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Drainage - block bin on concrete slab - 2006/05/01 06:49I'm just trying to plan drainage for a block bin. Drainage has always been a problem in my plastic bin, I'm constantly losing castings in with the liquid and my worms always get stuck in the collector tray... adding a fair bit of time to maintenance, and I suspect decreasing their productivity.
For a block bin I'm thinking of having a plastic sheeting as a base followed by a few layers of polyester material. The blocks would then hold this in place and the bedding can be added above. The idea would be that the polyester would act like a wick. When the bottom gets wet it would soak into the polyester and and flow under the bricks and evaporate once exposed to air on the other side.
Would this be effective enough as a drainage method? Would the water even be able to soak into polyester enough to make it under the brick? Could it possibly dry the system too much? Any other suggestions on drainage?
The bin size will be around 4sq. metres.
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WormMainea
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 149
Re:Drainage - block bin on concrete slab - 2006/05/01 09:37It sounds to me like this is going to be an outdoor bin... yes?
For outdoor bins, why bother with anything over the ground? Why not welcome other worm species? My outdoor bins (which are used for worm tea and garden use only-- see related thread on worm types) sit directly on the ground and drainage is not a problem. Yes, this bin is a mix of all different worms and critters, but it is outside and makes great compost really fast, so who cares? Are you placing them in a low lying area? Or Are you in a rainy part fo the country and perhaps need a cover to limit water inflow?
For indoor bins, you need to add dry bedding to absorb mositure and keep things on an even keel.WormMainea.com
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CarolV
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 44
Re:Drainage - block bin on concrete slab - 2006/05/01 11:09Polyester is a synthetic fiber and most of those do not absorb moisture like cotton or other natural fibers unless it is one of the newer ones made to "wick" moisture away from a persons skin (used for sports wear". To see if your fabric will even wick moisture, check a piece of it before you put together a bin with it.
But I agree with the previous poster, why not let it soak into the ground?
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Adam
User A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 6
Re:Drainage - block bin on concrete slab - 2006/05/01 23:04Hi thanks for replying. The block bin will sit under our house which is the only available spot (it's a timber house on stilts off the ground). There's not much dirt under there, it becomes solid shale rock pretty quick. So my main concern is a lack of soil drainage possibly leading to excess water damaging the house foundations.
Other not-so-major reasons - if the worms escaped their chances are pretty much nil unless they could make it back to the bin. The soil is dry and lifeless. There is no chance of native worms populating the bin, I doubt any could make the distance from the side of the house. Also I like the idea of a closed system where you could ensure castings are not lost with leechate (sp?).
So, if i had a wick type polyester material and used enough layers would it work? And would it last?
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CarolV
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 44
Re:Drainage - block bin on concrete slab - 2006/05/02 08:24I guess the short answer would be: you will just have to try it. Polyester does not break down as fast as cotton, but in a constant wet situation it won't last forever. And with the weight of the bedding on top, again you will just have to try it. Maybe with a small trial bin.
Perhaps a closed bin, no drainage, with closely monitored moisture would be best. Limit moisture in food as much as possible and use dry bedding to absorb any extra.
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redhen
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 684
Re:Drainage - block bin on concrete slab - 2006/05/02 08:45The block bin will sit under our house which is the only available spot (it's a timber house on stilts off the ground). There's not much dirt under there, it becomes solid shale rock pretty quick. So my main concern is a lack of soil drainage possibly leading to excess water damaging the house foundations. Adam..Does this bin sit on a concrete slab or just on top of the ground beneath your house? If it is just on the ground there should be no issues with drainage. Do you see standing water when it rains? If there is bedding and food and the right temperature your worms in that bin are not going to leave. For the ones that do find there way out the bottom, while exploring, they only need a path to get back up into the bin. (they are lousy jumpers.Susan Quinby-Honer redhen@nc.rr.com Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.
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Adam
User A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 6
Re:Drainage - block bin on concrete slab - 2006/05/02 09:44It's not built yet, but the plan is to have it on just the ground under the house. There is never water under there when it rains because of existing house drainage, so I have no idea how the ground will handle drainage.
My concern is that it's mostly bedrock (shale) and I don't know if that much moisture will be able to drain off. Do you think it will be ok? The house is supported on stilts (Aussies would know it as a "queenslander" style home). What is the risk, if any, of the foundations of these stilts being affected by water?
If it drains properly will I lose much castings when it drains off?
Thanks, Adam.
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WormMainea
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 149
Re:Drainage - block bin on concrete slab - 2006/05/02 09:53Unless you water your bin frequently (which is a bad idea IMHO), I don't think you're going to have enough drainage from your bin to impact your foundation.
If you do find that you have some water (which I think is unlikely) or have concerns, you could grow some shade loving, shallowly rooted plants around your bin. They'll use the water & worm casts and be quite happy.WormMainea.com
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redhen
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 684
Re:Drainage - block bin on concrete slab - 2006/05/02 16:21I agree with wormmainea. The amount of drainage is minute and does not come in a big wave, so there should be no problems. I like the planting idea also.Susan Quinby-Honer redhen@nc.rr.com Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.
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Adam
User A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 6
Re:Drainage - block bin on concrete slab - 2006/05/02 23:16Thanks to both of you for replying.
Glad to know the foundation is fine. One other concern though is do you think it will drain properly? It's sitting on rock so there's not much soil for the water to drain into. Will it be able to drain enough to keep the bin moisture level ok?
Sorry to be so pedantic but it's at my mums house and when established she'll be taking over. But it's taken alot of convincing so far, and I want to design it as foolproof and easy to maintain as possible. I want her to spend a few mins per day adding the food and not having to worry about drainage or temp problems or anything else.
So I'll probably go ahead as you suggest draining into the ground (assuming you think the rock can handle the drainage)... do you have any other suggestions to make it as maintenance free as possible?
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Bev Warden
User A Hatchling Earthworm
Posts: 24
Re:Drainage - block bin on concrete slab - 2006/05/03 02:30Hi Adam,
I have thousands of worms and don't even get a cup full of liquid a day. The heat alone will probably evaporate the drainage, unless you have more worms than I.
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WormMainea
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 149
Re:Drainage - block bin on concrete slab - 2006/05/03 09:38I agree with Bev, and the cement blocks will probably help move/evaporate moisture, too. As long as it's for your mom, why not put some nice plants around the bin to make it look nice?WormMainea.com
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