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Doe
12-07-2005, 10:28 PM
We need to do some major reorganizing of kitchen and garden. It's got to where the bottom of the fridge is our place to keep scraps until they can be taken to the garden area. Especially with hubby temporarily out of commission.

Just found this and wanted to share. The first link has everything anyone needs to know about worm composting except how to build your own. The second has printable plans and pictures of a make your own self-sorting stackable bin that will handle even the scraps and peels of raw vegans. Now thatÂ’s a mouthful.




Vermicomposting is composting with worms - and red wigglers are the ideal species. Worm composting is superior to regular composting because of the nutrient-rich soil and tea that are produced as a byproduct of this specialized composting process. Worm composting is simple, hassle-free, it can be done indoors or outdoors, and it's is odour-free.

Just like other animals, worms need a comfortable place to live. It's easy to make bedding, the material worms live in. Just collect and mix together shredded leaves, shredded newspaper and cardboard, peat, moss, shredded straw, chopped-up old hay, dried grass clippings and old manure. The bedding in your new worm bin will gradually assimilate with the food and will eventually mix with the worm castings to become nutrient-rich worm soil. All Things Organic has many types of bins to choose from, and all the red wigglers and bedding you need to get started.

Organic Worm composting is an incredibly efficient way to convert kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich compost for your garden. But sorting out the undigested scraps can be messy and inconvenient. The Worm Factory automatically separates food scraps from finished compost. Simply fill the bottom tray with red wiggler worms, bedding and food scraps. As the worms finish digesting, they will migrate upward into the tray above, leaving rich castings behind.

In full operation, the Worm Factory houses 10,000 to 12,000 worms, consumes 5 to 8 pounds of food a day, allowing you to harvest a full try of castings per month. Each Worm Factory comes with full instructions and everything you need to get started. The Worm Factory is made in the U.S.A., constructed from high quality recycled plastic, with a limited 5 year warranty on materials and workmanship. It is very simple to assemble and can be stored in or outside.

Just about any container will work as a worm bin. We've seen bins made from and old dresser drawer, from a night stand and from an army ammo box. A bathtub or utility sink will also work fine as a worm bin. - www.allthingsorganic.com (http://www.allthingsorganic.com/)

John Longfellow of Klickitat County Solid Waste is co-designer of the OSCR Jr., a stacking tray design worm bin made from three ordinary 16" x 24" plastic totes stacked together. - Worm Bin Plans (http://www.klickitatcounty.org/SolidWaste/ContentROne.asp?fContentIdSelected=991251662&fCategoryIdSelected=965105457)


Whatcha think?
Teri S

exurb
12-08-2005, 05:12 PM
I think composting is awesome, and I've known happy urban vermicomposters.

For me if I was in the city and in an apartment, I think I would just buy one of the already made ones, and I'd do a little checking to see which ones are good. I wouldn't want any red wrigglers wriggling their way out.

RowanC
02-11-2006, 09:28 AM
My son did this in his apartment. He was quite successful and really enjoyed it. Then his wife had a baby and he ended up giving away the worms because they were too busy. Now that their son is approaching 2, they are talking about maybe doing it again.

If you have specific questions, I'd be happy to talk to him for you. He said it was easy. If I recall, he used shredded newspaper and the worms just multiplied like heck. Then you can sell them if you want to gardners (or fishermen if it doesnt creep you out)

RowanC
02-11-2006, 09:30 AM
He didn't buy anything special from one of those websites. He did his worms in a simple plastic bin like you buy at Walmart or Target. It worked fine. One of those bins with a lid. A shallow one. Maybe one foot tall.

BDraw
02-21-2006, 11:19 AM
Doe -- don't put these worms in the garden, they are not garden worms. They are manure worms. They do not do what other worms do. They will die in the garden. At least that is what I've read. There is lots of information on the web. Very interesting!

I have done it in the house in a plastic Rubbermade box. It was great, that is until the bugs took over. Don't know what they were, but there were millions, tiny little things flying all over. So I moved it to the garage, did great. Then I got too busy and ended up putting it in the garden compost pile. I have no idea it they are still there -- don't think so.

I am really wanting to get started again, as I know from experience that the worm castings were superior in starting seedlings. My only question is can I really get enough worms to handle all the scraps from my family of 7.

I will try!