Egg shell as grit for worm bin vermicomposting

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  • Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
  • IMPORTANT: A number of people have pointed out that putting the egg shells into the microwave is not sufficient to kill off the harmful bacteria that could be present on the shells. So to play it safe, be sure to BOIL THE SHELLS and dry them before using them as grit. To make sure there's no mention of using the microwave for sterilizing the shells I have clipped that section of the video out.
    Thank you to those who jumped in to set the record straight on this!!
    ~~
    Everyone has their own method for obtaining or making grit for use in their worm bins. This short video outlines my approach for utilizing egg shells as grit... from prepping the egg shells to make sure they are free of harmful bacteria, to processing it to a size suitable for use in my worm bins.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 76

  • @A-V
    @A-V  5 років тому +7

    There's a bit of uncertainty regarding the use of a microwave to sterilize the shells before use... so to play it safe I trimmed out the section of the video that suggests it. The one way I know of that will sterilize the shells for sure is boiling them - so I recommend doing so before using the shells as grit in your worm bins. Apologies for the misinformation - hopefully I was able to get rid of it before it causes anyone any troubles.

    • @JLEGBIKE
      @JLEGBIKE 5 років тому +1

      A V
      Hi , I pop mine in the oven on 120 celcius for around 10 mins. Love your videos 🤗

    • @grantwillings
      @grantwillings 5 років тому

      The heat kills the bacteria so as long as you microwave long enough to reach desired heat then should be good to go. Grit and minerals wouldn’t be affected by heat.

    • @敖敖-y1g
      @敖敖-y1g 5 років тому

      A V sir

    • @randomthings92497
      @randomthings92497 4 роки тому +1

      Hiii is it possible for me to just toss it in the pan and brown it? Still safe for the worms? Wont boiling them lead to calcium leaching to water instead or nahhh?

    • @A-V
      @A-V  4 роки тому +1

      I believe that the pan method you described would work fine too. As for the calcium leaching out into water... I think nahhh - but I'm no chemist, I could be wrong. Thanks for watching!

  • @jaynebirkholz1596
    @jaynebirkholz1596 3 роки тому +3

    I sometimes add just a small amount of damp coffee grounds to keep the dust down. Works like a charm! I was lucky enough to score a perfectly good coffee bean grinder at a local thrift store for just a few bucks! Nice demo!

  • @cookie761
    @cookie761 3 роки тому +1

    Wonderful! Thank you so much for Suggesting this video. I realized that I did not make mine fine enough.

  • @funluvnrm
    @funluvnrm 4 роки тому +3

    I use a coffee grinder, works well, then after blended, I let it sit until the dust settles... Thank you for caring & sharing...

  • @PlantObsessed
    @PlantObsessed 5 років тому +4

    It's a popular topic for questions, thanks for breaking it down for everyone. Pardon the pun.

  • @hwhernandez
    @hwhernandez 5 років тому +10

    I use a large plastic medicine bottle, anything with a tight fitting lid and a couple of glass rocks or marbles. Put the eggshells in leave some space for the glass marbles and room at the top. Close the bottle and shake. It literally pulverizes the shell. The shell must be completely dry. I heard some microwave their shells for a couple of minutes. This makes the shell extra brittle and good for breaking. Anyhow the dust is very confined and can settle agile lid remains on. Once done there is usually room for more shell to be added. Totally pain free.

    • @Thelilichannel6907
      @Thelilichannel6907 2 роки тому +1

      THAT is a cool idea! Because yes, my spice grinder got rough from grinding shells in it, and my food processor starts getting crusty too. They both pulverize well but then getting the remainder out is a pain for me. Wonderful video demo though! Great job A V!

  • @lloydedmonds8775
    @lloydedmonds8775 3 роки тому +2

    Great Demo!
    I use a $15 Coffee Grinder. It’s fast and will make eggshell dust if I don’t just do quick pulses.

  • @martinengelbrecht5384
    @martinengelbrecht5384 2 роки тому +1

    I love using my wife's kitchen equipment for my worms! They love her. Not mutual.

    • @A-V
      @A-V  2 роки тому

      Haha! Before pulverizing egg shells be sure you don't mind that the inner walls of the blender will get badly scoured :)

  • @SailR108
    @SailR108 4 роки тому +1

    Thank you...this answers my grit question from another vid of urs 😊👍

  • @kmalnasef1512
    @kmalnasef1512 5 років тому +3

    hi
    thank you sir.
    microwave oven work on the water in the food.
    egg shell is dry like the plastic container so the microwave doesn't affect it.
    you can use the regular hot oven instead.
    thank you again

    • @kmalnasef1512
      @kmalnasef1512 5 років тому

      @@blackdogultra
      ok
      if egg shell is hot then it work.
      thank you again

  • @kevin86674
    @kevin86674 5 років тому +1

    I have noticed trying to grind them up in my little chopper it is hard to take the lid off and it is messy. I also microwaved them after cleaning them under hot water.

  • @PrettyAliceNight
    @PrettyAliceNight 5 років тому +5

    When collecting the shells do you rinse out the left over egg goo or leave it in for boiling? I appreciate the warning about not breathing in the shell powder. I’ve seen other videos where people sprinkle the shell powder in their bin and you can see it going airborne by their face.

    • @A-V
      @A-V  5 років тому +1

      I give my egg shells a quick rinse right away so they are fairly clean when I set them aside to dry off. Thanks for watching!

  • @jamestepesh355
    @jamestepesh355 5 років тому +4

    Hi i watch most of your vids every week or so i keep 3 fairly large worm bins my self today i was watching how you make your grit i do it the same way using a coffee mill but my concern is the microwave might not steralise as well as you expect several months ago i watched another you tube chanel were they put a few comon house flies in the microwave to see if it would kill them but it actualy didnt do anything and they went on to explain the microwave works on convection and needs enough surface area to heat it flies arnt large enough so it didnt efect them so my concern is given they egg shells are mostly just calsium i doubt they would heat enough to destroy any organasms on or in them so how i sterilise mine i drop them all in a pan of boiling water then stand them over night on newspaper to dry before using them i find that a safe way and im sure kills anything on them efectivly
    PS please dont feel im being picky i would hate it to go wrong for you hence my pointing out that way you could maybe look further into itto be sure obviously i have no idea how corect this other you tube vid was so its more a concern thats all
    Kind regards
    James

  • @joelbruneski6486
    @joelbruneski6486 2 роки тому +1

    I bought a used blender on Marketplace just for egg shells.

    • @A-V
      @A-V  2 роки тому

      Smart move 👍🏻

  • @earthmagic1
    @earthmagic1 5 років тому +1

    I use a coffee grinder and use it just for egg shells. There is a lot of dust created in the cup. I just leave it to settle before I remove the lid.

  • @scooterg166
    @scooterg166 5 років тому +3

    By the look of your worm population, I’d say it’s working fine to me. You haven’t had any issues with large numbers of worms dying utilizing your method. I’d keep doing what you’re doing. The results speak for themselves. 🤔

  • @kimthevenin8769
    @kimthevenin8769 10 місяців тому +1

    Can we used bone meal(home made) instead of egg shells instead?

    • @A-V
      @A-V  10 місяців тому +1

      I would assume so. Some of the other things I've seen used are rock dust, pulverized crustacean shells... even simple clean sand (like what one would purchase to put into a child's sandbox). Just be mindful of the particle size - a worm's mouth is tiny :)

    • @kimthevenin8769
      @kimthevenin8769 10 місяців тому +1

      @@A-V
      Thank you.

  • @brandonpauluscreations9446
    @brandonpauluscreations9446 3 роки тому +1

    Super helpful!!! Thanks man!

    • @A-V
      @A-V  3 роки тому

      Thank you for watching!

  • @jamesgilmartin8485
    @jamesgilmartin8485 2 роки тому +1

    Once you've ground up the shells how much of the powder do you use? Per day / week? Thanks

    • @A-V
      @A-V  2 роки тому +1

      I have no set rule. A pinch here, a dash there. Hopefully it makes its way all around - especially in the newer systems where there is none. Thanks for watching!

  • @JoanEvangelista
    @JoanEvangelista 3 роки тому +1

    Mortar and pestle works quite well in grinding the shells. Instead of pounding the shells just crush them first using your fingers and then use the pestle to grind the shells on the side of the mortar in a circular motion.

    • @A-V
      @A-V  3 роки тому +1

      Using the small blender for pulverizing the shells gets the job done in the fraction of the time with far better results; I doubt that I will ever return to using the mortar & pestle method :)

    • @JoanEvangelista
      @JoanEvangelista 3 роки тому +1

      @@A-V agree that the blender is much more efficient. I'd probably move to that if I have extra. But for now I'll use the mortar and pestle, a real kitchen one.. I think the reason why it was hard for you is you are using a jar and a mini shovel instead of using a real one? I'll take a video one day in real time and see how long it takes to grind the shells manually.

    • @JoanEvangelista
      @JoanEvangelista 3 роки тому +1

      @@A-V btw thanks for all the vids! I'm a beginner worm bin owner :3 started around 30 days ago with a half pound of ANCs. Your videos are really helpful!

  • @cookie761
    @cookie761 2 роки тому +1

    I have a question about the grit.. Do you still put it through the strainer? I haven't been doing that and I figured that those Bigger pieces of shell would break down and actually be good for the bin even if they weren't real tiny. How important is it that I put it through a strainer? Also what can I do about very small black flies in the bin? They seem to come up out of the bedding. What did I do wrong, and how can I fix it? Thank you so much for your videos.

    • @A-V
      @A-V  2 роки тому

      In my latest batch of crushed egg shell I was a bit careless in running all the stuff through the strainer & a bunch of larger chunks made it into the finished product. I am not worrying about it - I am just going to use it as-is _(unless I get bored one day & decide to run the batch through the strainer again)_ :) As for insect management... you may have noticed in my more recent videos that I too am coping with tiny flying insects in a couple of my systems. If I had a good trick for eliminating them I would share - but as you can see, I do not. I have seen people use those apple cider vinegar traps in their systems with some success. Perhaps going that route might work for you too. Good luck with it!

    • @cookie761
      @cookie761 2 роки тому +1

      @@A-V I hadn't thought of it before, so you actually did help me out. I have some fruit fly traps and I'm going to bait one with pickle juice and put it right on top of the bin. What have I got to lose?! Thank you again!

    • @A-V
      @A-V  2 роки тому

      Cool - good luck with it 👍🏻

  • @sharmclean1145
    @sharmclean1145 3 роки тому +1

    If you shake the whole thing when it is grinding it will get really fine.

  • @AJsGreenTopics
    @AJsGreenTopics 5 років тому +1

    Thanks for sharing.

  • @surfcitybusybee
    @surfcitybusybee 2 роки тому +1

    I was looking forward to using my bullet to ground eggshells, but kinda worried about the micro-plastics from shells scratching up the sides of bullet container. Any alternative suggestions? I may use the jar method you were doing, since my bin is rather small.

    • @A-V
      @A-V  2 роки тому +1

      The inside of the blender will definitely get scarred and frosted by all the whirling course material. Whether or not it results in only scarring, or that +plus also particles being released, I do not know. If its a matter of concern then avoiding it might be the best bet.... :)

    • @surfcitybusybee
      @surfcitybusybee 2 роки тому +1

      @@A-V Thanks so much for your feedback! Love your videos!

  • @SailR108
    @SailR108 4 роки тому +3

    Microplastics added to vermicompost when
    using Ninja type blenders...glass blender would be better 😊

  • @RyanManahanNews
    @RyanManahanNews 3 роки тому +2

    I put a bunch of eggshells but didn't boil them or sterilize them in anyway. Will my bin be okay?

    • @A-V
      @A-V  3 роки тому +1

      My point of view is that if the eggs didn't make me sick, then their shells won't make my worms sick either. I always make sure they're rinsed off - but I no longer got tot he extra effort to try sterilizing them (unless, of course, I was planning on making hard boiled eggs anyway 😃 ). Thanks for watching!

    • @RyanManahanNews
      @RyanManahanNews 3 роки тому +1

      @@A-V thanks. I hope it goes well.
      Also, I really enjoy your channel. You're like the vermicpost Yoda.

    • @A-V
      @A-V  3 роки тому

      👍🏼

  • @AshleyWragg
    @AshleyWragg 4 роки тому +5

    Why is it necessary to sterilise egg shells? We wouldn't sterilise cow manure that many people start worm bins with. That's an animal product too. Just asking because I'm curious. Thanks

    • @A-V
      @A-V  4 роки тому +5

      Some cite concerns about the possibility of salmonella or other forms of bacteria that might cause troubles in a worm bin. Although this video says to do it... I'll tell ya a secret - shhhh. I don't take the time to do it any longer. I figure if the eggs are good enough for me to eat, then the shells of those eggs are good enough to feed to my worms.

    • @AshleyWragg
      @AshleyWragg 4 роки тому +3

      @@A-V Thanks. I just consider it the same as throwing non-sterilised egg shells into the standard garden compost. I enjoy your videos, keep it up.

  • @ambersamusements
    @ambersamusements 5 років тому +2

    Do you think the egg shells dull your blender blades?! I was considering looking for a used bullet type blender to used just for egg shells.

    • @A-V
      @A-V  5 років тому +1

      I have only just recently started using the machine to grind my egg shells... so I can't speak from experience in this case. I suppose that, in time, there would eventually be some wear observed on the blades - but I think that someone who has been doing it for a while might be better able to provide feedback on that than me. Thanks for watching!

    • @crt9082
      @crt9082 5 років тому +2

      I use a bullet for grinding egg shells i havent noticed the blade dulling yet. Iv used it at least 4 time tho. Now the containers ruined like AV was but thats okay i just use the same one for egg shells.

    • @ambersamusements
      @ambersamusements 5 років тому +1

      c rt That was my plan too. Just use one designated cup for shells but use the same blade. I’ve heard a coffee grinder is good too and I’ve seen many at my local good will type store. I may just go pick up one for grinding shells. For now, mortar and pestle. 💪🏼😆

    • @A-V
      @A-V  5 років тому +2

      That's what I'm going to do too. :) :)

    • @A-V
      @A-V  5 років тому +2

      Mortar and pestle is a good workout :)

  • @MrDylancarlson
    @MrDylancarlson 5 років тому +1

    If you're using a blender put a little bit of water in to it, should prevent any dust

  • @daviddavey1727
    @daviddavey1727 2 роки тому +1

    I place them in a plastic bag before I pulverize them with a wooden pestle

    • @A-V
      @A-V  2 роки тому

      Oh my... the old mortar & pestle method use to take me forever. Perhaps one of the best time-saving improvements I ever made to any of my worm farming methods was the adoption of an old personal blender to cut the time of grinding the egg shells down to a fraction of the time it took the old fashion way 👍🏻

  • @lindalmiller429
    @lindalmiller429 5 років тому +5

    I use a coffee grinder

    • @headbanger1967
      @headbanger1967 5 років тому

      same here after microwaving them 2-3 minutes. Makes very fine powder & small enough for worms to digest. What ever they do not will go into garden so all good.

    • @Luis-zl5cg
      @Luis-zl5cg 4 роки тому

      Coffee grinder gets em so ground up they literally are powder lol

  • @toniwarrson2682
    @toniwarrson2682 5 років тому

    use vinager to clean the calceim

  • @geraldinemryan
    @geraldinemryan Рік тому +1

    ❤😊

  • @brandipearson3417
    @brandipearson3417 3 роки тому +1

    I use a cheap 20$ Walmart coffee grinder. It works great

  • @snoopylyn9065
    @snoopylyn9065 4 роки тому +1

    I just wash itu with hot water in the sink soak it for a while!

  • @Matrịx.101-o2s
    @Matrịx.101-o2s 4 роки тому +1

    This is what's wrong w the world....
    We need more vids that take forever just to say------ crush em . The end lol

  • @bonificent3138
    @bonificent3138 5 років тому +10

    I just bake the hell out of them💁 no rinsing just bake until slightly browned.