The heading does not refer to a dance attended by worms but the  ball of worms that may form in response to adverse conditions in a wormery or compost bin. This ball was formed overnight when the temperature dropped below freezing before the bin had been insulated or moved into an outbuilding.

Worms are also thought to form balls  when faced with other unfavourable environmental conditions. The theory being  that under these circumstances   the balls offer a form of protection. It has been found  any  "stressor" can result in them balling up. In addition to a sudden drop in temperature these can include:

Rise in Compost Temperature

The optimum temperature  range for composting worms is 12 - 24°C and will they not survive above 35°C. They will try to escape  the heat in compost, during the thermophilic phase of hot composting by moving to the lower levels of the bin or back into the ground. 

 Unfavourable moisture levels

 Excess Moisture where the composting material is  too wet, and air cannot circulate freely as a consequence it may turn anaerobic and  the worms   migrate to the top of the bin in order gain access to oxygen so that they can breathe. 

It is said that worms may also “ball” if the compost is too dry.  I have not experienced this  and feel that if the organic material in a compost bin is too  dry the worms will remain in, or migrate to, the soil. However, it may be a problem in a wormery or a sealed composting system the answer is to add water or the “sludge” from home-made compost tea or plant food but not so much liquid that  the wet bedding  heats up as  warm bedding is undesirable in a wormery.

Worms are also thought to form balls  when faced with other unfavourable environmental conditions. The theory being  that under these circumstances   the balls offer a form of protection. It has been found  any  "stressor" can result in them balling up. There is more information at Worms in Compost

The fall is now with us and while leaves can be composted, and green summer leaves usually are, the  large quantities of leaves resulting from the autumn fall present a challenge calling for a different technique and are best converted to leafmould.   

Even a cool compost bin will generate heat, in part, due to the activity of bacteria  helping to breakdown its contents but the process of producing leafmould  relies more on fungal action, than bacterial activity, and occurs at lower temperatures so that while compost may take a few weeks or months depending on the type of leaves and  process being used leafmould usually takes a year or two.

Most autumn leaves are an excellent source of carbon but depending on species may be slower to compost than the rest of the material in the bin if using cold composting techniques. However, as leafmould they become excellent mulch and a key ingredient when making homemade potting and seed composts   Making your own potting mix is a personal contribution to saving peat bogs and reduces road miles by producing the product on site.  

The Leafmould and leaf composting page of carryoncomposting http://www.carryoncomposting.com/142941489  has been updated to include more information on the suitability of different leaves and on methods. 

Pumpkin Smash

Over 100 pumpkin lanterns and other pumpkins were saved from being sent to landfill as a result of the Pumpkin Smash at Stokes Wood Allotments Leicester on 9th November 2019. The Smash took place on the Composting Demonstration site where all the pumpkins were composted as part of the Smash. The technique employed to smash the pumpkins varied depending whether the pumpkins were to be composted in the pallet bins, one of our range of plastic bins, hot composted or buried in pits. The age of the person smashing the pumpkin also played a part in the choice of method, younger "smashers" favouring a mallet while older volunteers mainly opting for spades. these where also used for pumpkin cricket which did seem to be very effective at sharing mushy pumpkin flesh amongst those standing to close to the action. The is more information at www.carryoncomposting.com both on Pumpkin Rescue and composting pumpkins.

This Saturday offers the last chance to take part in  our 2019 Pumpkin Rescue by joining our  Pumpkin Smash  at Stokes Wood Allotments composting demonstration site. The allotments will be open from 10:30 for people to bring their own pumpkins to smash and compost to avoid the cost and  environmental effects of sending the waste to landfill. If you have not saved your own carved pumpkin,  we have over 100 waiting to be smashed and composted  as part of our efforts to encourage households to compost. If you do not have a bin, we can advise on the best bins for your needs including two different sizes of plastic bin available at a subsidised price through a special deal offered by the City and County Council. If you do not want a bin we can advise on post-hole, pit and trench composting as well as on the use of wormeries and bins suitable for waste cooked foods.

Take a small step to reduce the rate of  global  warming while having messy fun. Cakes and refreshments available in the pavilion plus Christmas Craft fair.

Stokes Wood Allotment site, 2B Stokes Drive, Leicester LE39BS

Pumpkin Smash 9th November
Some of the pumpkins delivered to home for the Stokes Wood Allotment, Leicester Pumpkin Smash. If you live in, or near, Hugglescote please donate your old pumpkin lanterns at 77 Station Road (leave by the garage doors). If in Leicester please deliver to the allotment composting plot They can be left at any time if you are a Society member or on Wednesday morning when the site is open to serve breakfasts and drinks. Or bring them to the craft event and smash on the 9th. If you have a number of pumpkins collected from a school, friends etc. we may be able to collect them .
Come to the Smash and see how organic waste can be composted rather than sent to landfill where it will produce greenhouse gases. We have a range of compost bins, including tumblers, cooked food composters, beehive and plastic bins as well as wooden pallet bins and wormeries. Entry is free
You can see kids enjoying an early Smash on yesterdays (1/11) CBBC Newsround