December 2010 Blog Posts (32)

The water pump on my bin heater has died. Or at least quit pumping water with enough force to run it around the barrel. The bin temperature has dropped down to below 60F. Thankfully we are having a heat wave its above freezing tonight but the roads are a sheet of ice (freezing rain) so i am hoping that it stays warm enough to keep the bin from freezing until i can make it into town to find a pond pump. Not that i expect to find one in the middle of winter but i will give it a try.



If… Continue

Project #1

I got a couple 5 gal buckets from work the other day (for some reason the caterer decided that was the best method of dispensing iced tea). I knew I would find a use for them and now that I have a source of horse manure I am splitting the herd and will try to get a population explosion going. I'm thinking I will just drill a million holes in the 5 gal bucket, nothing fancy. I plan on filling the bottom half with dead leaves for a safe zone and pre-composting…

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Yes it's cold here in Miami... and my worms are cold to the touch... when I checked on them this morning I thought the one I picked up was dead. He was very cold but he started to move just a little when I was holding him. Does this mean they are to cold and going to die? What should I do

Okay! If you are tired or not thinking clearly,you might want to go take a nap! It does me good sometimes.Sometimes it doesn't work! This is one of those "doesn't work" cases!

I put manure and rotten Pumpkin in my harvest chamber.I get a few worms down there as every one does.But it was in the twenties for days,and still is.Not common here,where i live.But i heard the one about worms have a herding instinct.That is why we call them a herd of worms!

Any how,i have let air in through… Continue

This ain't for just any one.But it is two friends trucks like mine,so you can kind of see where my composting project is going!These are 1956 F100s.Like Redworm One! It is arguuably the best truck ever built.Number one for truck collectors.Mine is not a big window version.I personally like the standard window better.Big windows are rarer!Just picture one of these with the hood flipped forward,with a kid watching composting videos playing while they are watching them from the drivers seat!… Continue

They have build in grates. Holes in the bottom that can be opend or closed. Also on the lid it has holes on top that can be opend. Just a thought.

I have not seen any spectacular results from brewing compost tea in my greenhouse like so many people reported, though I have not been brewing the tea in the ideal conditions either (too cold, not enough air, too much water, etc.)

That's not important though. What I have found is the worms absolutely love my tea brewing leftovers. They swarm the stuff and ignore everything else in their micro-ecosystem. Old banannas, moldy pumpkins, cardboard, carrots, nothing gets those guys…

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Inspired by a You Tube video, I decided to build my own version of the Deep Water Culture system.

I am using a 18 gallon container (Tuff Tote version) and six 3 inch net pots (55 cents each at Worms Way). I am using coconut coir for growing medium and some hard water liquid fertilizer also from Worms…

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Closeup of cauliflower in our garden.

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I have built my Rubbermaid 18 gallon bin. I have used the method of the www.redwormcomposting.com dude.



Bedding I used:

Cardboard

Toilet Paper Rolls

Newspaper Strips

Leaves



Foods I used:

Mango peelings and threw in the seed(curious how they will like them, I love mango)

Cole Slaw in a bag(cabbage, carrots, etc) which is expired

Lettuce

Egg Shells

Coffee grinds with filters



Now I am… Continue

I just wanted to post another test.But first i must say that i am the worst at following directions!I don't read them before i start.If i build something on my own,i don't make a game plan.Not always a wise move.But i also do things outside the box,because it is the only way to advance sometimes.Some of the stuff i do is dangerous.And could kill someone or cause bodily or property injury.Do your homework before you try any new things.It can prove costly otherwise!



But on that note.I… Continue