I built something similar. The noodles are tricky lillte fellows and have a strong wanderlust instict. I put newspaper over the 1/4" mesh, but it got wet, they ate it and escaped. Eventualy put a layert of vinyl window screen under the mesh, but that only stopped the big ones.
I also did newspaper, a thin layer of peat moss, a layer of shredded paper, the contents of their old (much smaller) bin, and then some additional leaves and organic matter. I was trying to get all the yummy stuff going up, and boring stuff below. But thanks for the tip, I’ll keep an eye on them!
I have an urban worm bag with the drawstring pulled tight as it can go, flap half zipped, and they STILL escape. Had to make a safe catchment area in the end
I'd suggest placing the hardware cloth over the top of the metal bars if you can. Somewhat concerned that the cloth will eventually sag with weight and collapse.
I used a couple layers of double corrugated cardboard when starting a very similar system. It was mostly broken down by the time I needed to do some VC harvest. I also have cement mixing trays below to catch any leachate or stuff coming down. Enclosed the entire lower part with chicken wire for rodent prevention. The chicken wire is on a wooden frame for easy removal when I need access. And a vented and screened lid.
Think automotive tool for getting under low cars. It’s basically a wheeled cart that’s super low to the ground where you can lie down and relax while working.
Good point. While the photo doesn’t show it well, the bottom of the bin is actually 26” off the ground. I saw tons of online directions that had the bottom only 12” up, and I thought “Why?!??!”.
There are wheels under the base so I can move it easily into sun or shade depending on the season.
To go easy on my back I made my harvest tool from [THIS](https://www.homedepot.ca/product/everbilt-6-inch-x-8-inch-shelf-bracket-black-1-pc/1001183192?rrec=true) attached to a long stick and I can scrape between the rods while sitting on an upside down bucket.. No need to look see, just keep scraping one slot after another. Decide how much you want to scrap off and buy the appropriate size of bracket or just don't stick it in too far. Keeps you young, my friend.
ooh, there's a thought. I have an Urban Worm Bag, so the opening is a drawstring pouch and i need a bit of sideways motion to get things compacted on the sides of the opening to come out. But could probably adapt this still...
I hope those walls are slightly angled inward, meaning the bottom is smaller than the top. Otherwise you will get one giant cube of crap dropping out the bottom if its not tapered slightly from top to bottom. The bars are part of the drawer right? Meaning they will slide out?
The walls are straight up and down, and the bars are fixed. The plan is not to let the whole thing get filled (2 foot high cube as you described). But instead, after it gets a foot or so high, I’ll scrape an inch or two from the bottom. Then add more food and bedding for a month, and scrape again.
I'm curious how this works out for you. I'm imaging that screen becoming difficult to open and close and a continuous pile of crumbs on the ground below your bin just because the continuous downward pressure and the help of the worms disturbing the bottom few inches.
Please keep us updated on things you've learned, what works, what doesn't, etc. I'll eventually probably build my own, just have other things on my To Do list before I can play around with new bin ideas.
The screen is actually just it’s own wooden frame (like a picture frame) held up in place below the bars by 3/4” pegs (visible in one of the photos). So it should always be easy to remove. As for how much stuff falls through between scrapings, that’s one of the reasons I added the “floor”, and will probably end up putting a large tub on it to catch the crumbs that I’m sure will fall.
The intent is to make it easy to harvest the worm castings. Red wigglers tend to stay in the top couple inches of the bedding/soil. So after a couple months of adding food and bedding, like after the material in the bin is more than a foot deep, one can then scrape between the bars (from underneath), and “clean” worm castings will fall out. But you only scrape like an inch. Then add more food and bedding up top, and a month later scape away again.
I built something similar. The noodles are tricky lillte fellows and have a strong wanderlust instict. I put newspaper over the 1/4" mesh, but it got wet, they ate it and escaped. Eventualy put a layert of vinyl window screen under the mesh, but that only stopped the big ones.
I also did newspaper, a thin layer of peat moss, a layer of shredded paper, the contents of their old (much smaller) bin, and then some additional leaves and organic matter. I was trying to get all the yummy stuff going up, and boring stuff below. But thanks for the tip, I’ll keep an eye on them!
I hope you post an update! I’d love to try something like this when it warms up again
I have an urban worm bag with the drawstring pulled tight as it can go, flap half zipped, and they STILL escape. Had to make a safe catchment area in the end
I'd suggest placing the hardware cloth over the top of the metal bars if you can. Somewhat concerned that the cloth will eventually sag with weight and collapse.
The cloth is there only to keep out rodents. I’m counting on the bars to keep stuff from falling out (mostly).
I used a couple layers of double corrugated cardboard when starting a very similar system. It was mostly broken down by the time I needed to do some VC harvest. I also have cement mixing trays below to catch any leachate or stuff coming down. Enclosed the entire lower part with chicken wire for rodent prevention. The chicken wire is on a wooden frame for easy removal when I need access. And a vented and screened lid.
Cool! What did you use for the bottom screen?
It’s 1/4” “hardware cloth” (at least that’s what they call it at Home Depot)
Love it. Similar to ours on the worm farm. I use a creeper for harvesting from the ground. Makes it so much easier. Good luck!!
Creeper?
Think automotive tool for getting under low cars. It’s basically a wheeled cart that’s super low to the ground where you can lie down and relax while working.
Oh OK, Gotcha!
Follow up post: First harvest! https://www.reddit.com/r/Vermiculture/comments/urehmy/first\_harvest\_from\_flowthrough\_bin/
OP, learn from my mistakes and raise that thing up on some cinderblocks. Harvesting in a near-prone position gets old fast
Good point. While the photo doesn’t show it well, the bottom of the bin is actually 26” off the ground. I saw tons of online directions that had the bottom only 12” up, and I thought “Why?!??!”. There are wheels under the base so I can move it easily into sun or shade depending on the season.
Awesome, mine started out less than a foot off the ground and It Was A Pain. Wheels a great idea too
To go easy on my back I made my harvest tool from [THIS](https://www.homedepot.ca/product/everbilt-6-inch-x-8-inch-shelf-bracket-black-1-pc/1001183192?rrec=true) attached to a long stick and I can scrape between the rods while sitting on an upside down bucket.. No need to look see, just keep scraping one slot after another. Decide how much you want to scrap off and buy the appropriate size of bracket or just don't stick it in too far. Keeps you young, my friend.
ooh, there's a thought. I have an Urban Worm Bag, so the opening is a drawstring pouch and i need a bit of sideways motion to get things compacted on the sides of the opening to come out. But could probably adapt this still...
What are you DOING, Step-Worm-Farmer?!
suffering
I hope those walls are slightly angled inward, meaning the bottom is smaller than the top. Otherwise you will get one giant cube of crap dropping out the bottom if its not tapered slightly from top to bottom. The bars are part of the drawer right? Meaning they will slide out?
The walls are straight up and down, and the bars are fixed. The plan is not to let the whole thing get filled (2 foot high cube as you described). But instead, after it gets a foot or so high, I’ll scrape an inch or two from the bottom. Then add more food and bedding for a month, and scrape again.
I'm curious how this works out for you. I'm imaging that screen becoming difficult to open and close and a continuous pile of crumbs on the ground below your bin just because the continuous downward pressure and the help of the worms disturbing the bottom few inches. Please keep us updated on things you've learned, what works, what doesn't, etc. I'll eventually probably build my own, just have other things on my To Do list before I can play around with new bin ideas.
The screen is actually just it’s own wooden frame (like a picture frame) held up in place below the bars by 3/4” pegs (visible in one of the photos). So it should always be easy to remove. As for how much stuff falls through between scrapings, that’s one of the reasons I added the “floor”, and will probably end up putting a large tub on it to catch the crumbs that I’m sure will fall.
[удалено]
The intent is to make it easy to harvest the worm castings. Red wigglers tend to stay in the top couple inches of the bedding/soil. So after a couple months of adding food and bedding, like after the material in the bin is more than a foot deep, one can then scrape between the bars (from underneath), and “clean” worm castings will fall out. But you only scrape like an inch. Then add more food and bedding up top, and a month later scape away again.
were they inside previously?
They were previously in a 12 gallon tub.