Come visit us at the Lake Stevens Business Expo located at the Lake Stevens High School, 2908 113th Ave NE, Lake Stevens, WA 98258 on Saturday April 24, 2010 from 10 am – 3 pm. This event is sponsored by the Lake Stevens Chamber of Commerce.

Come visit us and find out more about composting with worms and learn how to use a stacking tray worm bin and the new Worm Inn. Learn about the different kinds of composting worms available and bring your questions.

Live in Snohomish County and need worms? We are now taking orders for worms to be picked up at this event. Contact us for details. Show Case Lake Stevens is free to the public. Print out a ticket and present it at the event to be entered into a special drawing.

NW Wigglers Show Case Lake Stevens Tickets – CLICK HERE, then click on NW Wigglers to download

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There is no better way to control pests in your garden than to employ your own army of soldiers. Beneficial insects work for you to control the bugs that eat your seedlings, spread disease in your plants, and make even the best gardeners frown.

Most people have heard of cutworms eating seedlings, aphids destroying prize flowers, and whiteflies invading greenhouses. But most people want to find an organic way to rid themselves of these bugs without poisoning their yards and gardens with pesticides.

Beneficial insects provide a natural way to keep these pests under control and your garden growing beautifully all season long. Northwest Wigglers is proud to offer you more choices for organic gardening and now offers beneficial insects to keep your gardens safe, and your thumbs greener than ever.

You can view some of the insects we offer under Beneficial Insects in our shopping cart. Click here to find out more.

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Tonight March 29, 2010 be on the lookout for the Worm Moon. The Worm Moon occurs in March as the ground begins to soften and earthworm castings appear and robins return. So be on the lookout for worms working to prepare your garden for spring. The worms are coming to give your gardens some much needed love to start out another great growing season.

Unfortunately, not every garden is graced with an abundance of worms. Alabama Jumpers are a great hardy worm to help get your garden soil ready for spring. They will help to loosen the soil and deposit castings along the way. What a great way to have a built in fertilizing system in your garden with no effort at all!

We wish you all a great Worm Moon evening.

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There are a lot of little white bugs in my worm bin. What are they and will they harm my worms?

Mites are in the same category as spiders and ticks (8 Legs). White spider mites look like small white pin-heads slowly moving around in your worm bin and are very common. They move around the surface of the bedding material in bins and compost heaps. Some mites attack dead plant matter, fly larvae, springtails, and even other mites.

Mites tend to thrive in high moisture conditions. They prefer fruits and vegetables with a high water content. The presence of a large population of mites in a worm bin can indicate that the worms are being overfeed or the PH level in the bin is dropping.

Try adding some crushed egg shells to help balance the PH. To help reduce the populations in your bin, try adding a slice of bread to the surface of the worm bed. The mites will gather on the bread and you can discard them or throw them out in your compost pile. White spider mites are just one more composting critter in your worm bin that helps to break down the food. They will not harm your worms.

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NEW BOOKS

We have recently added some new products for teaching kids about composting and vermiculture.   We have added some children’s books by Larraine Roulston.   As a newspaper columnist, Larraine Roulston has been writing on environmental issues since 1987. She also writes articles in tabloids and magazines.        The 4 book package  includes a song, glossary and resources, all designed to help teachers discuss the process of composting in an interesting way. Together they make a good environmental asset to any library.





NEW WORM  BINS

The Worm Inn is a breathable compost bin that fits perfectly into any classroom.  Help kids learn how to compost with hands on experience.   These lightweight bins can process over 44 pounds of waste a month with only 1-2 pounds of worms.  This bin is easy to manage for kids of all ages.

SCHOOL WIDE RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING

If your school or group is looking into processing large amounts of food, the Worm Wigwam is a great option. This unit can house up to 50 pounds of worms and process up to 7 tons per year (Approx. 75 pounds of finished vermicompost per week)  Schools can recycle their cafeteria waste and teach kids the value of composting.

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