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Latest News New Event Calendar Added What a Can of Worms! Earthworms in the Garden How Much Earth Could an Earthworm Move Effects of Cropping and Tree Density Working with Worms Coelomic Fluid Proteins as Basic Components The Search for Innate Immune Receptors Earthworms Help Solve Waste Problem Worm Revolutionaries Keeping Your Soil Healthy Soil Improvement with Organic Materials Is There Signaling During Earthworm Immunity? A Simulation Model of Earthworm Invasions: Secrets of Organic Rose Plant Gardening Nitrogenous Waste Excretion by Earthworms Introduction of Exotic Earthworms Inter-And Intraspecies Relationship Relationships in Earthworms Influence of Earthworm Activity Earthworms from a Sand Dune Ecosystem Most Popular Young Person's Guide to Vermicomposting Earthworm Biology Worm Bin Critter Gallery The Mighty Worm Vermiculture Industry in Circular Economy Worm Therapy: a New Treatment for IBD? Rare Earthworm Discovery The Worm Composting Toilet Earthworms in the Garden India's Bio Fertilizer Firms on High as West Stresses Organic Foods Of Enzymes, Worms and Cancer What a Can of Worms! Worm Study May Help Humans Live 120 Years Ice Worms: They're Real, and They're Hot 'Zombie' Worms Found in North Sea Shallows Worm Digest in Transition Earthworms Help Solve Waste Problem What happened to Real Food? Jonah and his Whale of Earthworms Earthworms Help Beijingers Dispose of Trash Reviews ? Simple Plastic Bins User Rating: / 1 PoorBest  Written by Administrator    Sunday, 11 September 2005 Simple plastic bins are by far the most common type of vermicomposting bin. They were first commercially available in North America in 1990 from Canadian Original Vermicomposter Ltd. (now Original Vermicomposter, Ltd.) and many other companies followed, very quickly, with a great number of bins. Their use is fairly simple. Fill your bin at least three-quarters full of damp bedding, add compost worms, then begin burying your organic waste. The occasional addition of bedding material is also helpful. When a significant portion of the material in the bin has been converted into vermicompost (usually 3-6 months), then it’s time to harvest via one of the three methods described on the next page. As many first-time vermicomposters know, even a simple plastic tub with well-placed aeration holes can work just fine as a worm bin. Additional modifications, however, make it easier to keep your bin from having some of the problems typical of this type of bin. Most commercially-available worm bins incorporate multiple ventilation holes on the sides and top of the bin, a catchment basin or tray for excess liquid or a drain spigot. Possible Challenges to Simple Plastic Bins STINK! These bins have a tendency to develop anaerobic pockets. Aeration holes or vents should be abundant. It’s good to have them placed within an inch or two of the bottom and the very top of the bin, to promote good circulation throughout the composting mass. Hint: if you’re seeing a lot of condensation on the sides and top of the bin, and worms are moving to those areas, that indicates a probable deficit of Oxygen in the composting mass. Better aeration is the answer! Swamp! Plastic traps water and water vapor, which is released in great quantities by decomposing organic matter — and particularly by food waste. The less moisture escapes through vents, the more likely it will be that water will pool in the bottom of the bin. Better aeration, a drain spout or a perforated bottom and catch tray will help to prevent swamp! Advantages to Simple Plastic Bins Experience There’s plenty of information on how to successfully operate this type of bin. It’s a well understood, simple system. Price Certainly, these are the most inexpensive type of vermicomposting bin you can find. Worm-a-Way® Editors’ Review The Worm-a-way® was one of the first small plastic bins to appear on the US market. It arguably has the greatest number of users of any commercial worm bin today. Aeration is accomplished in this bin with two PVC pipes, low in the bin, that span the width of the bin. There are two sizes. The manufacturer states that the smaller Worm-a-Way® model can handle between 2 and 5 pounds of waste per week, and the larger one up to 5 lbs per week. This larger model is fine if you never have to move the bin. After several weeks of receiving garbage, however, it can weigh 65 lbs — much too heavy to carry around. So, if you require a more portable bin, we recommend that you purchase the smaller size. Worm-A-Way® Review by Wendy Nelson I met Mary Appelhof about a year and a half ago, while working on a radio story about worm composting. Mary’s extremely enthusiastic about vermicomposting — so much so that I became intrigued with the idea and bought a bin from her then and there! Along with the bin, you get about a pound of worms (they come in a cardboard box, packed in peat bedding), plus Mary’s book, Worms Eat My Garbage, and a quick setup guide. The guide made it very easy to set up the bin, because I wasn’t ready to read the whole book right away. Then, once everything’s set up, it’s simple to use. The feeding instructions included with the bin are very good, and very easy to understand. There haven’t been any real problems with the bin, and when I’ve had questions, I simply contacted Mary or her worm workers, and they’ve been very knowledgeable and helpful. With the Worm-a-Way® the whole kit is there and that was an important part in my actually getting started. I wouldn’t have done it if I had to go out and get the wood and build a box, find the worms, etc. Although I don’t have any other bin to compare this one to, I can say it’s very easy and the instructions — the quick setup and Mary’s book — are a big plus. It’s a quick and simple way to get started vermicomposting. And the price, about $75, is a pretty good deal, considering you use it over and over again and end up with incredibly rich compost. Specifications: Model # 7002 16" x 19" x 12"H 40cm x 48cm x 30cm Model #7003 20" x 24" x 12"H 51cm x 61cm x 30cm Made of recycled plastic, the kit includes: One copy of Worms Eat My Garbage Two PVC ventilation tubes, louvered end and lid vents. Assembly instructions & setup guide One pound Eisenia fetida A Worm Friendly Habitat Specifications: 22" x 17" x 12.5"H 56cm x 36cm x 32cm 2.1 ft area Made of min 25% recycled plastic Bin comes with: Instructions & setup guide Drainage tray and lid One pound Eisenia fetida worms Editors' Notes: A Worm Friendly Habitat® is an attractive-looking green, 14-gallon vermicomposting bin with a black snap-on lid and tray. It has drainage holes on the bottom and apple-shaped aeration vents on the front and back. Worm Factory® Specifications: 23" x 17.5" x 13"H 58cm x 44cm x 33cm 2.8 ft area 100% recycled plastic Bin comes with: Instruction manual One pound Eisenia fetida worms Paper bedding & Soil (to Canada) Specifications: Model # 401 17" x 13" x 12"H 43cm x 33cm x 30cm 1.5 ft area Model #402 17" x 20" x 12"H 43cm x 51cm x 30cm 2.3 ft area Model #403 16" x 31" x 11"H 28cm x 79cm x 28cm 3.4 ft area Bins come with: Bag of premixed bedding Kitchen scrap bucket & garden fork Instruction booklet The Original VermiComposter Specifications: Small 15.5" x 12" x 12.75"H $45.00 + $10s+h Medium 18.5" x 16" x 12.75"H $54.00 + $10s+h Large 23.5" x 20" x 12.75"H> $65.00 + $12s+h Kit Includes: Vermicomposting bin Lid with vents Separate drainage tray Screen for bottom (to keep worms and bedding in) Feet/bumpers to elevate bins Plastic nuts/bolts for feet/bumpers Four-page instruction booklet Worm Barn Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 October 2005 )   < Prev   Next > [ Back ]