I am a new vermicomposter, so I'm not going to offer any hard advice, just my own observations. You came to the right place, since you have a COW (can of worms), you may have the priviledge to speak to SQH1, who is the Goddess of COW. She is super helpful, and I'm sure will reply to your message soon. You also have Kelly S., who really does not like COW's but is the goddess of everything relating to vermicomposting. She is the end-all of all things wormy. No need to go any further. (Except when inquiring about COW's, which IMHO SQH1 is the end-all). Now on to my experience (NOT advice!) I have a Wriggly Ranch, which is a 3 layer stacking thing, but is rectangular. I have never had success past the first tier. The one time I added a second tier, it got way stinky and sticky/clumpy so I just removed it all, sorted through it and started again. I don't think this was a good idea as far as cocoons and such go, but it worked in a pinch. Since then I made a second bin out of a large rubbermaid tote. It seems to be doing much better. The Wriggly ranch still is fine, but it has not increased population like the Rubbermaid has. I split them 50/50, and my rubbermaid is way in the lead, literally teeming with worms, while the wriggly ranch is definitely occupied, but not like the rubbermaid. I also had problems with the worms getting in the collection bin with my Wriggly Ranch. It bothered me enough to start that rubbermaid bin, which I made with no drainage holes. I just couldn't stand to keep picking them out and putting them back in the working bin. If you want advice on a no-drainage hole system, Mkitten is the one to reply. I think having drainage holes is better for the worms in general, it's just not better for me at this time. And it's working out fine. You can put landscape fabric between the collection tray and the working bin, this was recommended to me, but I haven't tried it. I plan to try using the Wriggly ranch as a 'nursery' later. I think when I harvest from the Rubbermaid, instead of going through the castings for cocoons, I'm going to put the harvest in the bottom tray, wait a few weeks then stack the tray either above or below another tier of food. I haven't decided yet. Oh yeah, you mentioned chlorinated water. I'm assuming that is because you are adding water to the bin. I did that at first, and have now learned that was wrong. I'm in southern California, which is different from your place, but it gets pretty hot and dry in the summer. I added a cup of water a day as recommended in the instructions. That did not work out well. I do not add any water anymore, and have not needed to. In fact, I need to manage the bin to keep it from getting too damp.

You need an anti-slip map to put under your rug.carpet stores in your area should carry them.laying the mat under the rug and pad should keep them from creeping. Here is a link that might be useful: Anti-slip mat

Tad, That same area I love is on the northmost edge of Murfreesboro, so as close to Nashville as you can get and still be in Murfreesboro. Communting from West Nashville to Murfreesboro was pretty difficult when I was trying to get home for anything like picking up kids from school. Traffic can get pretty dense right about exit 70, Almaville Road/Smyrna until at least exit 74 where you can exit to the edge of Murfreesboro. That four miles can be really difficult during the commute home. The commute to work gets dense right about Hickory Hollow to Harding Road. And the ways around it, aren't much better. Too many lights. But if you don't mind driving for 45-90 minutes to get home, it's worth it. There is enough in Murfreesboro to keep you happy, it's less expensive, more relaxed atmosphere, close enough to Nashville for anything it doesn't have. I can't speak to the benefits/problems of Franklin, but living in Franklin, it seems like my youngest brother is really struggling financially to live there. And at no other time have they struggled. Is it worth it? Dunno. All places have good schools. _____________________________________________ Murfreesboro school rating: http://www.greatschools.org/tennessee/murfreesboro/ Franklin school rating: http://www.greatschools.org/tennessee/franklin/ Nashville school rating: http://www.greatschools.org/tennessee/nashville/ And because I know my hometown, more Nashville ratings http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/tennessee/districts/metropolitan-nashville-public-schools/hume-fogg-academic-high-school-18154 (Gold ranking from US News and World Report #54 in the nation) http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/tennessee/districts/metropolitan-nashville-public-schools/martin-luther-king-jr-magnet-at-pearl-high-school-18163 (Gold rating from US News and World Report and ranked #73 in the nation)

Bear with me here. I'm going to ask a few questions first. 1. How far away from the corner is the door into the bathroom? 2. Do you have room to put floor-to-ceiling shelving about 12" deep on that wall around the window? And, could you put a window seat/chest under that window? 3. Do you have any other windows in your bedroom besides the one on the back wall? 4. What is that little area in the hallway beside the door to your bedroom? Is it a linen closet? And now for a suggestion: 1. Widen your closet door so you can actually walk into it, or at least have a better look at your clothing. 2. Go back to the original closet rod orientation, but put a low and high rod. That is 10' of space right there, more than the 9' you have now. Then put some of those shoe cubbies in the corners, just wide enough to hold one pair of shoes each, and stack em all the way up. 3. Get a tallboy chest that is also longer, and put more of your clothing in drawers instead of hanging them up. I'm assuming you have 8' ceilings. Look into the wire closet configurations they sell at Lowes and Home Depot, manufacturers like Closet Maid make some good ones. I bought a Closet Maid kit to outfit a closet 5' to 8' in width--whenever the closet gets built. Be strict about keeping in your bedroom only the clothes that you wear. Move the others into that other bedroom. And, you do not need to modify it in any way. Except, you can build a platform bed which has storage beneath it. A nice mattress on top can be high up enough that you could slide plastic totes beneath the platform. A good really full bed skirt out of heavy duty upholstery fabric would go far in disguising the platform and making beaucoup storage hidden from the casual observer. Even a single bed can have a platform as its support. make it as high as you like. I was pleased to have my platform bed plus mattress and a feather/down topper delivered yesterday. I slept on it last night. And it was so comfortable I overslept this morning. I've had a background living on boats for so many years, where every inch of your space has to work, that I became less than efficient in organizing my belongings once I moved into a real house. At first I rattled around like a beebee in a washpot, but not now! It sort of got away from me. I'm going to suggest that all those clothes you do not wear now but HOPE to one day, those are the ones you MUST BOX UP. I'm afraid you will discover that when you get to the right size to wear them, they will be out of style. Of course, I remember some of my teachers whose clothes looked dated, and they cared not if they did. If these clothes are of wool, moths might destroy them. Don't encumber yourself for years and then find out it was all for nothing. Make some hard choices now, and maybe you will feel like I did, that a heavy burden was lifted from your shoulders. Look at it this way. Say you and the DH are in a big balloon with all these things in the basket with you. Up ahead is a mountain range. The air is getting colder and it is thinner too, and the balloon MUST RISE to clear the mountains. Put on the coat that fits and will keep you the warmest. Then, start choosing. Start tossing out. It will lighten your load, and you WILL RISE ABOVE THE OBSTACLES. Sometimes the choices we must make are not as simple as downsizing to live happily in our existing space. Did you see the movie SOPHIE'S CHOICE?