Worm Inn
equinoxequinox
10 years ago
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Comments (22)
chuckiebtoo
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomendopete
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Heated Worm Inn
Comments (10)mendopete writes: "I also like the sturdy wood construction better than the flimsy PVC stands I often see. " Yes the wood stand is very sturdy and ought to be able to withstand the weight of a full Worm Inn. " Because of air-flow from all directions, it seems like bag systems would be very susceptible to cold temps. You may find the cables across the front interfere with using the "udder" and harvesting. Maybe if you just cabled 3 walls and left the front un-cabled? " Actually, the first attempt to use this heating scheme was a total failure. I thought by heating the air in the entire stand that plenty of heat would find its way into the Worm Inn. Wrong. The Worm In is not as permeable to air flow as I thought. Instead the heated air would run up the sides of the stand and out the very top of the Worm Inn leaving the bedding unheated. I experimented with thermostat probe locations which revealed that plenty of heating was taking place . . . . just not where I wanted it to. A couple of design modifications solved the problem handily: 1. I moved the heat cable to cover the bottom (floor) of the stand (except where the leachate bucket sits). 2. I installed an insulation board baffle about half-way up the stand to prevent the device from "short-circuiting". The baffle has a hole in the center which allows the bottom half of the Worm Inn to extend through . . . . in this way the heat must enter the Worm Inn to escape. This works much better with the temperature now cycling normally. Regards, HB...See Moreproblem with Worm Inn
Comments (16)Hmm, how much do you feed a week? Have to ask again and is my main question right now as I feel I'm missing something. And to double check. Your pics show one years worth of bedding and food in a Inn where NOTHING has been removed or harvested ever, correct? It is really weird, here's my thought process so for. You said it's been a year and nothing has been harvested and/or removed. Normally I'd have said it was few worms and tiny feedings so population hasn't grown (or something keeping them down) and the VC amount is so tiny. You've seen my pics and I'm one person who doesn't cook that much. But you mentioned you have lots of worms. So maybe they are not the right types. But then the feedings would still have to be fairly small as after a year, I'd have thought just rotted food would give you more black stuff (hence the feeding question). Then again, never seen the results of bins with basically no composting worms. If they are the wrong worms, would explain why bedding is untouched and they haven't grown in population much. Also explain you having lots of fruit flies, food sitting uneaten until it decomposes. BTW how long until a feeding is fully eaten? With decent number of worms, bedding not being eaten, food being slow and lack of VC.... I'm leaning to wrong worms, looking forward to your pics. Not going to be easy though, telling from a photo is never easy. That would be the 'nice' problem as then it would be, just get some worms and off you, go as opposed to anything you've done. Here's a vid about worm quantities just to quantify worm amounts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ4uYXHydoo equinoxequinox Yeah I never got newspaper to work well in a bin, too wet and it would just clump up. Professionally (large scale) I've seen it used, but those are in flat beds (not that deep and drier). Works better in the Inn also, but even then I prefer it on top so it doesn't compact too much....See MoreSupersized DIY Worm Inn
Comments (5)My $1.59: Love the title. At first I thought you meant Worm Bin but a Worm Inn is even better. "I see a lot of love for the Worm Inn on the internet" Where? I pretty much live here and don't get out much. "but I am cheap" We're right there with ya. "and want to go bigger than a single worm..." We all do. We can relate. "I can use the barrel as the support system" I am so glad you wrote this. It is the main reason I replied. I applaud good support for the system. So many beginner vermicomposters forget this critical element. Vermiompost is Heavy. We are always explaining, "No a little plastic office supply drawer system will not hold up to the weight." "More work than it's worth?" Might be said of a lot of my personal vermicomposting efforts. Join the club. "I like the advantage of the Worm Inn's ability to keep things fairly dry (and less stinky..) but want to go bigger if possible." Yep. Me too. I find vermicompost so heavy it fights back many of our efforts to control and direct it. This is a battle I am presently in right there with you. Let's hope we win the war. Glad you are here because we are going to need a whole bunch of you all way smarter than me. Might be easier than you think plus the posters here aren't too shabby themselves. They are all on the path towards vermicompost greatness. You might want to read my post here on my experience with a Worm Inn. It is still a project in process. You might want to read, and probably already have, read about Bently's Vermicompost Pants. Maybe with the direction you are taking the most can be learned by the posts everywhere online and youtubes of those who have tried super sized flow through bins. Those who have not had structural failures have had issues with vermicompost not flowing. It just stays there no matter if there is even a bottom on or not. I do not think nylon is what you want. It does not breath. I do not think that rubberized olive drab material with a coating on it is what you want. It cracks and flakes. You may want like $1 Walmart pack your own grocery bags are made out of. But they have not enough structural strength. I believe the material Worm Inns are made out of is......See MoreWorm Inn Advice: Use a computer fan to curb your fly issue
Comments (2)I belive it in the summer on my patio i use a 4ft ocilating fan to keep the mosquitos down and it works great, and it is very possable that like mosquitos, fruit flys may not be able to fly in the wind...See Morepetrock1963
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agosolst1ce
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoboreal_wormer
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoShaul
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10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago11otis
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohummersteve
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agocoreyandtrevor
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomendopete
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10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoequinoxequinox
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoequinoxequinox
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobarbararose21101
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobarbararose21101
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoequinoxequinox
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoequinoxequinox
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoharry757
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoequinoxequinox
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoCharlie
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
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