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OCSR Vermicomposting Bin Design Plans |
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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 11 September 2005 |
by Dan Holcombe and John J. Longfellow
The OSCR Vermicompost Bin is a small-scale (36” wide x 48” long x 36”
high), non-automated version of Oregon Soil Corporation’s large-scale
(8’ wide x 120’ long), automated vermiculture compost system. It is
advertised as a serious waste management tool with a processing
capacity of 30 pounds of food waste per week. At this capacity it is
larger than most households require, but it’s ease of use and other
features still make it attractive for home use. A single OSCR bin or a
series of OSCR bins are suitable for schools and other commercial
kitchens. The OSCR also functions as a great tool for educating the
public about health, safety and nuisance issues related to composting.
And, the volume of finished product is also great enough to draw
attention to the importance of developing markets for composted organic
wastes.
One of the fun and potentially more affordable things about the OSCR is
that you get to build it yourself. It is being offered via a
do-it-yourself 46-page manual, the purchase of which allows one to
build as many as they wish for a particular site. The cost of the
manual is $50 and it is suggested by its creators that the parts for a
basic insulated bin can be purchased in most communities for about $150
new or $50 used.
Features of the OSCR include a flow-through system, so that it is fed
at the top and the castings are harvested at the bottom, provisions for
collection of compost “tea,” an optional thermostatically controlled
soil heater for outdoor use in winter (not included in the above
suggested parts price), and security against insects and other pests.
Within the OSCR manual, in addition to detailed plans and instructions
for building the unit, there are complete lists of parts required and
testing and support tools. Forms for keeping daily records and
observations, temperature grid audits and an extensive operation plan
questionnaire are provided, and there are also tables for estimating
the required capacity, cost, return on investment and dry weight
carbon:nitrogen ratios. In addition, there is extensive information
about waste stream management and the operation of the OSCR. For
schools with a desire to use the system in their curriculum there are
suggested activities suitable for a variety of classes and ideas for
students to use the finished products on site and for activity clubs to
earn money. As you may suspect, you will be in for a lot of reading,
maybe even studying.
The OSCR manual and bin design were created by the combined efforts of
Dan Holcombe of Oregon Soil Corporation and John Longfellow, a
recycling coordinator for a small eastern Washington state county. They
are currently testing a new design for a smaller (1/2 pound of
waste/day), low cost ($20 for new parts), easy to build, household
version of the flow-thru OSCR system that will be out in the Spring of
1996. {Ed. note: plans for that system, the OSCR Jr. are available in
PDF format at the website.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 October 2005 )
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