Cocoons Cut The Cost Of Buying Worms

2010 - Volume #34, Issue #6, Page #44

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"Buying cocoons is more cost effective than buying worms," says John Naramore, owner of BWCN Farms in Banks, Ore. "You can buy 800 cocoons for $20 plus shipping, and get about 3,200 worms. If you buy fully grown night crawlers you get 200 for $20."
  Naramore raises African night crawlers, which aggressively pull food down into soil. His main market is selling castings that are mixed with other ingredients into potting mixes.
  It was his wife, Maria's, idea to sell cocoons. After the castings are removed with a 1/8-in. mesh screen, bedding material falls through a 1/4-in. screen. There can be anywhere from 1,000 to 1,800 cocoons in each gallon of the bedding material. When the material is rinsed through a window screen, the cocoons remain.
  Naramore ships the cocoons through the mail. Customers spread them in their gardens or fields over a layer of organic material and cover them with more organic material. Cocoons can be spread anytime in spring or summer when the temperature is 70 degrees or more. Within a couple of weeks tiny worms emerge from the cocoons. It doesn't really matter how thick or thin you spread the cocoons. The worms migrate to wherever there is food.
  Studies show that worms hatched in a new environment are better able to adapt than transported worms. He emphasizes the importance of placing the cocoons in moist organic material such as compost, leaves or grass.
  He also notes that most soils have more worms than people think. To find out, dig a hole 18 in. deep, and throw in some kitchen scraps. Cover the hole and then open it back up in a few days. Many people are surprised at the number of worms they find eating on the bacteria of the compost.
  Naramore started his worm farm about five years ago when he retired. He sells castings, cocoons, night crawlers, worm bins and books.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, John Naramore, BWCN Farms, P.O. Box 817, Banks, Ore. 97016 (ph 971 226-3309; www.bwcfarms.com).

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Cocoons Cut The Cost Of Buying Worms FARM HOME Miscellaneous Buying cocoons is more cost effective than buying worms says John Naramore owner of BWCN Farms in Banks Ore You can buy 800 cocoons for $20 plus shipping and get about 3 200 worms If you buy fully grown night crawlers you get 200 for $20 Naramore raises African night crawlers which aggressively pull food down into soil His main market is selling castings that are mixed with other ingredients into potting mixes It was his wife Maria s idea to sell cocoons After the castings are removed with a 1/8-in mesh screen bedding material falls through a 1/4-in screen There can be anywhere from 1 000 to 1 800 cocoons in each gallon of the bedding material When the material is rinsed through a window screen the cocoons remain Naramore ships the cocoons through the mail Customers spread them in their gardens or fields over a layer of organic material and cover them with more organic material Cocoons can be spread anytime in spring or summer when the temperature is 70 degrees or more Within a couple of weeks tiny worms emerge from the cocoons It doesn t really matter how thick or thin you spread the cocoons The worms migrate to wherever there is food Studies show that worms hatched in a new environment are better able to adapt than transported worms He emphasizes the importance of placing the cocoons in moist organic material such as compost leaves or grass He also notes that most soils have more worms than people think To find out dig a hole 18 in deep and throw in some kitchen scraps Cover the hole and then open it back up in a few days Many people are surprised at the number of worms they find eating on the bacteria of the compost Naramore started his worm farm about five years ago when he retired He sells castings cocoons night crawlers worm bins and books Contact: FARM SHOW Followup John Naramore BWCN Farms P O Box 817 Banks Ore 97016 ph 971 226-3309; www bwcfarms com

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