Compost has proven to be extremely successful when used as a natural fertilizer on house plants, gardens and flower beds. One composting method, known asvermicomposting, utilizes the natural functions of redworms to produce a compostrich in nutrients - all from your kitchen "waste!" This information sheet is designed to accompany the "Digger Downunder" Guide to Vermicompostingprovided by the City of Lawrence. It will help you decide what size and kind of bin best fits yourhome composting needs...easily. The easiest bin set-up that we recommend is a plastic tub (e.g. Rubbermaid) which are most commonly used for storage. These are strongly recommended because they are lightweight, durable, available in a variety of sizes, and inexpensive. Found at any discount store, these tubs range from $4.00 to $6.00 for a 10-gallon tub, a perfect size for a two person household, providing 2-square feet of surface area and an 8-inch depth. THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND... The container you choose needs to be shallow (8-12" deep) for three reasons:
WANT TO BUILD YOUR OWN?
Each side of the box should be nailed with about four nails. Next, secure the bottom to the sides using five to seven nails per side. There should be twelve ½” holes drilled into the bottom,which will require you to place the bin on boards, legs, or casters for proper ventilation. The materials list provided allows for a lid, which is the same size as the bottom, to be hinged onto the bin. If you would like a slightly more secured lid, we recommend attaching some trim to the edges of the lid so that they overlap the sides. Costs for construction are dependent on current lumber costs. topHOW LONG WILL A WOODEN BOX LAST? This is a common question, and we have found that used continuously, without ever letting the box dry out,unfinished wooden boxes should last two to three years. Longevity can be increased by letting the box dryout for several days between set-ups. WHERE TO BUY REDWORMS:Willingham Worm Farm Rt. 1 Box 241 Butler, GA 31006 (912) 862-5545 Gardener’s Supply Company 128 Intervale Road Burlinton, VT 05401 (802) 863-1700 Flowerfield Enterprise 10332 Shaver Road Kalamazoo, MI 49024 (616) 327-0108 Vermitechnology Unlimited, Inc. P.O. Box 130 Orange Lake, FL 32681 (352)591-1111 The Happy-O Worm Farm 11719 Hesby St. Valley Village, CA 91607 (818)980-5392 The Wright Worm Farm 32205 Meadow Blossom Nuevo, CA 92567 (909)928-1485 Crow Worm Farms 4808 FM 2135 Cleburne, TX 76031 (817)558-4221 Sonoma Valley Worm Farm 1280 Sperring Road Sonoma, CA 95476 (707)996-8561 Lake County Worm Farm P.O. Box 1332 Kelseyville, CA 95451 1-800-399-9464 Rainbow Worm Farm 24700 County Rd. 95 Davis, CA 95616 (530)758-9906 NOTE: One pound of redworms is a good amount with which to start. Worms can eat their own weight in food per day, but in the box you must also account for the bedding. (e.g. 1 lb. would be adequate for 3-5 lbs. of food waste per week, which is the average for a two person household). top |
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