Vermicomposting - aka "Worm Farming"

[SlowCalaToker]

Who does it and what's your method. I have an extra rubbermaid and since I am having a hard time finding worm casting I figured "why not make my own?"

Let's see what you got!

 

[Microbeman]

Try doing a search. There was a recent thread all about this.

 

[SlowCalaToker]

I'm interested in a "how to". I read a bunch of threads on the process and why it's teh bomb compared to store-bought castings. There isn't anything in Pontiac's DIY and I was hoping Jay or someone else who does this would recommend the best way to start a small-scale bin, how theirs is constructed and works, and how they would improve on their own unit and design.

Thanks MM, mich props to all you're contributions and knowledge!

Ja bless.

 

[jjfoo]

I've done things as simple as getting a bucket and putting in some drain holes and bedding (like leaves or egg cartons), then filling will my fruit peels, coffee grinds, and egg shells. After it fills, I leave it till the food is consumed then it is done. There are more complicated ways of doing it that are multilayer systems that make harvesting easier.

 

[jaykush]

have you checked out the worming 101 thread?

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=60422

im busy right now but will chime in later.

ps: listen to microbeman, hes probly made more castings and has more worms than anyone here.

 

[MrFista]

I have 20 kilos, what's he got, a ton? Bwa Ha!

 

[SlowCalaToker]

have you checked out the worming 101 thread?

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=60422

im busy right now but will chime in later.

ps: listen to microbeman, hes probly made more castings and has more worms than anyone here.

WHY the hell is this thread NOT a sticky in this forum?!?!?!

Mods PLEASE!

 

[Montana]

I've been worming a few years now, and I have the easiest method possible, I have a compost pile in my yard, and in it are a huge family of red wigglers......they dont stray, they dont care if they are in an expensive worming unit......I put all of my used soil in this pile, and also all of my kitchen scraps..and all of the plant waste as well.....it grows myceleum on the surface when I dont mix it, this pile used to be pro mix, but now its a dark dank pile of black gold full of worms and compost......soil recycling and vericomposting all in one pile

 

[jaykush]

it is in the sticky, its under organic reference library, along with many many other great threads. the reason why is at one point there was about 15 stickys. way too many so we put the best threads all under one sticky.

 

[SlowCalaToker]

Thanks jay that thread answered all my questions! Now, where's my drill??????

 

[Microbeman]

Here is the thread I meant
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=145219
If you go here and look for Worms you'll find a PDF that talks anout raising worms.
http://www.microbeorganics.com/#Resources__Links

 

[DARC MIND]

real easy bud, get a rubbermaid, drill some holes (sides, lid, bottom) and the bin is ready
you can add a leachate catch if you want


heres a good link
http://www.allthingsorganic.com/How_To/11.asp

 

[Clackamas Coot]

DARC MIND

One thing to consider/factor in when using a Rubbermaid product for a worm bin is that the product used to construct these units do not breath, i.e. allowing air to move in and out of the worm bin meaning that plywood is probably a material worthy of consideration for your worm bin construction material.

That's been my experience anyway.

YMMV

CC

 

[DARC MIND]

thanks cc! and welcome back,
i leave the lid cracked and drill tons of holes, without doing that i notice it gets real humid in there and the worms try to escape
plywood would work great but my bins are up and running swell and i got them cheap at a garage sale

 

[P-NUT]

slowcalatoker, if your where I think you are the guy that runs vermitechnology is near you. check out their website got 1 ton for $540 but I also found another guy last week that has them for $400 a ton not far either. They are good quality castings. Good luck if you do it yourself. Pm me if you want either guys contact info.

 

[mad librettist]

These days I use a ghetto bin, some lower middle class bins that are stacked, shallow, and from ikea, and I use one of these puppies.

plans are at instructables dot com. search for worm bin bag


Harder to build, easier to manage. it's a tradeoff: