Garbage Monsters

I know some of you think this is yucky.....but I love it! My worms are doing really well. In fact, I think they thrive on precisely timed neglect, the way honey bee hives do. :) Back in February , I started a worm bin.

failed attempt:
http://gillfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/2010/02/worm-bin-attempt-take-2.html

Successful attempt:
http://gillfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/2010/02/worm-farm-take-3.html
Since then, I have only harvested the castings twice. That first time was a huge pain in the a$$.

This second time around, I tried a different method and it work squirmingly.


Basic setup description:

My worm bin has two levels: top and bottom. The bottom level has an overturned coffee can in it to prevent the weight of the top bin and its contents from squashing my little buddies into a worm-cake. The bottom bin is the 'old bin' and is no longer receiving any scraps. The top bin is the 'new bin'.

Easy 'mess free' harvest:


After about 2 months the bottom old bin has been totally digested by the worms. The poor guys are hungry and ready for fresh bedding and food. They are basically writhing around in their own castings. To harvest the castings without harvesting the worms push everything to one side of the container. Turn the container sideways to keep the castings/worms in place and add fresh bedding to the rest of the container. Then, right the container. Add 'ripe' scraps to the center of the fresh bedding. Set this container aside. Your bin should now look like this:

Next, turn your attention to the top bin. You have been adding scraps to this bin for a month or more, and it needs a rest. If you haven't added any scraps in several weeks, now is the time. This will be the worms' last meal. Don't worry, it will feed them for a month or two. :) Try to split the contents of the container straight down the middle. This part is a little tricky and you'll definitely get your hands dirty (unless you are wearing gloves). Take the coffee can that was in the other container and place it toward the center of the bin. Try not to apply too much pressure to the bedding; you don't want to squash your worms. If the coffee can is a bit off to the side that is OK. This container should now look like this:




Now for the switch a roo. The top becomes the bottom and the bottom becomes the top.

Wait one week before opening the new top bin. This bin has the finished vermicompost on one side and the fresh bedding on the other. You should be able to remove the top 1-2 inches of the vermicompost. It will be relatively worm free. Almost all of the worms will have moved to the fresh bedding and food.


It may seem like a ton of steps, but it is way easier than dumping the whole lot on a garbage bag and trying to sift out the living worms and egg cases from the compost. :\ That sucked, and I lost a lot of worms, and only got half finished compost out of the deal.



BTW, I keep this next to my kitchen garbage in the pantry. Surprisingly, I swear, it does not stink at all. The trick is keeping dairy and meat out of the bin and thoroughly burying the scraps with an inch of bedding. If you notice an odor, you have done something wrong. Address the problem and set your bin outside until the smell subsides. This has only happened once to me in 7 months. After a night out side, the bin no longer had any smell to it. Now, if you unbury your scraps and shove your head in the bin, YES; you are likely to get a wiff of funk in your nostrils. Then again if you are putting your face into rotting garbage, you're kinda dumb anyway.