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Paper shredders/ rubbermaid bins - 2008/02/05 20:59 Two questions?? Anyone recommend a paper/cardboard shredder that does a decent job. #2 - I am currently using my old bee boxes for bins but they seem to be drying out quickly. Suggestions on size of rubbermaid bins - keep cover on??, what about holes for drainage and aeration. Thanks. Life is good. Better to wear out than to rust out.
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Re:Paper shredders/ rubbermaid bins - 2008/02/05 21:40 I've been extensively abusing a Fellowes W11C for over a year - junk mail, soda (yeah, right) cartons, newspaper (2-3 sheets at a time), and any cardboard that fits in the feed slot. <$50 at Walmart.
I like bigger bins - don't think I'll go smaller than 18g again. Just me; what you're willing to maintain to the herd's benefit is up to you.
Now, I like solid bins, but just starting out I was glad that I'd drilled 1/4" drainage and 1/16" aeration holes. I've always used solid lids, unsnapped, and move 'em over 1/2" from time to time in order to regulate moisture.
Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY
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Re:Paper shredders/ rubbermaid bins - 2008/02/06 06:38 Hey Gary - thanks for replying. You've been really helpful plus the humor is right up my alley. Say What to they call unborn baby rabbits? (Ingrown hares).
Thanks for the info. Have a great daye.
Better to wear out than to rust out.
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Re:Paper shredders/ rubbermaid bins - 2008/02/06 09:44 I also find Gary information very helpful and also enjoy the humor. Would love to hear from more of the experience breeders like red hen and bob to get their oppenion
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Re:Paper shredders/ rubbermaid bins - 2008/02/06 16:22 I'm with Gary about the 18 gal bins. The cost for them in relation to their surface area is the best for your money. You should also check the different brands. Some of the off brands are less deep but are wider and so have more surface area than most of the Rubbermaids. They are also easier to move around than the larger totes and are less prone to problems with changes in temperatures and moisture like the smaller totes. We Are WORM - Resistance Is Futile!
Buddy
Richmond, VA
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Re:Paper shredders/ rubbermaid bins - 2008/02/06 21:43 Suggestions on size of rubbermaid bins - keep cover on??, what about holes for drainage and aeration.
I use the 10 gallon Rubbermaid Roughnecks, (found at Lowes). I have 20 of them in my shop.
If you go bigger,(deeper),and it starts to fill up with VC, it will get very heavy.
Surface area is more important than depth.
Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.
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Re:Paper shredders/ rubbermaid bins - 2008/02/07 11:15 We use 3 gallon buckets, 200 worms/bucket, labor intensive, and planning to build wooden bins soon! Dave Wallace
Squirmin' Worm Farm
Plymouth, WI
www.squirminwormfarm.com
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Re:Paper shredders/ rubbermaid bins - 2009/01/08 15:05 I found there best way to check out info on a paper shredder was at document-shredders.info. They have all the info you would need to make your shredder purchase a good one!
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Re:Paper shredders/ rubbermaid bins - 2009/01/09 19:39 We use the Loblaws Green bins at $4.99 for 1.5 square ft of surface. We haven't drilled any holes in the bottoms and have no lids on top. Never had a problem with escapees or moisture issues. Currently we're putting 1 lb of worms per bin and have about 100 bins in operation. Any smaller would be too labor intensive. Any larger and I wouldn't be able to lift them. This is just a nice size.

For paper shredding we pay a shredding company to process. Several car loads of cardboard plus a trunk full of newspaper costs us $50 to shred. The best part is that it all takes less than 1 hour. This amount of shredding gets us through 6 months for our own farms needs. Now we're adding shredded cardboard as a product line and charging just enough to make our own shredding free.

Another bonus with a shredding company is that you may be able to score free cardboard. The company we use is very happy to offload their cardboard on us since it costs them money to dispose of it.
Avidwormer
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Re:Paper shredders/ rubbermaid bins - 2009/01/13 17:49 Avidwormer,
Do you mind me asking how you get by without drilling any drainage holes?
This is very interesting to me. Not having to deal with the leachate is appealing.
Thanks,
Liz in Texas
(long long time reader first time poster)
Liz aka BigTexWorms
http://bigtexworms.webs.com
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