markbrauer
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Comoster first - 2008/03/23 18:59
I make more food waste than my herd can handle. Until my herd gets up to speed and is able to keep up, I was thinking of getting a tumbling composter, or making my own.
How far a long the composting process can I feed stuff to my worms. What I want to do is put all my food waste into the composter. Then when its time to feed the worms, just take a cup full at a time out. Of course I'd make sure its not too hot first.
Is this feesible? Is there a point that the compost would get so far along it would be pointless to feed to the worms? Can you take fully aged compost and feed it to the worms? Thanks!
-:Mark:-
MEInc.us
Hampton, VA
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markbrauer
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Comoster first - 2008/03/23 19:42
BLAST!!! You can't edit the title! That should be composter! I'll get you "p", you'll ..ay for this! No! Got me again!
-:Mark:-
MEInc.us
Hampton, VA
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AK Red Neck
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:Comoster first - 2008/03/23 20:17
I'll let the P slide cause I sure cannt spell. Not even when sober.
Dont know about composting the food then feeding it. seems to me if it was composted it would be ready for use on plants and your herd might not get enough out of it.
When we have extra feed I stick it in an old butter tub label it let it sit for a few days to rippen and if I'm still not ready to feed i'll put it into the freezer.
Finished building my flow through bin and extra food hasnt been a problem since. Hint Hint build bigger, put on some Barry White, and they'll work up an appetite. 
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gnosnhoj
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Comoster first - 2008/03/23 20:47
I'm with AKRN.
IMO, if it is finished thermally com osting, the microherd is retty much done with it and it'd be more useful as bedding v chow.
Still, I expect the worms will continue to munch it as any intro'd chow slimes it, and that'll just make it better.
Any leavings here either get fed before going anaerobic or itched onto the big ile outside.
If you're just looking for a lace to keep it rocessing until your herd is ready for new, I imagine a cu or two scoo ed out of a hot ile wouldn't stay hot for long in a bin.
O tionally, bag & freeze a stash for ossible lean times, feed freshly rotting stuff, then just itch whatever they're not ready for into your hot ile / tumbler.
Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY |
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markbrauer
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Comoster first - 2008/03/23 20:51
Thanks for the input. I'm trying to get bigger!
I'm not really trying to compost first then feed to the worms. But I'm in a townhouse, and not in open Alaska. So I'm kind of limited on how much slop I have laying around. I sold the deep freezer, so freezing chow is a no no. I haven't asked the better half, but I don't think I need to, I know what the answer will be.
What I figured is, I'd put extra food in the composter. Maybe get one of those two drawer deals, tumble dealys. That away if one gets too full, then its just going to be compost, and compost only. I figure once the food has gotten so far, well the worms miss out. Just don't know how far that point is, or if there is a point. Basically just trying to find a santized way of keeping my slop around  .
I did see a tumbler/50ish gallon thing was home made on youtube. It was pretty easy, and I like the idea. I may try that out.
-:Mark:-
MEInc.us
Hampton, VA
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markbrauer
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Comoster first - 2008/03/23 20:57
Thats an idea. Just feed and itch the rest. I didn't think of it like that. I was thinking of grabbing from the ile. Then I'll only need one unit, and not two or a dual door. Man, wish I would have thought about this yesterday, would have given me something to do this weekend. Oh well, there's always next!
-:Mark:-
MEInc.us
Hampton, VA
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squirminwormfarm
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A Mature Breeder Earthworm
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Re:Comoster first - 2008/03/23 21:55
I like the idea. I do agree with Gary that com_ost that is finished, or close to finishing, wouldn't have a lot of nutritional value for your crew.
But if did make/get a tumbler like you describe I think it would work great. You can always add to it, don't need to wait for it to be ready. And when you do need more food for your bins you can o_en it u_ and you should be able to see what has not broken down. That stuff that hasn't broken down you could remove and add to your bins. Then the other stuff can get turned and continue on a finished _roduct.
I think that the worst that ha__ens is you have two different, excellent organic _roducts that you made right there at home.
Dave Wallace
Squirmin' Worm Farm
Plymouth, WI
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Wormy_Cyclers
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A Fertile Cocoon
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Re:Comoster first - 2008/04/05 02:30
I believe you guys are missing the _oint, which is for the food scra_s to _ass thru the worm guts thereby infusing it with the beneficial bacteria, which will benefit the soil as well as remembering that a finished com_ost will take between 7to9 months, I think you will most definetly be able to feed your squirm from a com_ost pile
vive la vida sin fin! Vic
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gnosnhoj
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:Comoster first - 2008/04/05 10:11
Didn't say they wouldn't eat finished com ost, Vic, just that they wouldn't get near as much nutrient value from it as from freshly rotting stuff.
Big strong healthy worms make more castings.
Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY |
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geordier
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:Comoster first - 2008/04/07 14:44
Mark,
I pre compost all my stuff and the herd love it.
Experimented with fresh veg waste in one bed recently and boy, did they grow.
Pre-composting for about a week with household waste and about 2 weeks with farmyard stuff, turning every other day works well for me.
George
Co. Armagh
Northern Ireland
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