New Vermicomposter

Geez, what a great thread! Thanks for sharing OP!

I have a couple questions...

-Is the spigot that you put on the bottom tray strictly for draining the worm "tea" or does it serve any other purpose?

-I have a couple bunny rabbits (pets) that get fed primarily a timothy hay diet. Would this poop be something that I could add to the worm bin in addition to veggie/fruit scraps, or would it be detrimental? If yes, do I need to process the poop in any way, or just toss it right in there?

st0wandgrow said:

Geez, what a great thread! Thanks for sharing OP!

I have a couple questions...

-Is the spigot that you put on the bottom tray strictly for draining the worm "tea" or does it serve any other purpose?

-I have a couple bunny rabbits (pets) that get fed primarily a timothy hay diet. Would this poop be something that I could add to the worm bin in addition to veggie/fruit scraps, or would it be detrimental? If yes, do I need to process the poop in any way, or just toss it right in there?

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The spigot is primarily just for draining the tea. However I've read that people often leave it open with a small container underneath to increase airflow from underneath the bin.

My rabbit poop all goes straight into the bin. It composts pretty much instantly. If you start adding a little alfalfa to their diet (check with your vet first) You'll start getting triancantanol (sp?) which is a growth hormone for plants that comes in vast amounts from alfalfa. Apparently cannabis loves it.

Just a heads up for those using the plastic bins or tubs. I read an article a while back that those leach chemicals into the soul that's bad for the worms and soil. I'll have to try and find the article again ..

Further examination of my dead worms bin, I went though it inch by inch and found two fiesty healthy lively ones together in one place. Otherwise I don't even see carcasses. No signs of any escaping. No idea what happened here. The compost is composting, smells like good compost, no foul odor, was warm, but not hot. An entire 1/2 pound batch of wigglers I bought from http://northwestredworms.com just disappeared.

I am really wondering if the altitude of 9300 ft has anything to do with it. I don't know whether to try to start over or just abandon the pursuit.

turnip brain said:

Further examination of my dead worms bin, I went though it inch by inch and found two fiesty healthy lively ones together in one place. Otherwise I don't even see carcasses. No signs of any escaping. No idea what happened here. The compost is composting, smells like good compost, no foul odor, was warm, but not hot. An entire 1/2 pound batch of wigglers I bought from http://northwestredworms.com just disappeared.

I am really wondering if the altitude of 9300 ft has anything to do with it. I don't know whether to try to start over or just abandon the pursuit.

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check your PH and your drainage tub, if the PH is off they wont want to be in the medium because it burns thier sensitive worm skin and will escape through your drainage holes or other places they can...all i can think of since dead worms is not a smell you can miss.

I took a handful of the stuff, soaked it in distilled h20 for about 1/2 hr and ph is looking like 7.5, a little high, but too high for survival?

Just smells like compost, not worm death.

I talked with Doug at NW redworms, he said they just liquify and disappear when they die.

well as a fisherman, i have left my fair share of worms in the back of the truck when done fishing in the summer, and i tell you....not worth opening to see if they are still alive, just presume dead and discard because the smell will make you vomit.

snowboarder396 said:

Just a heads up for those using the plastic bins or tubs. I read an article a while back that those leach chemicals into the soul that's bad for the worms and soil. I'll have to try and find the article again ..

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I was planning on making a bin from plastics, but this got me reconsidering...I found an interesting thread about it here:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/verm/msg041104552163.html

There's one poster that brings up a good counter to the leaching:

"Bio-accumulation means that the organism *absorbs* more of a substance into its tissues than it loses -- that it is a net sink for that substance. If your worms really were bio-accumulators for toxins, in the short run they would be helping you by taking stuff out of the compost, though of course in the long run they die and their little corpses are reabsorbed in the compost."

What do you all think?

Alright guys here is the article about why you shouldnt use rubber/plastic bins for worm bins. It also has a short video

http://www.compostjunkie.com/worm-composting-system.html

Compostjunkie is also an amazing site for all things compost and soil!

Also for those who want a really efficient worm composting bin

http://www.compostjunkie.com/worm-composting-system.html

This one is great and allows for you to extract worm tea and EWC through the bottom with out sorting out the worms from the soil. This site is also really good for teas. give it a peek tell me what you all think.

Awesome design! I think I'm end up doing Rrog's method with 2 30 gallon smart pots, but this looks good as well. Thanks for the links.

Note the platform I use to allow air to circulate under the pots. Also, that whole rig is on 5/8" tall ball bearing castors so I can roll anywhere I need to. These are in my basement at ~62F. I am getting mountains of VC. For free.

Thanks for the pics! That's definitely what I'm gonna do.

snowboarder396 said:

Alright guys here is the article about why you shouldnt use rubber/plastic bins for worm bins. It also has a short video

http://www.compostjunkie.com/worm-composting-system.html

Compostjunkie is also an amazing site for all things compost and soil!

Also for those who want a really efficient worm composting bin

http://www.compostjunkie.com/worm-composting-system.html

This one is great and allows for you to extract worm tea and EWC through the bottom with out sorting out the worms from the soil. This site is also really good for teas. give it a peek tell me what you all think.

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Quite frankly that compost junkie article seems kind of BS to me. There are no real reasons presented as to why not use a plastic bin. All the serious worm farmers I've come across use plastic bins. Rubbermaid bins are food safe and pthalate free for the most part, cheaper bins may not be. Regardless. I don't see any reason not to use them thus far. I'm open to reading factual evidence though.

I would have to agree, I didn't find that article or video too compelling. In the video he had no air holes in the bin and meat...not surprised it went anaerobic. Nevertheless, the 30 gallon smart pots seem like the way to go

I like 'em so far

There are other articles on plastics that leach chemicals. Thats just one I remembered when I went to go post the worm bin design. which i actually like alot more vs. using plastic bins, but thats just me and depends on how big your making your worm bin as well.

Well, my worm disaster saga turns into a meager worm survival saga. Went though the bin contents once again and found 4-5 more alive. put them all in way less of the contents and going to monitor if they are staying happy. If the survivors actually start reproducing, I may even have the strongest and fittest as breeding stock. Not expecting it, but hopeful.

All I can figure is that I must have suffocated them. I had been keeping the lid loosely on top, but think it was latched down tight for the week I was gone. The air holes I had were inadequate. The contents settled and became very dense. All the bedding in and underneath became compacted, and the bedding placed on top turned into a huge mold fest.

Well, we live and learn. I'm sure a few million before you have done worse. You learned some good stuff and they breed fast.

I have just been picking tons of worms out of my lawn and throwing them right in my buckets. They seem happy...is there anything I can do to keep them that way? I know they eat bokashi but I don't want to put that right in my pots right? Also I don't have any yet I need to get my worm life together.

fattiemcnuggins said:

I need to get my worm life together.

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Youre a worm deadbeat. Lol
Keep your worm goldbricking ass out of my beach community, deadbeat.
Ill bet you have like 1,000 identical kids just so you can keep collecting worm welfare.