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Boardwalk :: Forum List Six (6) New Worm Digest Forums 1) General Earthworm Discussion Forum
Paratrooper
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A Mature Breeder Earthworm
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 Humidity - 2008/02/27 18:33 Greetings all . Living in the high desert of Northern AZ has it's upside . Clean air , prospecting galore , hunting just a stones throw away and other numerous advantages . BUT one thing has hit home in a big (to me) way . Our humidity is very low . I can spray my bin so the top papers are damp and replace the plastic sheet and a few hours later they are dry again . How damp should I keep the top ? I have found dry paper all the way down on the ends of my bins . The bottom in the middle seems to hold moisture but the top and sometimes the ends get real dry . Any suggestions ???? Tom
Kingman Arizona
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gnosnhoj
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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 Re:Humidity - 2008/02/27 19:44 Refresh our memories on the type of bin you have, Airborne... Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY
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Paratrooper
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A Mature Breeder Earthworm
Posts: 77
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 Re:Humidity - 2008/02/27 22:07 A couple of Rubbermaid types . About 8 inches deep . One is about 10 inches by 10 inches . The other is 24 inches by 18 inches . Tons of holes for air . I have plastic covering most of the top with 1/2 inch on all sides for ventilation . The plastic cover has numerous holes (toothpick size) to let more air in and out . I don't mind spraying every day , I just don't want to overspray . Tom
Kingman Arizona
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redhen
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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 Re:Humidity - 2008/02/28 11:38 Tons of holes for air . I have plastic covering most of the top with 1/2 inch on all sides for ventilation . The plastic cover has numerous holes (toothpick size) to let more air in and out .
I have many plastic tote type bins. Those bins do not have a problem with drying out. Actually it is just the opposite.
My bins have 1/4" holes drilled in the bottom for drainage. They have 1/2" holes drilled around the top of the sides, (not the top itself), not more than 2" from the top of the sides.Everything you put into the bin for food is about 80% water. As it decomposes it releases that water. Some drains out but some evaporates and condenses on the lid (which I keep on, with no holes in it), and rains back down on your bedding. The only time I put damp paper bedding in, is when I am first installing a system. After that, as new bedding is needed, it is added dry. It will be damp in about 24 hours.
From what you have posted, I am guessing there are too many holes in your bins, allowing them to dry out.

Post edited by: redhen, at: 2008/02/29 12:10 Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.
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RITLV
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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 Re:Humidity - 2008/02/28 12:13 I'd have to agree that you have to many holes.
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Paratrooper
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A Mature Breeder Earthworm
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 Re:Humidity - 2008/02/28 19:09 Reaching for the duct tape as we speak . Will get back to you .Thanks . Tom
Kingman Arizona
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Paratrooper
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A Mature Breeder Earthworm
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 Re:Humidity - 2008/03/19 23:56 I put duct tape over some of the holes and it didn't do much good . The top couple of inches was still crispy dry sooo I got a piece of plastic that covers the entire top of the bin and covers the sides for about 3 inches . It just lays there and leaves room for air in and out . The bedding is staying moist now . Hope I got that problem whipped . Next is the mites . Not that many but if I can get rid of them so much the better . Tom
Kingman Arizona
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geordier
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A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 37
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 Re:Humidity - 2008/03/20 16:25 Napalm, Tom.
Or an aerosol can with a butane lighter.
Instant flamethrower George
Co. Armagh
Northern Ireland
"we're Not Brasil....."
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Kyle
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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 Re:Humidity - 2008/03/20 17:50 I would try a piece of corragated for the cover. Soak it in water and try that.
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redhen
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 Re:Humidity - 2008/03/20 21:14 Not that many but if I can get rid of them so much the better .
Okay..remember mites are the second most common invertebrate found in compost. The worms, (or any other creature), cannot do it all by themselves.
The only time to concern yourself with this creature (or any other bin dweller), in my opinion, is when the environment goes out of balance and favors one creature over another. Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.
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Paratrooper
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A Mature Breeder Earthworm
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 Re:Humidity - 2008/03/20 23:32 redhen wrote:
Not that many but if I can get rid of them so much the better .
Okay..remember mites are the second most common invertebrate found in compost. The worms, (or any other creature), cannot do it all by themselves.
The only time to concern yourself with this creature (or any other bin dweller), in my opinion, is when the environment goes out of balance and favors one creature over another.

So you are saying that a small mite presence might be good for my system ? Tom
Kingman Arizona
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redhen
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 Re:Humidity - 2008/03/21 13:06 So you are saying that a small mite presence might be good for my system ?
Not only good..but necessary. Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.
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Paratrooper
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A Mature Breeder Earthworm
Posts: 77
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 Re:Humidity - 2008/04/21 00:01 Got a dose of humidity reality this morning . Last night I removed the plastic cover from my bin thinking that they were at home enough so they wouldn't wander . Well , they didn't BUT the top inch of bedding (which BTW was good and damp last night) was as dry as it could be . Added some water AND the plastic covering and all was well . BTW the humidity was 8% the last couple of days . Tom
Kingman Arizona
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Boardwalk :: Forum List Six (6) New Worm Digest Forums 1) General Earthworm Discussion Forum

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