Comments on: Worm Farm Composting Bins

By: Mr.Dirty Boots

Mr.Dirty Boots — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:57:05 +0000

Forest Garden Girl,

Sounds like you are loving it. Thanks for the advice and information it was very helpful.

By: ForestGardenGirl

ForestGardenGirl — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:09:04 +0000

I have been vermicomposting since April 2009. My primary source of information is http://www.redwormcomposting.com The proprietor of the blog is the most knowledgeable and honest vermiculturist that I have come across yet; I highly recommend that everyone visit his site for research prior to ordering a vermicomposter and worms. He will show you how to prepare, and even how to make your own vermicomposter if you choose!

That said, I have two main comments:

One. Even if you have acreage for large outdoor composting, you need a vermicompost system. Trust me, you will love it! You will get higher quality compost with worms, you will have compost faster than with an outdoor system, and you can compost easily (indoors) regardless of the season.

Two. The liquid that may (or may not) drip from the bottom of a worm bin (usually into a collector tray) is NOT WORM TEA and SHOULD NOT be used to fertilize plants. That liquid is called leachate- it is the liquid byproduct of decomposing organic matter, and it is anaerobic sludge! It is best to put the leachate back in the top of the bin if moisture is needed, or toss it in the outdoor compost bin if your worm bin is wet. Worm Tea is made from finished worm castings, and must be aerated in tepid water (instead of hot-water seeped, as you would drinking teas). It must be kept aerobic from the time it is crumbly castings to the time you spritz it on your plants. If you oxygenate it properly, the beneficial microbes in the castings will actually reproduce in the tea, both fertilizing and protecting the plants from harmful pests.

I wish you and Mrs. DirtyBoots all the success and happiness that comes with living a self sufficient life- and as a novice canner, I look forward to lots of tips on preserving my harvest.

Sara, aka ForestGardenGirl

By: The Berwick Worm Farm and Waste Systems

The Berwick Worm Farm and Waste Systems — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:55:16 +0000

Unco, Uncle Jim and Wotms Wrangler are a bunch of crooks. No wonder you went into the window cleaning business.

By: Mr.Dirty Boots

Mr.Dirty Boots — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:48:54 +0000

Window Cleaning, thanks for the advice. I am sure it is very helpful to people.

Thans for the Digg as well, much appreciated.

By: Window Cleaning Las Vegas

Window Cleaning Las Vegas — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:10:44 +0000

ps… I “Dugg” your blog

By: Window Cleaning Las Vegas

Window Cleaning Las Vegas — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:08:50 +0000

Worms do NOT eat all of your garbage- that can be a very stinky mistake. Before I got into Window Cleaning, I had a commercial worm farm. It is not as “set it and forget it” like people think- or the industry likes to perpetuate.
A good and very honest resource is UNCO worm farms out of Racine, WI.

By: Mr.Dirty Boots

Mr.Dirty Boots — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:11:23 +0000

MadDeva, thanks for that. A very good point and one people should definitely remember.

By: MadDeva

MadDeva — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:24:50 +0000

Dont forget that the liquid can be used as a fertiliser. I collect mine in empty plastic bottles with screw tops.

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:51:33 +0000

Hi Mr. Dirty Boots:

Thanks for the post.

As a recent composting convert, I’m something of a Worm Evangelist. You may have read the “how-to” urban composting post at my blog.

Since I have NO outdoor space for composting I use an indoor Worm Condo— don’t laugh, it’s bigger than some NYC apartments.

So far so good–but my family eats an enormous amount of produce. I need to add a second bin ASAP to avoid the, well, you know–stinky factor.

Lorraine’s last blog post..Need an antidote to Bacon Explosion? Try Recipe-Ready Tofu.

By: Mr.Dirty Boots

Mr.Dirty Boots — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:36:13 +0000

Hi Berwick Worm Farm, the article was more of an introduction than anything. I think most people know that they shoud not (if possible) add compostable material to landfill. I merely want to show the many alternatives available for people with limited space. Most councils now have composting systems available to use if you cannot compost.