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What grit can I use other than ground egg shells?

Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2019 1:09 pm
by lrparsnip
Hello all!

Long time lurker, first time poster here.

I've been vermicomposting since April and everything has been going wonderfully.
I just put the second layer on my bin yesterday and have plenty of cocoons and have spotted a few baby worms too.

I would like to add a little grit with each feeding to help the worms along a little, but living in a vegan household, we have no egg shells to grind up. What could I use instead? I know that adding grit isn't essential but, as I say, I want to make life easier for my little guys and maybe even speed up the chomping a bit.

Thank you in advance,
Louise

Re: What grit can I use other than ground egg shells?

Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2019 11:52 pm
by WillyWorm
Hi, well done on a great start to worming.

You could use “budgie sand” from the pet shop or a small amount of ordinary soil from the garden. What ever you use you don’t need much and only occasionally particularly if you use soil. A teaspoonful or two, once a month should meet the worms needs. Basically once grit is added to the tray then it is there for ever and can be reused by the worms.

Willy

Re: What grit can I use other than ground egg shells?

Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2019 11:55 pm
by WillyWorm
A quick PS you could try finely ground nut shells and some people claim coffee grounds work as well.

Will

Re: What grit can I use other than ground egg shells?

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 11:54 am
by lrparsnip
Thank you, Willy. That's really helpful advice.
I do occasionally give my guys coffee grounds - it hadn't occured to me that this would be a source of grit for them.

I have invested in a small bag of budgie sand too. I had budgies as a kid so that brought back some nice memories!