The Hopping pot
Plants, flowers, vegetable and more!
Based in Marshall, N.C., we grow a variety of vegetables and flowers. We use sustainable farming methods to produce yummy things to eat and amazing plants that showcase the beauty and wonder of our natural world.
Vermiculture: composting with worms
We've been composting with worms for over a decade. We raise Eisenia fetida worms, the best kind for composting. Worm poop (called castings) is a great source of nutrients for your plants and full of microorganisms that plants need to thrive and commercial fertilizer don't contain.
Learn more about Vermiculture and vermicomposting
Vermiculture is providing the best conditions for worms to thrive and
Worm castings are the best source of compost for plants you can find. It is high in essential nutrients that plants need to thrive and in a form they can readily access. Moreover, castings contain microbes that help maintain the health of your garden beds.
Worms thrive in these conditions:
- Temperatures between 65-80 degrees. They like 70 degrees just like humans do.
- Moisture between 60% and 85%. The bedding should be like a damp sponge.
- A pH of 7 (neutral). Avoid citrus and other acidic foods.
Food sources: One of the best things about worms is they will eat just about any organic matter – leaves, kitchen scraps from a salad, manure and expired fruit, and much more. The only things to avoid are meat and dairy products, as well as a lot of acidic foods.
DON’T OVER FEED!! This is the biggest mistake I’ve made when raising worms. If you put to much food in at once, it will rot and draw flys, then you end up with maggots! YUCK!! You want to spread a thin layer, 1-2" deep, on the top of the worms and feed when all the previous material has been used up
Some tips:
- Hot compost (pre-compost) raw organic materials for 4-5 weeks before you use it.
- To spur cocoon growth, let the top 2” of the bed dry out then water back to normal moisture content
- If possible, shred paper and soak it before you add it to the bin.
- Add chicken feed, cracked corn and other animal feeds to stimulate growth and healthy worms.