I have raised redworms in bins and beds for about 8 years. I started with just a few I got from a friend, and boy! have they multiplied over the years. I just wanted the castings, and I have to tell you it is incredible what they do for both the gardens, and for starting the plants in the greenhouses. It had never occurred to me to sell them, but was reading on the net that there is big money to be made. Prices ranged from $5.00 to $20.00 a pound. I've reached the point where I just let some bins die and compost 'cuz I just don't have room for more, so of course, I found the idea of selling them pretty cool. Has anyone out there ever tried selling them, or is this just another scam ? I don't expect to get rich, but a few extra bucks for hay and grain is always nice. Especially since they say it is all done by mail, with the cash up front.Does anyone have any experience with this? I gotta say, though, even if there is'nt any money in it, it's well worth it for any gardeners out there.

-- Kathie in Western Washington (twinrosefarm@worldnet.att.net), October 16, 2000

Answers

This does sound like one of those too good to be true deals.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 16, 2000.

The man that ran the beer and bait store by our plant told me that he made as much off the fishing worms and minnows as he did off beer and whiskey. His store was always packed. Fishermen in the morning, drunks in the evening. I did notice that his family always argued over who got to work the morning shift , didn't any of them want the late night hours and the drinkers. I saw the article in the latest Countryside on worm raising, sounds like it could be a nice "double duty , green" project. recycling and income.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), October 16, 2000.

Kathie,

I also live in Western WA (Whidbey Island). Are you talking about selling the worms or the castings?

I have seen both for sale to gardeners, if you could bag up the castings you could sell them perhaps at farmers markets or ...? I know that in my area, manure is going for $18-23 per yard!

Try contacting some nurseries in your area. Maybe you could host a class on worm composting, and sell worms at the store (that day or on a continual basis). They would get 30% of retail price.

Gardeners will pay big bucks for this kind of stuff, I have seen it. Bigger cities like bellevue and seattle would be good places. Try trendy nurseries not cheap ones. Amy

-- Amy Richards (tiggerwife@aol.com), October 16, 2000.

Hello Kathie,

I ran a bait bussiness for 3 years driving about 1200 miles a week delivering. There can be money in growing worms but you have to be able to keep up with demand....your retail business does not want to hear that you dont have enough to stock them...they may go to another supplier.

As far as castings go....I checked into that. The best way to retail them is to bag them and that takes all kinds of equipment. From my research there is money in it but as with all things it is not instant and you will have to work for it, as in time and expence of equipment and supplies plus marketing the product. I guess you need to research your local markets and see if the initial expense is going to be worth it in the long run.

The castings are great and you may be able to sell some through an add in CS. You never know untill you try.

Good Luck, Suzanne

-- Suzanne wilson (mtsuz@hotmail.com), October 16, 2000.

Can you overnite a few pounds? The drought here killed oof a lot of them and I can't buy any right now. Sure would like it if you could!

-- Aagje Franken (Backyard@AOL.com), October 17, 2000.

Yes! Please sell me some!!! But it'll be a few weeks until I can take them. The drought has done in the worms completely from what I can tell. They usually come back in spring, but under the heavy mulch I have there aren't any right now.

I'm interested in using a bed for vermicomposting and have to admit that I have been tossing around the idea as well of worm farming....if they could survive the temps here. Does anyone know about that?

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), October 18, 2000.

A long time ago, when gas was cheap, I raised earthworms & had a del. rte. I went around to conv. stores & left cartons of worms to be sold over the counter. The store owners kept part of the cash for handling sales part. As expences went up of course profits went down. Did this every Thurs. night. Worked out pretty good.

-- Okie-Dokie (tjcamp6338@aol.com), October 22, 2000.