2) but it flocculated the dissolved solids from the water in the collection buckets too, leaving semi-clear water with a bunch of snowflakes on the bottom. Do you think that lime adversely affected the worms? Caused floculant to form??? Very interesting. Means unequivocally that something in the the leachate reacted chemically with the lime. It quickly ends the anaerobic smell, so I suspect that whatever organisms were making use of those sour conditions may be impacted. I don't want sour conditions in my bin though. I haven't limed my bin in a long time, but as far as I remember, the worms looked more active after the liming. I got the idea to lime the bin when I read that worms breed more in bins with higher available calcium, and the first thing lime does when it hits water is separate from its calcium ion. I suspect the snowflakes are a result of unspent calcium ions attracting any molecule with a negative charge, becoming heavier than water, and sinking. Since acids have negative charges, flocculation may be the visual evidence of excessive pH buffering. The problem with using too much lime in the bin is that the plants I used the juice on gained symptoms of high pH nutrient lockout. I was in a sort of "lime is cool" phase at the time, and also limed the plants directly though, so I ended up with double too much lime. I don't recall miraculous plant performance before I limed the bin either, but with the extra calcium I did notice increased leaf durability on my trees. The Japanese beetles around here need dentures now. I apparently didn't harm the worms as much as the plants in that period of time. It should be noted that the active ingredient in lime is calcium carbonate, which is in nearly every sip of water you've ever drank, and is in most food products and vegetables. It is quite safe, but potent. Don't use too much, less is more, etc.. 5) some dry leaves I put in the first summer never broke down. AMEN to that! A lesson I have learned. I think the leaves need some kind of forest fungus to prepare them for worms to eat. I have some packets of ZHO, but never had the guts to put them in the bin... probably a scam anyway. I have found that worms will become highly active in the top layers if I put fine wood chips on top. They seem to respond well to fresh or old chips. The dominant (observed) mushroom that grows in my bin seems to be a white inky cap mushroom. It seems to bloom excessively in response to fresh grass inputs, but will also bloom in its absence.

Jennymama, I just wanted to say congratulations on your new quarters! I came to this thread late so have just been reading through the posts...I kind of started chuckling about halfway through at the different "camps" we are all in (those who say "go for it" and those who shudder at the thought of living in a travel trailer for several months, LOL.) I wanted to do that when we were building on our land, and two years later I still think our lives would have been easier in many ways had we done so (we also thought about going ahead and building the shop and putting a small bathroom in it, to live in during the build.) I think you have three really big considerations that will make you very glad you did this. One is that the drive to your dd's school would take up so much of the time that you will need for dealing with things as the house is being built, not to mention time that could be better spent with your younger one. Two hours a day, five days is a week is a LOT of time that you just gave yourself! The two other things will be important to your sanity and comfort over the next few months, and they are the facts that you can put your travel trailer a bit away from construction site for privacy from the comings and goings of the workers (and safety for the kids re: construction materials) and also that you have that big finished shop. If you can keep that for your own stuff and not have it become a repository for storing construction stuff, it will be a real asset as far as storing kids' toys and household goods. You can both have things with you that might take up too much room in the camper, and start to move more of your stuff when it gets closer to time for the move. Good luck with the build and enjoy the outdoors.

Marti, sorry I did not get back here in time to respond about the blog for Debra Prinzing. I looked at the photo posted by Dilly Dally, with what looks to be a storm drain pipe, and thought immediately about the movie CANNERY ROW. In it, the heroine moved into an old boiler! It happens to be one of my favorite movies, of course. Taken from a couple of John Steinbeck short stories. People can make the oddest things into comfortable and cozy nests. Shades remarks about her shed studio not working because she was separated, and glass became brittle in cold weather, gave me pause. Of course, our problem is sort of the opposite, with things more often HOTTER than blazes and not COLD. This winter is an exception, of course. But what we have as a project down the line, is our cinder block garage with NO ROOF and with a cement floor which tree roots split apart. The trees are now cut down, and I love this decrepit old building, with rounded corners like an old ESSO service station from the 1940s. I want to make it my greenhouse with Lexan/polycarbonate roof panels, a new cement floor raised up so a drain can be included. It is something that excites my imagination every time I look at it. I hope I live long enough to accomplish the project.

Congradulations on your wonderful find! We have had a camper for the past three years and we have gotten tons of use out of it. What type of print is on your cushions? Does it have curtains? Make sure when you choose fabric to go with something stain resistant and mold proof. I haven't done any decorating in ours, but I did have fun shopping at yard sales for all of the "stuff" we had to have. We keep ours stocked with dishes, pots and pans, blankets, towels, canned foods, silverware, dishwashing supplies (a washtub and drying rack), and toiletries (hotel soaps and shampoos that my Mom brings back from her trips). We also keep a couple of games for late night entertainment. I am ashamed to admit it, but I also have a tv and a microwave. Did I mention that ours is a pop-up camper and we have 4 kids (plus an extra one every now and then) to pack in as well. It's a great way to spend the summer! Take pictures and let us know how it turns out. Pam