u/Noombat22

So I was SO sure I specifically got red wigglers because I got something called red worms that said the word wiggling somewhere on the website in its description. What else could it be? Turns out, they're not red wigglers after more inspection on the website I got them from. For some reason I never bothered to search up the scientific name they listed because I just assumed I knew what they were. They're European nightcrawlers. I figured this out after I found them crawling all over the bin and three outside the bin after I turned off the lights and did some more research on what I actually bought. Do I just start over with new worms now? I only have 3 inch deep bedding currently because I just got started and I would like worms that are very fast in eating. My bin is only 12 inches deep because it thought i was getting something that likes that, is that even enough for them? I really wanted something that could eat very quickly. Don't these guys take a ton more space, eat slower, and reproduce slower?

So, I'm trying to start a work bin and right now have them in a small amount of sand and a bunch of shredded, smashed, damp cardboard I soaked overnight and then wrung out. Do they need any other soil and, if so, what level of moisture should it be? I've been shredding wet cardboard by hand for like 2 and a half hours so please tell me that I didn't do that all for naught. It's only half full along the bottom right now because I ran out of cardboard so if I need to add another medium in addition i'd rather do it now. I'm too scared to use any dead leaves because our yard is earwig paradise and I do not want those in my house. I gave them some slightly shrivled dandelion leaves I pulled from the garden yesterday and forgot about and some coffee grounds all off in one corner to eat. I barely added any right now though because last time I made one I added too much and it rot and killed everything. The bin is fairly shallow and about 3.5x2 feet. Maybe bigger, I didn't use a tape measure so it's pretty rough estimate. If I squeeze the cardboard water comes off on my hand but no drops actually fall out of my palm. It's moist to the touch. none have tried climbing out so far. I also have a piece of cardboard over the top of everything to hold in moisture. I'm starting with 90 red wigglers

I'm trying to grow chufa in an old ditch this year but I'm a little clueless on how to go about it. The soil I have now is ridiculously high in organic material. It's where we threw grass clippings, raked leaves, and basically anything else organic in our yard. That changed last year so it's all broken down now but it is a heavy, slimy, wet mess right now. The soil it's on is basically all sand and a little clay which made it harden significantly so it's really dense. I'm tilling it right now but what do I do to make this hold less water and be lighter? From my limited knowledge on chufa sedge they do better in always moist, light, well drained soil. It's the lowest point of our yard right now so my first issue is what to raise it up with. I want it to be higher than the rest of my yard so no water gathers their. Is biochar, top soil, wood ash, bark, and chopped thin sticks a good option or do I need something else entirely? I don't think that perlite would work because it floods briefly but deeply in the winter and might just float away. For context I'm storing the tubers indoors during winter and replanting in spring due to this but I intend the patch to only ever be chufa. I've never dealt with an issue like this so I am basically 100% clueless so any help is appreciated!

I'm over run with raspberries, blueberries, and pawpaw. Does anyone have some good recommendations for here? I have soil pH ranging from 6 to 5 and very wet, sandy ground that floods deeply which I feel like is very limiting. Everything I plant dies when the soil gets too waterlogged so I'm struggling to find anything native that actually grows. I only have like one spot where it doesn't flood and gets any sun which is where my pawpaws live.