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I've read a lot of books, manuscripts, and business profiles about vermicomposting and all mention grinding the food stuff. None of my resources have addressed what type of grinders are being used.
I want to use soiled hay, cow manure, yard waste, paper, cardboard, and kitchen waste in a flow through reactor system (probably 10-15 lbs per day). Do I need a lawn/garden type chipper/shredder or some other type of grinder? If I need something more specialized that a chipper/shredder, what are some retail sources?
Thanks, Jason
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Maureen
Visitor A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 50
Re:Grinders-What Kind? - 2006/01/03 19:37HI Jason, Did you look below under Roto Choppers? I wonder if that information would be helpful to you. Write back! Maureen And up from the ground came a bigger bunch of plants, cuz worms were under there, Eisenia Fetidas, Redworms, Brewing Tea, chemical free, BLACK GOLD
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Jason
User A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 7
Re:Grinders-What Kind? - 2006/01/04 20:37Thanks Maureen, I previously looked at the Rotochopper site. Those are enormous machines. I'm just wondering if run-of-the-mill garden chipper/shredders are sufficient for grinding up soiled hay, dried manure, yard waste, etc. or if it's even necessary to grind these food stuffs.
Jason
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Maureen
Visitor A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 50
Re:Grinders-What Kind? - 2006/01/05 22:57HI Jason, I'll put the word out to try and get you answered. MaureenAnd up from the ground came a bigger bunch of plants, cuz worms were under there, Eisenia Fetidas, Redworms, Brewing Tea, chemical free, BLACK GOLD
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Bob Ingram
Visitor A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 156
Re:Grinders-What Kind? - 2006/01/06 07:41Hi, Jason. I grind veggies with an old snow cone ice shaver that I ran across. Paper, cardboard,leaves and hay go through a grinder/pulverizer that I was also lucky enough to run across...however, it's not absolutely necessary to grind any of it. They'll eat it as it begins to decompose; the advantage to grinding is faster decomposition, which gets the worms into it quicker. Unless this is a commercial project for you, I wouldn't invest tons into it. Seeya, Bobwww.trinity-ranch.com
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Jason
User A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 7
Re:Grinders-What Kind? - 2006/01/09 20:13Thanks for the tip Bob. I'll try it without grinding unless I run across a cheap chipper/shredder. I'm not planning on a commercial venture (at least not yet), just a small farm trial thing for now.
Jason
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Bob Ingram
Visitor A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 156
Re:Grinders-What Kind? - 2006/01/10 06:35Good luck, my friend, you'll do fine. Seeyawww.trinity-ranch.com
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Kyle
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 121
Re:Grinders-What Kind? - 2006/01/20 22:18I have taken newspaper that was wet for several days. Put it in a 5 gallon bucket. Then take a paint stirer. The kind you attatch to a drill. Looks like a squierell cage.
This does a nice job pulverizing the pieces.
You can also use it for other materials.
Kyle
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Paul Harrey
User A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 9
Re:Grinders-What Kind? - 2006/01/21 00:59Hi Jason, I have recently bought a cheap electric garden mulcher. It is well upto the job of grinding scraps and also shreds wet paper quite well.
Best wishes
Paul
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Jason
User A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 7
Re:Grinders-What Kind? - 2006/01/29 10:11Thanks Kyle and Paul; good tips. I happen to have paint stirring attachment and will give it a whirl (pun intended). I also plan to rent a 2 hp electric mulcher for a day to see how it works with hay and manure.
Jason
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