Might just buy this: http://www.worm-composting.ca/products-page-2/worm-factory-360/worm-factory-360/ but I have 3 black plastic standard composters and a plastic garbage can with drilled holes...
-
Do you need help identifying a 🌶?
Is your plant suffering from an unknown issue? 🤧
Then ask in Identification and Diagnosis.
MAKING COMPOST BIN (WHATS YOURS)
- Thread starter standbyandfire
- Start date
I was going to buy that setup as well but I have read they don't work as advertised. Worms often won't move up to the next bin and they constantly plug up the spout where liquid is supposed to come out. I think it's a waste of money personally.
77 of 78 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great! The worms are eating my kitchen scraps. December 28, 2009
By OMB
Amazon Verified Purchase
It's been about a month and my worms seem happy and contented in their bedding. I started with one tray, then gradually added 2 more. They are moving up and down the trays, getting into the food scraps at each level. I shred old newspapers, dip them in rainwater, squeeze out to "damp-sponge wetness", then spread it around the tray. A good percentage of the worms like to hang out in the newsprint and eat that.
The kit comes with everything you need except the worms. It's very easy to set up with the included instruction manual. The included hand rake is handy to mix vegetable and fruit scraps in with the moist paper. Kit also includes a coir brick (which you moisten and spread for their initial bedding), scraper, and thermometer. It's been unseasonably cold in Louisiana, so, like a new parent, I covered the kit with a blanket to insulate the worms. The box has since been moved from porch to patio where it catches the morning sun. The worms seem to be fine with the temp. extremes, as long as they don't get too extreme either way.
I ordered 2 lbs. of worms from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm and there seemed to be more than enough for the Worm Factory, so after a couple of weeks I transferred a handful of worms to my original compost bin,a converted plastic garbage can with holes drilled in the sides. Since we create a good qty. of daily kitchen waste, I put the excess into my original compost bin. The worms are doing their job there, too.
As recommended, don't feed them meat scraps, or dairy...spoils and sours the pile. Citrus peel is also a no no, too acid and too slow to break down. I also crush washed egg shells in with the food, which gives their gizzards the grit they need to digest food. The egg shells also add alkaline calcium which helps to balance the ph level.
Unit also generates compost tea, which is the result of moisture leaching through the worm bedding and castings. It is loaded with plant nutrients and beneficial bacteria for your growing plants! Mix it in your watering can and the life cycle continues!
This is a good product! It will provide you an easy way to go green (even if you live in an apartment), reduce your waste going to landfills, and provide nutrients for your garden. To boot, when you decide to go fishing, you're all set.
1 Comment |
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
50 of 50 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Easier than I thought December 29, 2009
By Bagger V
I was nervous about composting with worms, but have been amazed at how little time it takes. I've had the Worm Factory 360 for about 3 months now and haven't had any problem with bad smells. I have it on my very small screened in porch (lanai as we call it in Florida) and no one even notices it. I started with 1 lb of worms but might recommend 2 lbs if you have lots of food waste. I suppose I have an average amount for a two-person household and after three months, there are almost enough worms to keep up with our waste. I generally feed the worms once or twice a week and sometimes turn on the hose nozzle to the Mist setting to add moisture. I would guess that I spend 10 - 15 minutes per week. Of course the initial set-up took a bit longer and harvesting the castings from the bottom tray will also take a little more time.
http://www.amazon.com/Worm-Factory-WF360B-Composter-Black/dp/B002LH47PY
5.0 out of 5 stars Great! The worms are eating my kitchen scraps. December 28, 2009
By OMB
Amazon Verified Purchase
It's been about a month and my worms seem happy and contented in their bedding. I started with one tray, then gradually added 2 more. They are moving up and down the trays, getting into the food scraps at each level. I shred old newspapers, dip them in rainwater, squeeze out to "damp-sponge wetness", then spread it around the tray. A good percentage of the worms like to hang out in the newsprint and eat that.
The kit comes with everything you need except the worms. It's very easy to set up with the included instruction manual. The included hand rake is handy to mix vegetable and fruit scraps in with the moist paper. Kit also includes a coir brick (which you moisten and spread for their initial bedding), scraper, and thermometer. It's been unseasonably cold in Louisiana, so, like a new parent, I covered the kit with a blanket to insulate the worms. The box has since been moved from porch to patio where it catches the morning sun. The worms seem to be fine with the temp. extremes, as long as they don't get too extreme either way.
I ordered 2 lbs. of worms from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm and there seemed to be more than enough for the Worm Factory, so after a couple of weeks I transferred a handful of worms to my original compost bin,a converted plastic garbage can with holes drilled in the sides. Since we create a good qty. of daily kitchen waste, I put the excess into my original compost bin. The worms are doing their job there, too.
As recommended, don't feed them meat scraps, or dairy...spoils and sours the pile. Citrus peel is also a no no, too acid and too slow to break down. I also crush washed egg shells in with the food, which gives their gizzards the grit they need to digest food. The egg shells also add alkaline calcium which helps to balance the ph level.
Unit also generates compost tea, which is the result of moisture leaching through the worm bedding and castings. It is loaded with plant nutrients and beneficial bacteria for your growing plants! Mix it in your watering can and the life cycle continues!
This is a good product! It will provide you an easy way to go green (even if you live in an apartment), reduce your waste going to landfills, and provide nutrients for your garden. To boot, when you decide to go fishing, you're all set.
1 Comment |
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
50 of 50 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Easier than I thought December 29, 2009
By Bagger V
I was nervous about composting with worms, but have been amazed at how little time it takes. I've had the Worm Factory 360 for about 3 months now and haven't had any problem with bad smells. I have it on my very small screened in porch (lanai as we call it in Florida) and no one even notices it. I started with 1 lb of worms but might recommend 2 lbs if you have lots of food waste. I suppose I have an average amount for a two-person household and after three months, there are almost enough worms to keep up with our waste. I generally feed the worms once or twice a week and sometimes turn on the hose nozzle to the Mist setting to add moisture. I would guess that I spend 10 - 15 minutes per week. Of course the initial set-up took a bit longer and harvesting the castings from the bottom tray will also take a little more time.
http://www.amazon.com/Worm-Factory-WF360B-Composter-Black/dp/B002LH47PY
Reviews always make me laugh on Amazon.
For all you know all the positives could be coming from friends, relatives and employees of the company producing the bin.
For all you know all the positives could be coming from friends, relatives and employees of the company producing the bin.
Vermiculture is making compost with worms. Hence if you make worm castings into a tea it will be worm tea, worm compost tea ect...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicompost
http://journeytoforever.org/compost_worm.html
http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/vermicompost107.shtml
Adds for these setups and also many people believe that leachate IS worm tea... its not, and can be dangerous to your plants or health.
Leachate can contain all kinds of nasties or be just fine. Simply do some research on the real science NOT pseudosay...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytotoxin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicompost
http://journeytoforever.org/compost_worm.html
http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/vermicompost107.shtml
Adds for these setups and also many people believe that leachate IS worm tea... its not, and can be dangerous to your plants or health.
Leachate can contain all kinds of nasties or be just fine. Simply do some research on the real science NOT pseudosay...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytotoxin
I understand the differences I was simply pointing out that "compost tea" is made from compost which is differnet from vermicompost made by worms.
I have done much research by the way.
Well excuse me professor. 
For those of you who want to know the differences here is a good link:
http://www.compostguy.com/composting/hot-composting-vs-vermicomposting/
For those of you who want to know the differences here is a good link:
http://www.compostguy.com/composting/hot-composting-vs-vermicomposting/
It's all good Alphaeon. As I told you in a PM although compost and vermicompost are very similar the vermicompost is better and the reason why is that the food the worms eat passes through their gut where it is exposed to bacteria that regular compost does not have. So, yes, they are both "compost" in the strictest sense but they are different.
I only wish it didn't take so long to have the worms make it for me but in order to have it faster that would take several thousand earthworms and a lot of work.
I only wish it didn't take so long to have the worms make it for me but in order to have it faster that would take several thousand earthworms and a lot of work.
Pepper seed + worm castings = pepper jungle
Years ago I solely used miracle grow as a fertilizer for my garden. The first year that I started using worm castings, I extended my garden. The "new" part of the garden grew plants much larger than the part that had been fertilized with miracle grow. It took a couple of years for the ground recover from the miracle grow poisoning. Now, after using only rabbit manure and worm castings as my only fertilizers, my pepper patch looks like a pepper jungle. Sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings that use miracle grow, but that stuff is not touching my garden again.
Years ago I solely used miracle grow as a fertilizer for my garden. The first year that I started using worm castings, I extended my garden. The "new" part of the garden grew plants much larger than the part that had been fertilized with miracle grow. It took a couple of years for the ground recover from the miracle grow poisoning. Now, after using only rabbit manure and worm castings as my only fertilizers, my pepper patch looks like a pepper jungle. Sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings that use miracle grow, but that stuff is not touching my garden again.