The fine people at Natures Footprint Inc heard about my worm killing ways and were concerned.
They contacted me and thought that it could be the bin that I was using. Of course they did because they make worm bins. They offered to send me a Worm Factory 360 to try out. I willingly agreed.
It arrived in the mail last week and is quite the beast. I need to read the instructions on how to use and set up.
What I’m nervous about is ordering another pound of worms. The lady from the Lower East Side Ecology Center, where I buy my worms from, jokingly said that she wouldn’t sell me anymore if I continued to kill them.
So now I need to get me some more worms and give this Worm Factory a shot.
Has anyone ever used this bin or any others similar to it?
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBIYELP4RBk
I have a worm bin just like that. Different brand but essentially the same. It works pretty well in my opinion. My worms are doing well and thriving. I did have one time where I had too much food in the bin and a bunch of the worms died off but they came back with no problem once I cleaned the bin a bit.
Suggestions: Rotate the layers and stir up the dirt occasionally to keep it from compacting. The bottom layer is going to get the wettest. Rotating it will help keep the moisture circulating. Also, the very bottom layer, where the tea collects, smells like death. Don't open it indoors. My spout has become clogged with dirt and doesn't drain well. That probably needs to be cleaned out occasionally.
Good choice of words. …”smells like death. Don't open it indoors.”… Take heed Mike, Jamie is NOT exaggerating!
Wow. That's pretty intense. I will do my best to avoid the “death smell.” How much $$ if I do a shot of it? 😉
Congrats on more freebies!
Moderation coupled with equilibrium where always important factors when I was playing with worms. (Mine died off about 3 years ago.)
Just because scraps are available doesn't mean they should be added. Too much in the beginning slows them down and sends them running.
When deciding which scraps to give the new worms, lean towards soft, mushy, sweet stuff like lettuce, juicy fruits (banana peels, peach, plum, avocado, etc.) and one of their favorites is cantaloupe and melon rind.
Avoid too much of any one thing.
Avoid powerful stuff like citrus, garlic, onion, green apple etc. at least until the colony has found an equilibrium. I might recommend holding off on coffee grounds right away too.
From my understanding the worms wait until the food stuff gets rotten and mushy before eating it because they are actually going after the bacteria in the rot. If this is true it makes sense to chop the food finely before adding (more surface area, faster rot.)
I miss my worms. Perhaps it's time to give it another try.
My wife has ours in the kitchen for the last 18 months. I thought it would smell, but she proved me wrong as usual! I get good compost for my garden, so I can’t complain. – Its so good she’s started selling them from her own website too!
Nice. Really like it so far as well.
This is a nice website full of good information.
C’mon Jack there has to be a better way for you to get a link to your site. At least make a comment that adds value.
Hello Mike. I jumped to this article via @CanarsieBK on Twitter. I am a big advocate of vermiculture. I use the Can-O-Worms and am able to keep it in the kitchen, which comes in handy. The end product is awesome. I have done experiments with different plants and got great results. I may use the castings either as a soil amendment or topping. (You should try to put an affiliate link for a worm bin on this article. Let your readers “Turn Garbage Into Cash”.)
Always a pleasure to visit your site.
Brian Schamp
Yea I had mine in the kitchen until the first sign of fruit flies, then the girl banished them to the balcony. They ain’t doin so well right now down there.
I’ve had a worm bin similar to that for 10 years. I’m on my second bin. The first just fell apart. If you don’t want fruit flys microwave your compostables before adding (let them cool first). Some people will chop or cuisinart the stuff too. I do none of that. I just toss stuff in about once a week. I add all the shredded mail too! I moisten the mail. Don’t mess around in there too much. Just keep it as moist as a wrung out sponge.
Word. Good ideas. I don’t mess with microwaves though. Scary stuff.
I made my own bin similar to this out of five gallon buckets, the key is where you put the ventilation holes. I don’t recommend starting it inside, because the activity going on definately attracts flies and other critters, as you found out. The best part about the five gallon buckets is that if you want to compost more you just add a bucket, and it will seperate the worms from compost exactly like the 360 and it doesn’t take up any more floor space, just another 4-8″ on top of the last bucket. Fortunately in Ohio if you start in the spring and leave your worms outside all day they will burrow because of the sun.
I forgot to add that the buckets hold a lot more compost material and bedding/food for way less upkeep.
Nice. Sounds great!