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Post by Jay Blair on Aug 27, 2005 19:08:05 GMT -5
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JudyA
New Member
Posts: 41
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Post by JudyA on Aug 28, 2005 10:46:31 GMT -5
That is a clear, concise description. In your opinion, how full is FULL in order to set the second bin?
Have you experience with how fast the worms will migrate? Will this work with any worms? Or do redworms migrate easier?
I have been pretty stingy with the size of my drain holes because worms used to leave. I found worms living UNDER the bin in almost dust in my old, damper basement.
At present, with only 'stabs' from a big knife for drain holes, I tilt the bins on their lids to control moisture in the bin. It could still leak out.
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Post by Jay Blair on Aug 29, 2005 4:04:26 GMT -5
I interpret "full" to indicate as the picture shows about 5 inches from the top with the bedding material mix.
When all the bedding and feed is consumed, then migration will begin to the other chamber. Migration can be accelerated if the "finished" material is allowed to dry out, enticing the stock to travel to the moister, feed rich area.
My experience with this design has only been with indigenous earthworms and eisenia fetida bait worms.
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JudyA
New Member
Posts: 41
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Post by JudyA on Aug 29, 2005 7:10:55 GMT -5
If it were your set up, what would be the criteria for adding a bin? Population? Depth? Age -- as in the worms have been through all the bedding and casting material a couple times? If you were to dry the bottom bin out to get them to move, would it be okay on a newer bin to add moisture later to get them to move back and forth?
Depth and Age: I've never let mine get that deep, but they are really working on it in one bin, yet I'm not ready to harvest it because it seems too new. The worms are all over it; the environment was all peat a couple months ago. The bedding is very moist, almost wet and very earthy.
Age and Population: I have three just like this, only one level. I sorted off all the casting material and put all the worms (euros) into one bin with new peat moss in April. Then I put new peat into the other two bins and have been moving worms over there. But, now all three bins are reproducing worms like crazy. The first bin would still have about three-four inches to go before they reached the depth indicated in the pictures.
The design shown in your link would let me have at least the fourth bin without expanding the footprint of bins on my basement floor. My crystal ball says that I'm going to have to make a move about January-February. That would have my old bin ready to go outside in the garden, etc. about the right time. I guess if it goes outside and isn't perfect castings, there's not a real problem with letting them all move upstairs.
I think with Euros, they will want some peat or half the old material (there does my depth). Would wet peat make the new bin enough heavier than wet paper to cause a problem? I could put some 'pylons' in the corners of the deep bin to avoid crushing?
Worry Worry Worry Worry
The food resouces will calm down shortly with garden season slowing. I've been feeding on top to avoid heating and they are really going after it. I dream of bigger worms, but that's not always a bin issue. I have never fed them to grow, but to compost.
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Post by t on Aug 31, 2005 13:04:37 GMT -5
???jay we need some info on making a good harvestor
Terrill
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Post by t on Aug 31, 2005 14:25:42 GMT -5
:-/let me re say that. Does anyone have any ideas for a cheap harvetor that a women could make being not so mechanical but quite ready to try and build it
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Post by Jay Blair on Aug 31, 2005 20:28:46 GMT -5
Ahma workin own it .  |
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Post by t on Sept 1, 2005 11:59:24 GMT -5
is it done yet  |
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JudyA
New Member
Posts: 41
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Post by JudyA on Sept 1, 2005 14:28:08 GMT -5
That's "Are we thar yet?"
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Post by Darryl on Sept 3, 2005 23:42:12 GMT -5
lol JudyA...
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Post by Jay Blair on Sept 5, 2005 3:26:58 GMT -5
In looking through my junk pile I have some pipe, gutter and a few plastic soft drink syrup drums. I was hoping to find some window screen after the storm but it didnt happen  |
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Post by tt on Sept 8, 2005 13:26:17 GMT -5
Jay are you done yet. Going to need a cheap harvestor soon mind you I think i have plans using an old dryer with the element removed. Might make the babies dizzy and they might not recover |
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Post by theinfamousj on Sept 19, 2005 0:07:35 GMT -5
My harvester is a "fry basket" from WalMart. It is like a big kitchen sieve. I sift. What makes it through gets used and what does not goes into the now-cleaned-and-newly reconditioned bin.
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Post by Jay Blair on Sept 19, 2005 8:49:06 GMT -5
Jay are you done yet. Going to need a cheap harvestor soon mind you I think i have plans using an old dryer with the element removed. Might make the babies dizzy and they might not recover Take the drum out and mount it on a pipe between a couple 4 by 4 inch posts on a pipe. then hang a tray inside the drum from the support pipe. Put the wheelbarrow under it to catch the castings and pick the worms off the tray as they try to burrow deep from the centrifugal spin. We built one and used all junk except a new drive belt and speed controller for the motor. Warning though. Don't put more than a couple cu feet of mass in at a time due to weight . |
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Post by jimmy2s83 on Nov 17, 2005 20:46:20 GMT -5
I just want to saw that I really like this design. I was able to purchase the bins and get everthing done in less than an hour. Now to watch and wait to see what the little guys do.
Jimmy
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