Earthworms

During our recent visit to Dumaguete we helped a friend build a compost bin. He had a large pile of organic material near there and as you know in building a compost pile you put a layer of organic material then soil and or manaure, etc. While getting the soil to be placed in the bin we found the largest earthworms I have ever seen. The largest one was about 12" long and about 3/8" diameter.

Sorry, I don't know where to purchase them though.

 

Try the DENR beside the Provincial Hospital.

 

Also try Saint Paul University they have compost bin as part of their waste management system.

 

Why don't you just ask the neighborhood kids to get you the worms. Tell them you'll pay a peso per worm. I'll bet you you'll have a bucket of worm in no time. Make sure that the worms are pinkish or reddish in color. If it's too white, it did not come from the ground....:D

 

or you could actually ask local kids to find some for you.. for a small amount of money.

 

It is hard to believe that it would be hard to find worms in the Philippines. Back in the '70s when I was staying in Barrio Barretto, Subic Bay the Philippines was going to become the worm capital of the world. Worms were being raised in backyards. They were going to relieve world hunger with worm protein and the Philippines was going to rise from poverty on the back of this industry. All you had to do was buy your equipment and starter stock from this one company. I had a friend proudly show me his trays just writhing with worms, never heard of him or anyone else selling them though. I think that was just before the snails were going to make everyone rich or was it ipil ipil trees.

Sorry. Sometimes these threads bring back wonderful memories.

 

Fresh and dried earthworms you can find in the market all over Asia, esp Taiwan and Vietnam. It is a good protein source but you cannot convince the Filipinos that it is good eating. Not a common food protein source in the Philippines. So farming is not a bad concept, just in the wrong place. I tried the dried one before, slightly woody/mushroomy after taste but not repulsive. Next time I'll probably fry it first on some bacon fat. :D

I'm like Mikey, I eat everything edible, or at least I'll try.

 

Those are not the worms you want. The ones used to make fertilizer are the african night crawlers. We use them in our farm .We got them from the local agriculturist. The guard at the gate should be able to direct you to the right person.

 

you need the african night crawlers not the common earthworm We have a compost bin in our farm and we got the worms from our local agriculturist.