Composting, Worms, Bioreactors and Dog Fur

[kdabbler]

We're taking a break this year on the garden because of our puppy. With training he has significantly improved his manners, but we still have a ways to go and don't want our hard work to go to waste because of his puppy craziness.

In the meantime, dh is making us a two can bioreactor for composting. No more lazy-man's compost for us, puppy finds it waaaayyyyy too interesting - not good with a white dog .

I have two different questions: can you compost dog fur? It's shedding season and if I had time on my hands, there's enough to spin it into yarn .

Second question: We have lots of earthworms in our fallow garden. Is there any reason why I can't just dig a bunch up and make my own vermicomposting bin? Do I really have to use red worms a.k.a. Eisenia Foetida?

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

I don't know about the worms. You can compost dog hair though and human hair, nail clippings ect. Anything organic can compost. Old cotton cloths, dryer lint from wash loads of natural fiber, old wool socks... I have natural fiber floor coverings and empty my bag less vacuum into the compost bin.

[rubyeta]

I think red worms might be more efficient composters than your everyday earthworm. I think it would work with any kind though.
I can only imagine how frustrated i would be if a puppy tore apart all of the work i have put into my garden this spring, you are one smart lady to wait

[Fuamami]

Originally Posted by rubyeta

I think red worms might be more efficient composters than your everyday earthworm. I think it would work with any kind though.
I can only imagine how frustrated i would be if a puppy tore apart all of the work i have put into my garden this spring, you are one smart lady to wait

Yes, this is what I've heard, too. I think it might make more sense to just use your native worms, because I'm also pretty sure the red worms won't live if you just put them in your garden.

[cornflake girl]

The earthworms that you find in your garden are much deeper dwellers than the Eisenia Foetida and won't do well confined to a bin. E. Foetida are more surface dwellers and are really what you need for a bin. This is what I was told when we toured a worm farm, anyway.