How to Save Your Worm Bins From Aggressive Ants

How do you save your worm bins from aggressive ants? To find the answer, we asked our summer college interns, Maddie and Kelly, to investigate. The worm bins at Solana Center recently experienced an increase in ant populations, possibly due to the decomposing food source and the moisture the bins provided. Although most species of ants will not harm…

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From the Rotline: Why are my worms trying to escape?!

Question: Why are my worms climbing out of the bin and trying to escape? Answer: The Great Escape by your worms means there is an imbalance in the worm bin.  If your bin becomes too acidic, too moist, too dry, too compact, full of rotting food, full of food they don’t like, too warm, too…

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Home Composting Resources in the San Diego Area

Are you looking for home composting resources in the San Diego area? Solana Center carries many supplies for pick up from our center in Encinitas. Visit our online store to purchase supplies or view the complete list of locations that sell composting products in the City of San Diego.

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DIY: Building Your Own Worm Bin & Getting Started Vermicomposting

Don’t think you have any room for traditional backyard composting at home? We hear that often from residents with small yards or who live in apartments or condos. Have you considered composting with a worm bin? Now, don’t make that face. Worm bins are easy, don’t smell, are a great way to recycle food, and…

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Construya Su Propio Contenedor de Lombrices

Crees que no tienes espacio para hacer una composta — jardín chico, apartamento o habitante de condo? ¿Qué te parece un contenedor de lombrices? ¡Vamos, no hagas esa cara! Es fácil hacer un contenedor de lombrices. No huelen mal, son una buena forma de reciclar comida y es muy divertido (a los niños les encantan).…

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From the Rotline: What are the white things in my worm bin?

Rotline Question:  What are the white things in my worm bin? Answer: Spot something unfamiliar in your worm bin? Don’t fret, you are likely to find many organisms other than worms in your worm bin! Like backyard composting, you will see a diverse, interdependent community of large and small organisms. They serve as food for each other,…

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From the Rotline: What are the white things in my worm bin?

Rotline Question:  What are the white things in my worm bin? Answer: Spot something unfamiliar in your worm bin? Don’t fret, you are likely to find many organisms other than worms in your worm bin! Like backyard composting, you will see a diverse, interdependent community of large and small organisms. They serve as food for each other,…

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Worm Care Guide

Keep the lid on the bin to protect the worms from light, to prevent escapees, and to keep flies/pests out. Keep bedding damp! When bedding gets dry, add water slowly. A layer of damp newspaper or coffee filters on top helps seal in moisture. Break or tear food into small pieces to encourage faster processing. Bury food below the…

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Rotline: Is it possible to have too many worms in my vermicompost bin?

Rotline Question:  Is it possible to have too many worms in my vermicompost bin? Answer:  Red wiggler worms are amazing in so many ways, and population management is one of them. So, the short answer to the question is “No, you can never have too many worms!” Here’s why:As worms adjust to their home, they…

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From the Rotline: Do red wigglers belong in my backyard compost bin?

Rotline Question:   Should I put red wiggler worms in my backyard compost bin? Answer:   This is a question that comes up often when folks visit our store to purchase composting worms, and we often have to urge folks not to add worms to their backyard bin. The reason lies in the fundamental differences between traditional…

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