I know there's as many answers to this question as people doing Verma compost.
I have been using a two plastic bin system since I started several years ago. It has worked well for me. This winter my son accidentally broke both the inner and outer bins.
The bin system has worked for me, but since I have to rebuild my system I thought I would look into other options. I have thought about making a wooden bin. It seems like it would stay cooler in the summer. I also have an old bathtub, I'm just not sure I want to have that large of a system.
I'm interested in your thoughts and ideas. Thanks
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” — Abraham Lincoln
The best worm composting is the fastest one. I've got a lazy system with many many worms, because i don't really use the compost that much. It's a big mass. I believe that that is important. In the big mass, worms can migrate. In case of drought and frost they move into the bottom. I've just build some retaining walls out of breeze blocks. And keep adding. I don't do a lot of turning but dig a hole to dump the weekly scraps into. Everything that ever was alive goes in.
I take out a few buckets a year to make aerated compost teas and multiply all the biodiversity the compost offers a thousand times.. But i realise it's a rare luxury. Most people are constantly scraping for every bit of compost available. I got a neighbor who provides cow dung, so i use that if i need a quick fix.
The bigger the mass became, the more worms it contained.
I see people who are very busy with their wormeries, me five minutes a week.
Creating edible biodiversity and embracing everlasting abundance.
There is a place at the edge of the forest where various weeds, sticks, and other plant matter are regularly deposited. The worms in the forest floor enjoy whatever is thrown there and turn it into dark, rich, well aerated worm castings. No extra effort except for rummaging under the pile now and then for the finished worm earth. I think they may be the notorious jumping worms but am not sure. Woodlice also seem to help in the endeavor.
Mine is an old garden trailer. Works great but it is big, like 2 bathtubs. I don't pull stuff out of it but twice a year. Mine is easy enough until harvest day and then it's a lot of work! I have really bad land so I need a lot of junk to mend it.
I think you should just go back to the bins that were working for you. Either by repurchasing or I know people make worm bins with a drill and some plastic totes from Ace Hardware. I kinda think these systems are the best, as far as speed, efficiency, and ease.
I stuck with what I know, at least for now. I would like to build a wooden worm bin, but that's for the future.
My poor worms spent the summer in the broken bin.
This weekend I finally got a new bin made. I used a plastic bin. I drilled holes in the top covered with aluminum screen, attached with silicone. I used the aluminum screen because it was what I had. I won't ever use it again. I had to use a good amount of silicone because the edges kept popping out. The bottom has lots of small holes. Since the screen was so hard to work with I decided to use weed cloth to cover the holes. I attached and sealed it with silicone. I have not done this before, so time will tell if it was a good idea, or not.
I soaked shredded cardboard, and wood chips. The bedding is mostly shredded cardboard, with wood chips, and some organic compost (bought), and a bit of azamite. I should have put the bedding together and waited a week or two, but I just needed to get it done.
It was the perfect day for this job. It was overcast, and sprinkling. It took a while to separate the worms from the castings, but it's done. I think/hope the worms will thrive in their new home.
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Bottom of the worm bin
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Inside of the worm bin
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Worm bin filled with new bedding and worms
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Worm castings
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” — Abraham Lincoln
Sounds fishy. It smells fishy too. You say it's a tiny ad, but ...
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