Bin question from a newbie

[neuwirth]

I don't have any worms yet, still doing research. I want to start with a very simple setup, and learn the basics before I commit a larger sum of money. However, the cost for a Worm Factory is quite doable for us. What do any of you think of this unit? I am not very handy with tools, so I am thinking of starting out with the WF, and then taking my time and trying to build a good bin later.
Thinking of using a combination of coir and shredded newspaper for bedding.
Eventually, I am thinking of trying to get the worm business to become a supplemental income source for retirement, (in about 5 years). Would like to sell both worms and castings/compost.
Any suggestions are appreciated.

[Jay Blair]

My personal view is to keep overheads as low as possible. If you have a drill, a couple hours and $12 you can build an excellent starter bin and purchase sufficient worms to stock it for $4 to $6 for 2 to 3 cups of bait for breeder stock purchased at a local bait seller.

Can a worm factory, stock and education be purchased for $20?

Other advantages of the low overhead approach is that should you fail, you can easily start fresh for another $2 to $4. At the end of the year of education, you will have suitable skills to be an adequate worm farmer and 16 to 24 cubic feet of compost and breeder worms from a few cups of bait and an additional $20 for bins as you expand.

Along the way if you can sell compost to neighbors who garden or use the castings to make potted plants for sale, the expansion bins and paper shredder for ease can be zero overhead cost and you may have the start to a nice micro nursery or vegetable garden seedling nursery to make income as your worm farm grows to small commercial size.

Plans for a simple low overhead starter bin can be found at

www.whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Easywormbin.htm

Hope this is of help to you.

[Thanks]

Jay, thanks for the relpy, that looks simple enough that I can probably do it. I know there will be some variables involved, but how long do you estimate it would be from start until time to add the second bin?
What do you think of a mixture of coir and shredded newspaper for bedding?
Feed will be mostly veggie scraps, and maybe some worm chow from time to time.
Thanks!

[Jay Blair]

When I first started, I expanded to two bins at about 6 to 7 months and purchased the bins with money made from selling wormcasting to a coworker to fertilize her house plants.

As far as the topic of using corr bedding, I could never justify purchsing aeration bedding when I had small twigs redily available to break into small lengths and add to the bedding to achieve air spacing and provide the worms with material to assist in cocoon shedding for free.

I admit that I am one of the cheapest cheapskates in worm farming. ;D

[Jay Blair]

You can purchase worm chow if you choose, but I found mixing my own from a mixture plain corn meal, powdered milk, oatmeal and agricultural lime was far less expensive and an excellent feed and fattener.

[neuwirth]

Jay, thanks again for the replies!
One thing I am going to be looking for is consistency in the castings, so that is part of why I am looking into the coir. Mixing my own worm chow for fattening sounds easy enough.

[Jay Blair]

I have found mixing oak leaves into the bedding and adding harvested venison blood from the deer that I and my friends kill each season to my bin water helps produce a darker consistancy casting also.