Hey Troy, I'd love to hear more about what you used to make those covered rows? The big hoops and the bar in the middle? So beautiful.troy wrote: ↑Fri 07-Jan-2022, 10:02
i'm thinking about either building a vermicomposter to fit inside one of the stalls or buy a hungry bin. each of the stalls measures 48"W x 36"D x 48"H. i measured the height from the back of the stall to the lowest point of the roof. if i do build something to fit inside one of the stalls, i would like to be able to insulate it from the cold during winter...
recommendations for diy worm farm?
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hi michelle... i used 3/4" dia metal conduits and bent them into arcs with a jig that i made from nails and wood. the cross bar at the top holding the arcs together is a length of the same conduit. here are some pics...Michelle Dargatz wrote: ↑Sat 08-Jan-2022, 11:39 Hey Troy, I'd love to hear more about what you used to make those covered rows? The big hoops and the bar in the middle? So beautiful.
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Last edited by troy on Sat 08-Jan-2022, 16:24, edited 1 time in total.
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Here are some pictures of a DIY worm tower I built. The dimensions do not matter, just make it all the same size. Consider how much you can lift as the drawers can get quite heavy so you don't want to go too large.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYY3JYdLwoT/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYY3JYdLwoT/
thank you andrew! after doing some research and taking into consideration what you said about the ease of use of the hungry bin, i'm going to buy one. i live in richmond. do you happen to live/work close by for me to pick one up from you?Andrew wrote: ↑Wed 12-Jan-2022, 09:16 Here are some pictures of a DIY worm tower I built. The dimensions do not matter, just make it all the same size. Consider how much you can lift as the drawers can get quite heavy so you don't want to go too large.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYY3JYdLwoT/
now that i have my hungry bin, the instructions say to fill it 3/4 full with compost. does it matter what kind of compost i use? i would prefer something that doesn't smell because i may want to store it indoors during cold weather.
does anyone have a hungry bin and have any suggestions?
does anyone have a hungry bin and have any suggestions?
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Sounds good! Insulating the area is beneficial if temps get below zero for long periods of time. If you went with a hungrybin you could tape seedling germination mats to all four sides and wrap the center with a space blanket to keep the heat in and it will likely continue to operate even when its -5C / 23F.
If building your own bin, go big, 4x4x4 and the volume of material will afford them the environment they need not to perish. Not to worry though if they do perish, they lay cocoons when it starts to get cold and they will only hatch when conditions are stable so your population will return in the spring.
One could also try a combination of a thermophilic pile started when temps start to head down towards freezing, and then your worms will have a warm pile they can operate in through the winter. Keep adding food scraps on top if pests aren't an issue and the worms will get to it when they can. If pests are an issue 21-day hot compost your food first and then add it as a top layer "feed" to the top of your bin. Depending on where you live this pile may need to be quite large to stay thermophilic, in your situation there isn't enough room but I mention for other readers.
If building your own bin, go big, 4x4x4 and the volume of material will afford them the environment they need not to perish. Not to worry though if they do perish, they lay cocoons when it starts to get cold and they will only hatch when conditions are stable so your population will return in the spring.
One could also try a combination of a thermophilic pile started when temps start to head down towards freezing, and then your worms will have a warm pile they can operate in through the winter. Keep adding food scraps on top if pests aren't an issue and the worms will get to it when they can. If pests are an issue 21-day hot compost your food first and then add it as a top layer "feed" to the top of your bin. Depending on where you live this pile may need to be quite large to stay thermophilic, in your situation there isn't enough room but I mention for other readers.
i finally got my hungry bin up and running! i used some left over bubble wrap to insulate the bin until the weather warms up. it's still only single digits in the basement...
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it's been over a month and the red wigglers seem to be doing well and feeding on the frozen food scraps i've been giving them. i've found that i only need to feed them once a week. i also drizzle rain water on them once every week or so to keep the contents moist.
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