permaculture

["Steve Diver" <steved@ncatark.uark.edu>]

Eisenia foetida, is the Red Worm or Red Wriggler commonly sold
for vermicomposting. 

In Texas, the vermicomposters also use the Brown Nose worm. 
Texas A&M determined the Brown Nose worm to be Eisenia foetida 
subspecies allobophora.   

Jay Mertz at Rabbit Hill Farms is the supplier I've purchased brown 
nose worms from.   Mertz said there are only about 6-8 suppliers in 
the country who carry Brown Nose worms. 

Rabbit Hill Farm
Jay & Joanne Mertz
288 SW CR 0020
Corsicana, TX  75110
903-872-4289
rhf@airmail.net

Brown nose worms, Eisenia foetida subspecies allobophora 
$21.95/pound (shipped via Priority Mail) 
$23.43/pound in Texas (includes state tax)

The Brown Nose is supposed to have desirable characteristics
such as a higher waste conversion ratio and the ability to integrate
into gardening better than Red Worms.  

Steve Diver


Fyi, the following worm list comes from Texas Natural Resource 
Conservation Commission courtesy of Bill Carter, Program 
Specialist.  

================================================
================================================
TNRCC keeps a partial list of mail-order sources for composting 
worms, focusing on this region and on well-know outfits.  I've copied
it below.  We occasionally update the list at our Web site at
http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/admin/topdoc/gi/219/worm_sourc

I believe the Composting Council's National Backyard Composting
Program manual may have a more comprehensive national list.

Bill Carter, Program Specialist
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
Recycling Section, Office of Pollution Prevention & Recycling
MC114 P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX  78711-3087 USA
(512) 239-6771

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

TEXAS NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Recycling Section, MC114
P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087
512/239-6750 FAX: 512/239-6763


SOURCES OF COMPOSTING WORMS

This list was compiled to provide a wide selection of sources for
composting worms.  Inclusion in this list does not constitute an
endorsement or approval and is periodically updated as new
informatifax  512/239-6763, e-mail wcarter@tnrcc.state.tx.us. 

Red worms, red wigglers, and/or *brown-nose* worms                    
           Texas Sources

Earthworm Institute
City of Grapevine
Attn:  Larry Wilhelm
P.O. Box 95104
Grapevine, TX  76099
817/424-0540
fax 817/ 481-0112

Lemley Worm Farm
Attn: Forrest Lemley
P.O. Box 534
Cedar Hill, TX 75104

Jim McCarter
East Hwy. 31
Dawson, TX 76639
817/578-7639

Rabbit Hill Farm
Attn:  Jay Mertz
288 SW CR0020
Corsicana, TX 75110
903/872-4289 fax 903/872-1488

TX Ag Ext Service
Attn:  Marty Baker
Overton, TX
903/834-6191
fax 903/834-7140
(limited supplies)

World Hunger Relief
P.O. Box 639
Elm Mott, TX 76640
817/799-5611

Other Sources

Brown*s Worm Farm
Attn: Rosemary Brown
Box 284
Marietta, OK 73448
405/276-3897

Earthworms & Supplies
Attn: Dave Metzger
2144 Hog Trough Rd.
Owensville, MO 65066-9549
573/437-3605
fax 573/437-2611

Flowerfield Enterprises
Attn:  Mary Appelhof
10332 Shaver Road
Kalamazoo, MI  49002
616-327-0108
fax 616/343-4505
http://www.wormwoman.com

Jim Knight
Rt. 2 Box 183
Eudora, AR 71640
501/355-2154

Southern Worm Enterprise
12118 Marilyn Lane
Hammond, LA 70403
504/294-2603

Willingham Worm Farm
Rt 1, Box 241
Butler, GA 31006
800/223-WORM

Yelm Earthworm Farm
14741 Lawrence Lake Rd. SE Yelm, WA 98597
 206-622-9454  
fax 206-622-9569

*Louisiana wigglers* (for soil beds; not for containers)

Pat's Worm Ranch
Attn: Sonny or Pat Kellum
PO Box 3194
San Antonio, TX 78211
210-922-1592


Worm Compost Publication, Web Site and Clearinghouse

Worm Digest
Box 544
Eugene, OR 97440-0544
541/485-0456
http://www.WormDigest.org