Show me your worm bins and compost

[raggyb]

I hope you try again, I’m sure you’ll do fine if you try again. Good luck

Thanks Dank. It's all in fun anyways.

 

[raggyb]

dang, hopefully they still in there man and just hiding. I would try and feed a banana peel or avocado skin (had an avocado peel sit on top for a week or so in a position hard for the worms to get in it and it grew some thick white mycelium in it) on top and see what happens. if nothing else, you'll feed the microbes and add to the overall compost you have in there already. I'm always open for discussion on compost or worms, I just don't have much experience with all this.

I haven't really been paying much attention to my bin, just throwing some food on top here and there. yesterday though I dug around a little and noticed it was far too wet down towards the bottom. I gently turned it all over and sprinkled in some wheat germ and a tiny bit of alfalfa to bring the worms back up top. also a few old strawberries. we'll see how it goes. I think I'm going to add some crushed dried leaves and work them in the top little by little to help with the moisture build up. any thoughts on this for a short term solution? I'm going to start a fresh bed sometime soon as this one has been going for a while now.

here's a couple pictures of my finished compost bin that is just storage and my active feeding bin right now.

Your finished compost looks good to me. Adding leaves sounds like a good idea to help with the moisture build up. Everyone mentions problems arise when things get to wet. I'm still wondering if I was so afraid of being too wet that I let it get too dry. I need like a set amount of water to add that I know is going to work. Like say 1 oz per day when it's dry, less when it's humid or something like that.

Anyway, I'll try a little banana peel and avocado up on top like you say and see if any are left to rise to the bait.

 

[raggyb]

The old lady threw away the last banana I was saving for them. She just doesn't get it.

 

[DankTankerous]

The old lady threw away the last banana I was saving for them. She just doesn't get it.

Go to grocery stores and ask for over-ripe fruit that they are going to throw out. Maybe they’ll give it to you for free

 

[raggyb]

Go to grocery stores and ask for over-ripe fruit that they are going to throw out. Maybe they’ll give it to you for free

well I found 2 live ones crawled into the bottom today. Aint much but it's better than nothing.

 

[loco41]

well I found 2 live ones crawled into the bottom today. Aint much but it's better than nothing.

Nice man, I'm sure there's still some population in there. Have you dug around in there at all? Also, where did you get and how many worms did you start with by chance? Sorry if you posted this previously, I may have missed it.

I'd definitely still put some food up top and leave the peel or whatever uncovered for a couple of days. Then check back in and see whats going on. Even if it's not covered in worms, you can still see what the life is like in your compost.

 

[raggyb]

Nice man, I'm sure there's still some population in there. Have you dug around in there at all? Also, where did you get and how many worms did you start with by chance? Sorry if you posted this previously, I may have missed it.

I'd definitely still put some food up top and leave the peel or whatever uncovered for a couple of days. Then check back in and see whats going on. Even if it's not covered in worms, you can still see what the life is like in your compost.

ok I just put the avocodo and 1/4 banana peel in so will see. I started with 1000 red wigglers though when I got them it didn't look like 1000 to me. I forget where from. I dug around like crazy through 1/2 of the bin and didn't find worms. I left a little water in the catch bin as they seemed to like it better that way. Scooped 3 skinny but live ones today back on up.

 

[DankTankerous]

Do y’all give your worms a balanced diet? I find myself mainly giving them avocado, Strawberries, comfrey, malted Barley Seed (ounce a month), Kashi Blend (ounce a month), and Egg Shells (ounce a month). If I can get my hands on leaf mold and or straw I give them that once per harvest. I am just wondering if that’s not a balanced diet and what would it look like? I haven’t seen any worms escaping or anything. I just expect to see a lot more worms and I don’t.

 

[Growitpondifarm]

I feed my worms any salad greens that start to go bad, fruit scraps, coffee grinds and filters. If the bin gets to wet I mix in some dried leaves from the yard. They seem to like it in there with this stuff as I see them reproducing like crazy. I also have night crawlers plus red wrigglers in mine. Dank yours sound like they’re eating good maybe your bin is too wet or too dry?

 

[DankTankerous]

I feed my worms any salad greens that start to go bad, fruit scraps, coffee grinds and filters. If the bin gets to wet I mix in some dried leaves from the yard. They seem to like it in there with this stuff as I see them reproducing like crazy. I also have night crawlers plus red wrigglers in mine. Dank yours sound like they’re eating good maybe your bin is too wet or too dry?

Good point, i’ll Keep that in mind

 

[JavaCo]

Here is my outdoor worm bin. Bottom is made from douglas fur 2x4s stained with a cooking oil and vinegar mix 50/50. Top is some cedar fence pickets. I stain it every spring to keep it from rotting away. 1/4 mesh to keep the rodents out.

 

[raggyb]

Here is my outdoor worm bin. Bottom is made from douglas fur 2x4s stained with a cooking oil and vinegar mix 50/50. Top is some cedar fence pickets. I stain it every spring to keep it from rotting away. 1/4 mesh to keep the rodents out. View attachment 4329428 View attachment 4329429

cool deal on the cooking oil and vinegar stain. thanks for the info.Looks nice.

 

[loco41]

that's a nice looking bin up there sir. what did you line or use for the inside lining?

ok I just put the avocodo and 1/4 banana peel in so will see. I started with 1000 red wigglers though when I got them it didn't look like 1000 to me. I forget where from. I dug around like crazy through 1/2 of the bin and didn't find worms. I left a little water in the catch bin as they seemed to like it better that way. Scooped 3 skinny but live ones today back on up.

any luck with the peels up top? hopefully they came up for you.

 

[JavaCo]

that's a nice looking bin up there sir. what did you line or use for the inside lining?

Thanks , there is 1" foam board insulation covered with shower panel scraps i had left over. Gives it about a R6 insulation value when adding in the 2x4. Gets pretty cold here so that helps them keep warm When it gets to 10F or colder I add 15 watts of heat per a side with germination mats.

 

[FresnoFarmer]

Added the fall leaves to these two piles recently. Will post pics of the finished material from the bottom next time i turn the pile. Probably gonna add some alfalfa meal next time i run to the local feed store. These piles have been contiuously going for about 6 years.



Very rich leaf mold from my huge liquid amber tree.

 

[loco41]

Added the fall leaves to these two piles recently. Will post pics of the finished material from the bottom next time i turn the pile. Probably gonna add some alfalfa meal next time i run to the local feed store. These piles have been contiuously going for about 6 years.
View attachment 4331204
View attachment 4331206

Very rich leaf mold from my huge liquid amber tree.
View attachment 4331207

That looks awesome man, nice work. Are you turning these piles at all? I ask because I have a huge, 10+ years old pile of leaves/grass clippings/rotting logs from the property over the years. I've been building some smaller containers out of old pallets to make it more manageable and to get to the bottom layers of this pile. I'm hoping it looks similar to what you've got going on when I finally get there. I'll take some pictures tomorrow and would welcome any advice or ideas for what I've got going if you don't mind.

 

[FresnoFarmer]

That looks awesome man, nice work. Are you turning these piles at all? I ask because I have a huge, 10+ years old pile of leaves/grass clippings/rotting logs from the property over the years. I've been building some smaller containers out of old pallets to make it more manageable and to get to the bottom layers of this pile. I'm hoping it looks similar to what you've got going on when I finally get there. I'll take some pictures tomorrow and would welcome any advice or ideas for what I've got going if you don't mind.

I havent been turning them for a couple years. We have warm weather here, so whenever i need some fresh compost in the near future i just start paying close attention to the moisture levels and turning it once a week mixing in green material. Alfalfa horse feed and chicken shit work very well to speed up the process. Just make sure to keep the pile moist but not sopping wet. I have found that keeping a thin slab of wet wood near the pile invites the worms. I just lift the wood, open the pile up some and throw in the worms. If you're in a cold climate you might want to cover the pile with a tarp.

In this pic the pile closest to me is just some i scraped up from the outer edge of one pile.

This is from 2014. Water and compost teas only. Maybe a lil top dressing before flower. Only about 4 hours of direct sun a day. Soil was like 30-50% compost 50-70% Kellogg's Patio Plus potting soil.

 

[raggyb]

that's a nice looking bin up there sir. what did you line or use for the inside lining?



any luck with the peels up top? hopefully they came up for you.

Nice clump. No, I tried cantaloupe slice and 1/4 banana peel. They must be gone. RIP worms. They're sleeping with the worms. Or not, in this case.

 

[FresnoFarmer]

Sifted some of what was around the edges of a pile.

Also mixed some blood meal and chicken shit into both of the big piles. That should get them cooking.

 

[FresnoFarmer]

All 4 feet wide and 2-3 feet tall. Alot of is already finished. better get ta siftin'

Putting it to good use already.