Organic Garden Miracle: Worm Castings

Looking to spruce up the garden for the dog days of summer? Don't want to 'roid them out with a chemical fertilizer? Us either, that's why we use a nice organic fertilizer:

It's worm castings which sounds like what it is, but really a bag of them just seems like dirt and if you mix in a handful to your container pots or into the ground they'll deliver some much needed nutrients to your plants. Your plants will reward you by looking nicer and you'll enjoy the garden that much more.

I had trouble finding these at Home Depot, so you may want to call your local nursery to doublecheck that they carry them. I ended up buying a big bag of Worm Gold Brand Worm Castings for my garden upheaval at the Marina Garden Center.

Comments (9)

Worm poo is the most amazing invention nature has ever come up with. But at $18 per bag, I'd rather use cow poo. I mean sheesh, what am I, a Saudi?

posted by medusa12120 on August 11th 2008 at 4:44pm
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I agree - $18? Ouch. Considering how inexpensive a bag of compost is.

posted by LilyC on August 11th 2008 at 6:50pm
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I saw the price too and realized what a deal we get. A local guy sells worm poo for $2.00 a bag!

posted by Kate N on August 12th 2008 at 2:41am
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$2 per bag?? Where do you live?? Where do you live??

posted by medusa12120 on August 12th 2008 at 4:44am
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You can find worm castings at the Union Square Greenmarket (sold by an East Village Co-op) on Saturdays at least and, I think on Wed. as well. I think they also sell compost, both at low prices. Their truck is usually on the east side of the square, just south of the corner.

posted by weezy2 on August 12th 2008 at 5:39am
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Sorry, that's in Manhattan.

posted by weezy2 on August 12th 2008 at 5:40am
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A friend, an avid gardener, orders her own worms (the rural post office calls immediately to tell her the worms have arrived) and, lo and behold, gets her castings for free.

posted by Marco on August 12th 2008 at 6:11am
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I started worm composting a couple of months ago and it is so easy and actually a lot of fun. My bin doesn't take up much space and it doesn't smell - I know a lot of people who worm compost in small apartments. If you go online and type in "worm composting" or "vermicomposting" you can find a ton of information. I started with about a pound of worms and they've multiplied to about 3 or 4 pounds. If you're creeped out about handling the worms they have bins that allow you to harvest the castings with minimal if any worm interaction.

posted by casiep on August 12th 2008 at 7:35am
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I buy my worm castings from a vendor at the Sunday's Farmer's Market on Main Street in Santa Monica.

I am sure they or other vendors have stalls at the other farmer's markets around LA.

posted by Seaside on August 12th 2008 at 10:16am
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