Marc Cavatorta

Hey all, I am just getting into BSFL and am looking for a composter design as well. The link above for the homemade plywood version looks like the best DIY plan I've seen. Has anyone else tried it with good results?

I am hoping to have a larger scale system capable of supplementing the diet of 100-200 chickens. I have a large supply of food waste (veggies, meat, and dairy) from the grocery store that I feed to my pigs. I could easily feed 1-2 5 gallon buckets a day to the maggots. Brewer's grain and coffee grounds could also be acquired.

The other option is to buy a commercial bin. The best one I've found is the protapod from Tar River Trading Post in NC (https://www.tarrivertradingpost.us/ProtaPod-Auto-Harvesting-Grub-Composter-p/prota-pp.htm). I like the design and wouldn't even mind paying the $300 ticket price but the shipping to Maine is almost half the cost of the bin! Does anyone know another source or have feedback on either of these systems? I would like to try the DIY but I just don't want to spend a couple hundred dollars on materials (between marine grade plywood and paint) and lots of time for a DIY bin that doesn't function properly.

Also, would I have better results buying live larvae or should I be able to attract them with good results in Central Maine? I realize I might only get 2-3 months of production this season but will be ready to roll by next spring.

Thanks!

Hey all,

I am looking into starting a BSFL system to convert food waste into chicken feed on my farm. I have a large supply of food waste (veggies, meat, dairy, etc) from the grocery store that I feed my pigs and would like to use a portion of that to feed larvae. And the benefit of keeping other types of flies away would be awesome.

Given the quantity of food waste I have access to, and the amount of chickens I need to feed (100+) I am looking for a larger system. What type of digesters do y'all use? The protapod seems to be the only commercially available bin and while I wouldn't mind paying the $300, shipping costs to Maine from Tar River Trading Post in NC are almost half the price of the pod! Does anyone know of any other sources for a protapod or a good DIY bin for a larger scale setup?

Also I'm curious whether I would have better results from buying live larvae to start or if they would show up on their own.

Thanks!

Hi John, thanks for your response.

I havent fully thought out the plumbing situation; I'm using a composting toilet but will need greywater drains for shower and sink. The metal joists on the trailer are 24" oc and they are I-beams, allowing the foam to recess into the joist leaving about 1/2" uninsulated between foam boards. I am using Simpson holdowns to attach wall framing to the trailer.

I like your suggestion. This gives me the peace of mind of having enough insulation without taking away from headspace too much.

Thanks!
Marc

Hey y'all,

I purchased a used (but unbuilt on) 8x20' tumbleweed trailer a few months ago and am trying to get over a few hurdles before diving into wall framing. So far I have insulated the cavity of the trailer with 3" rigid foam and installed a layer of 3/4" advantech sheathing for the subfloor, using sill seal to prevent thermal bridging. I was ready to start putting up the walls but have had second thoughts about whether this is a sufficient amount of insulation for the floor--I live in central Maine and hope to be able to live in it year round. Other sources I've seen went with a 2x6 framed subfloor to allow for 5 1/2 inches of flooring insulation.

So, what would be the best way to proceed?

Option 1: Frame an additional subfloor with 2x4s on top of the existing sheathing. I could insulate with 3 1/2" of rigid foam or possibly wool batting which is what I would like to use for the walls and ceiling. Then install a vapor barrier and another layer of sheathing. My concerns about this are that it seems unnecessary to have 2 layers of heavy sheathing and it raises my floor height 4 1/4". Should I pull up the first layer of sheathing and try to reuse it on top?

Option 2: Leave the subfloor as is and start building. If it proves to be cold I could always put straw bales around the exterior of the trailer. Maybe even heat the underside with a compost pile or wood chips?

Option 3: Other better suggestions?!

Thanks so much,
Marc
Palermo, Maine