Worm Compost Bins

SabinaBean

https://wiki.lowtechlab.org/wiki/Worm_Compost_Bins

Dernière modification le 22/10/2019

Difficulté

Easy Facile

Durée

1-2 hour(s) heure(s)

Coût

50 EUR (€)

Description

Closed worm compost in barrel

Sommaire

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Introduction

Earthworms are one of the hardest working creatures on earth, they are constantly producing new, fertile soil and we can use them as composters to help us create nutrient rich compost from our organic waste..and fast!

They can be grown in many different types of containers, here we describe the 'worm bin' method which we use for small-scale household waste situations. It is a compost bin to which we add worms in order to speed up the composting process, avoid smells, gain nutrient rich compost, worm 'juice' fertiliser and help propagate more worms into the environment!

Matériaux

Large plastic or iron container with lid, 100 – 200 l

Stainless ball or butterfly valvetap (1/2” inch or 3/4” inch) with hydraulic fittings

Teflon

Rocks, peppels, gravel, or expanded clay balls

Sand. Not salty sand from sea!

Good loamy soil to 30/40 cm height

Cow or horses manure, several big handfuls, broken up

Kitchen wastes, a bit. To be added to the system after 10 days

Worms (100/ 200, depending on the dimension of the barrel). Better the red worm, they are more active and efficient, even if not local!

Dry leaves or straw

2/3 ventilation filter in plastic of 10/12 cm diameter [ Mosquito net can be used instead of the ventilation filters.]

silicon

Bricks or other material

2 old big T-shit

Non-woven blanket

Outils

Drill with drill bit

2 scissors

Étape 1 - Insert tap at the bottom of the barrel.

Drill with drill bit to make the hole for the valve tap and fit the stainless ball or butterfly valvetap (1/2” inch or 3/4” inch) with hydraulic fittings.

The tap should be approximately 5-10cm from the bottom of the barrel.

Étape 2 - Add ventilation.

Aeration is important as the system is aerobic, but it must also be covered from rain and have screens against insects and rodents.

Use a large drill bit (hole saw) for making large hole for the ventilation filters. Insert the ventilation filters and fit using silicon.

The number of ventilation filters depend on the dimension of the container and temperature outside.

If it is not possible to find ventilation filters:

Option b) Insect netting to cover and to protect the holes for air circulation in the wall’s bin. E.g. A mosquito net can be used instead of the ventilation filters.

Option c) Close the barrel with a large textile material (like an old T-shirt) or a mosquito net. In this case it’ll be necessary to tight the textile or net, with a string to the top of the barrel. Then use 2 sticks to keep ventilated and finally put the lid and above it, put a brick/stone, to keep the lid steady (can be a problem in the case of strong winds). This last case is not the perfect one, but it’ll do and it’s easier and cheaper.

Étape 3 - Create the rock/sand layered filter

The filter is made of inert material such as: rocks, pebbles, broken tiles, etc., gravel and sand.

Start to fill the container from the bottom with the material of large dimensions first, consequently adding material of smaller dimensions and finishing with sand on the top.

It’s also possible to use only lighter inert material such as expanded clay balls instead of the bricks/stones/gravels, etc., and then finish with a layer of sand. [If used expanded clay, the barrel will be lighter to move.]

The quantities of the materials for the filter it depend on the dimension of the barrel, in general:

Total thickness: 25/35 cm.  1^stlayer of stones/broken bricks/gravel/expanded clay balls/ = 15/20 cm; 2^ndlayer of sand = 10/15 cm.

It’s always recommended to place a non-woven blanket (for some fabric such as a T-shirt) between the gravel and the sand. To stop the sand from being washed away.

Étape 4 - Wash out the filter.

Wash out any dirt/sand that might come loose by pouring water into the barrel. Keep the tap open and let water follow through the sand/gravel layers to settle the filter unit before adding soil.

Étape 5 - Add layers and worms

On top of the sand filter add 30-40cm of good, moist, loamy soil with as many worms as possible ( at least 100).

The add clumps of cattle dung (cow/sheep dung will also do)

Finally add hay.

Étape 6 - Wait 10 days - then you can start adding kitchen waste!

After 10 days wait you can start adding your kitchen waste under the hay layer.

Best is uncooked food.

Avoid: citrus, onions, meat or oily cooked foods.

Dung and hay can be replaced periodically.

Your compost material should be humid, not wet or dry.

Étape 7 - Harvesting your finished worm compost

1.Empty the bin on a tarpaulin sheet, forming a cone of finished compost.

2.leave the cone for several daylight hours.

3.Worms 'migrate' away from light to the bottom of the cone.

4. Scrape all of the worm-free compost on outside of heap (can be used in garden etc) and reform the cone.

5. Repeat the process until all but the lower 5cm of worm compost are left. the remaining compost can be used to start a new compost system.

Étape 8 - Harvesting your Vermiwash

Vermiwash is a potent plant fertiliser and can be collected whenever from the tap. To use for plants it should be diluted with water 6-10: 1

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