
  • 1/3 perlite
  • 1/3 worm castings
This mix provides good drainage, aeration, and slow release fertilizer.

Watering Raised Beds

Adding a watering system as beds are built saves time and is easier to do.  By laying in a seeping hose, emitter, or sprinklers now, watering during dry spells is a breeze.

Self watering systems make sense for raised beds as well.  Simply install a barrel (paint or decorate to blend into the landscape), elevated higher than the raised bed ground level.  Install a faucet at the bottom and attach a seep hose or emitters to lay along the bed.  Fill the barrel with water and add a small dose of VermaPlex® for maximum plant nutrition through "micro-dosing".

Fertilizing Raised Beds

For easy raised bed fertilizing, simply: 
  • add pure Black Castings™ to your potting mix, 
  • side dress during the growing season, 

  • add VermaPlex® as you water.

Certified organic...slow release...earth friendly...never burns.
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Raised Bed Garden Fertilizer
Black Castings™ and VermaPlex® For Raised Bed Gardening
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Gardening Books

8/12/2015

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Good Gardening Books

recommended reading

One of the most helpful books I have on my gardening books shelf is Steve Solomon's "Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food In Hard Times".  As the title implies, it has a self-sufficiency and sustainable living slant,  currently in vogue (and for good reason) 

Hard Times a'coming?

Whether you subscribe to the "preppers" movement or are just worried about contaminated food and rising costs, this book is a good addition to any gardening library.  Solomon shares gardening knowledge from a time before chemical fertilizers and hybrid seeds.  

He covers such things as land acquisition, soil fertility, how to start different types of gardens, tools, composting, insects and diseases, and (my favorite) seed saving.

Mr. Solomon created and ran a seed company in the 80's and he passes on his knowledge of collecting and saving seeds.  I found the seed storage section particularly useful.  Keeping saved seeds viable is a must if we want to become self-sufficient and maintain heirloom seed varieties.  Proper seed storage is the key to retain viability.  After using  his seed-saving regime, I have better germination percentages than before.

A large portion of the book is dedicated to "What to grow and how to grow it".   Many popular vegetables are covered with instructions on growing, harvesting, and (of course) seed saving.  Check this book out sometime at your local library or online.  It's a book that's been well-used in this household.
More Information:
Visit Mr. Solomon's "About Me" page.

Seeds Plus VermaPlex

Picture
Plant seeds then....
Picture
...treat with VermaPlex.
Get faster germination and a quicker start by treating your seeds with VermaPlex® at planting time.
Buy VermaPlex
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Late Summer Garden Duties

7/30/2015

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Gardening to-do list

The flowers are in full bloom, the vegetables are producing, and the grass is growing. While you're enjoying the beauty and harvest of your gardening efforts, here's a quick list of  late summer chores:
  • Keep your container plants fed and watered.  Use a slow release fertilizer like worm castings and add extra potassium for blooms.
  • Remove faded flowers to encourage more flowering.
  • Watch out for pests like aphids.  Look for and pick off destructive caterpillars and grubs.
  • Collect seeds from healthy plants for replanting.
  • Trim and cut back shrubs and hedges.
  • It's time to plant spring-flowering bulbs.
  • Plant cold-hardy annuals now and remember to protect during the winter.
  • Mow, mow , mow.  Increase the cutter height during dry spells. Water new sod throughout the summer.   Unless it's very dry (not around here!), established lawns don't require watering.
  • Harvest your vegetables as they become ripe to encourage more production.

Above all, keep cool.  Fall's just around the corner.

Liquid Garden Fertilizer
VermaPlex Liquid Fertilizer

Liquid Fertilizer For Summer gardening

Apply VermaPlex®  during the growing season to maximize growth.  Testing shows that "micro-dosing" at each watering brings the best results.  And .5 to 1 ounce per gallon of water.

Don't forget a side dressing of worm castings!
Order  Today
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Purest Worm Castings For Sale

7/14/2015

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Organic Worm Castings For Sale
Raised bed garden's progress using worm castings as fertilizer.

Why Pure Black Castings™?

There are a lot of worm castings on the market.  Some are "certified organic" some are grown organically but aren't certified.  Some are more worm castings than vermicompost, some are more vermicompost than worm castings. 

Know your worm castings

When choosing a worm castings product as your fertilizer, it's important to know where a particular product falls in the above classifications.  The cost should reflect the quality of the worm castings you are purchasing and using in your gardening or farming.

Vermicompost

If the worm castings are mostly vermicompost, the price should reflect the smaller concentration of castings contained in it. Vermicompost is an excellent amendment to your garden soil, but it will require more fertilizer applications at planting time and/or be replenished quickly.  

Think of vermicompost more as a soil enhancement, adding tilth to your planting medium rather than as a fertilizer, although it does contain microbes and has fertilizer value.  Vermicompost should be relatively inexpensive and probably should be bought locally, since the shipping costs can be prohibitive (especially if it's wet).  

Worm castings with residual vermicompost material

A lot of the worm castings fertilizer you find for sale have a high concentration of worm castings but with a substantial amount of organic material (vermicompost) remaining in the product.  This higher concentration of worm castings makes for better fertilizer than the vermicompost above, but  a premium should not be charged for this fertilizer since it isn't "pure" and requires higher application rates.

Again, the shipping of un-concentrated worm castings that also contains large amounts of vermicompost is not cost effective. Before purchasing an unknown source of worm castings, it's probably wise to get a small amount or sample before getting large amounts only to find it isn't  straight castings.  Click here for a test to do for judging whether a worm castings product contains vermicompost.

Pure Worm Castings

Fertilizers that are pure castings are the most concentrated.  The process to reach this level of purity is longer and more expensive than with simply vermicompsting organic material to a certain point and bagging it up.   The application rates are lower for pure worm castings and the price should reflect this concentration. 

Certified Organic and grown organically

Whether the pure worm castings being sold are certified organic or not is another consideration.  Some castings are grown organically but lack the "certification".  They may or may not conform with the standards set.  You should not pay a premium for castings that do not have organic certification.

The certification process for fertilizers is difficult to achieve and maintain.  This certification provides a user the assurance  they are applying a truly "organic" product free of harmful  toxins and poisons and that it conforms to standards set by organic certification boards.

Pure Black Castings™

The gold standard for worm castings, Pure Black Castings™ are 99.9% pure castings with minimum moisture.  Certified organic and OMRI listed, this highly concentrated fertilizer is safe for you and the environment.

Find more information about these highly concentrated worm castings here or shop for worm castings at our store.
Worm Castings For Sale
Organic Worm Castings For Sale
The "purest" worm castings on the market. AND it's certified!
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New Liquid Fertizer is here

6/18/2015

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Black Sea Kelp Organic Liquid Fertilzer
Black Sea Kelp for plant health.

Black Sea Kelp Now available

Loaded with bloom-promoting root-growing potassium, Black Sea Kelp is now available for sale on our store.  The compounds found in Black Sea Kelp:
  • Promote plant health
  • Speed seed germination
  • Increase root growth and flowering
  • Prevents plant disesases
  • Protects plants and helps them recover from stress
Check out the benefits of adding Black Sea Kelp to your fertilizing regime.
More Info
Shop Now
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