DIY Worm bin - Advice on how to make it better today

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

Ann, thanks for the mention! I will try to get my channel running. I experiment a lot with my systems . That's how I figured out the risers because I do sell castings and sift the compression made the castings more difficult to get a good sift. I use med pill bottles since every month I have more and hate wasting all that plastic. Recycling and whatnot. I'll most likely get some videos up and show some other things I figured out for stacked systems management. I think that it might be helpful to others.

[@PlantObsessed]

Best news I have heard all year. I'm super excited to see your set up. Ps pill bottles are good to save seeds in too. I am always looking to upcycle and save money.

[@Vermicompost]

Yes Michael!! I second that!! We'd love to see your setup and learn from you!!🪱🪱🪱

[@Vermicompost]

Excellent worm induced worm ball!! & avocado worm ball!! Holy worm balls everywhere Batman!!! I love the lemon talk!! One gets moldy and they all jump off the cliff with them!!😂🤣😂Good worms!! Excellent video Ann!!🪱🪱🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

They are good worms. Thank you for watching 😃

[@mariangiefarias2584]

Thanks for the advice. I am giving a second chance to my mini worm bin made from 5 galon buckets. It got ants and 4 small frogs that ate most of the ants and worms. I live in a sub tropical area and is summer, lots of rain and heat. 😢 I made so many mistakes. I have learned a lot from your videos. I am binge watching. Left comments in other videos. 😅thanks!

[@PlantObsessed]

I had an opossum in my basement last month and lost half my ENC. still make tons of mistakes. Keep at it. The cocoons will make a comeback if you can keep the frogs out. I hear sitting the bin in a tray of water reduces ants. 🪱😀👍🏼

[@A-V]

The advice of keeping things simple is a great way to approach the topic of making improvements 👍🏻 Here in Joisey we have a slightly different way of expressing that same saying - we add an extra 's' to the end, calling it the 'kiss' approach :)

[@PlantObsessed]

Yep, I thought that might be off putting so I left the last s off. Lol

[@A-V]

:)

[@sandyjoao4489]

Lovely worm ball. Aunty is happy looking at it...he he....I am sure mommy is too.

[@PlantObsessed]

I couldn't believe it. They all came.out to see me. Food worms. 👍🏼😁🪱

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Good morning, Ann, from Windermere, Florida zone 9b USA 🇺🇸 🪱🪱🌞🪱🪱🇺🇸 I'm still laughing 🤣 "You've made Your Mommy happy!" Holy Worm Crap 💩 those are major Worm balls. Excellent recipe for Worm Chow 🪱 Happy Gardening SOON! 👩‍🌾👍 ❤️Peggy❤️

[@PlantObsessed]

I have started my slow seeds. Brassica and tomatoes are next. 10 weeks to go.

[@royhoco5748]

I grow red wigglers and night crawlers in 18 gallon totes in my garage and use a mix of composted garden soil or shredded leaves and peat moss or coir for bedding. I use a blender to grind up all my food scraps into a thick soup to feed my worms, nothing gets wasted or spoils and everything gets eaten in a reasonable amount of time and the soup adds moisture to the bedding and I don't have gnats. I cover the feeding area with paper egg cartons or a piece of brown cardboard. My worms thrive and reproduce well in this mix. I change the bedding every 3 months and the old bedding is used for garden mulch. During the summer months when I have more garden waste I make the soup and freeze it in baggies for winter food for my worms.

[@PlantObsessed]

That is great. I need a freezer just for the worms.

[@simonsuppertime2589]

I think Plant Obsessed is improvement obsessed and I am ALWAYS here for it!

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you 😊

[@GrantMcIntosh]

Great setup and information 👍🏿

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you. In a few years when it breaks, I'll have to decide if I want to make another or get a professional tower

[@Sketch_Sesh]

New to your channel and really enjoying it. Learning a lot

[@PlantObsessed]

Welcome my worm family 🪱 😁

[@AnimalsBeFree22]

Hi Ann! First time viewing your videos and I already adore you! You're very thorough and I am so appreciative how much you love your worms as well! Thank you so much for the information!

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you for watching and the kind words. 👍🏼🪱😊

[@cathyplantlover2862]

I wish to get the worm balls that you get.....lol 😆 🤣 😂 maybe some day I will get surprised when I go to look inside my bins!

[@PlantObsessed]

Someday the population gets big enough and all hang out together when there is good food. Then wala worm ball.

[@ClearConsciousness-li4rt]

I really appreciate your information. Thank you

[@PlantObsessed]

Glad it was helpful!🪱👍🏼🙂

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

I was going to ask about the risers, but you and Michael explained it well. I subbed to his channel and will patiently wait until he starts posting. Cheers Ann 🌱🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

Yep, he has the best advice.

[@marlenen6130]

I use blocks of wood in my worm tower 360 to keep it well aerated and it makes it easier to separate the trays! The trays in that system are either weaker than they should be or the type of material has broken down with age since they are about 7 years old now. There are times that I have found it very helpful to put a 2”x4” piece of wood under one end of the bin (usually the wet, more finished side) and apply cardboard and weight on top to push the excess moisture out of the material and drain it into dryer bedding at the other end. It helps to also encourage migration cuz the worms will chase that moisture.

[@PlantObsessed]

That is good to know about the towers. You are 100% right. They will always move with the moisture. . Thank you for watching 😃

[@NanasWorms]

I've never seen a cabbage try to re-sprout! Looks like there's been a breeding frenzy going on through the winter in your DIY bin. I call it snakes and ladders when I take the worms that make their way down to the bottom tray or do high wire dangles out the bottom and put them on the top again. I long ago gave up trying to stop them following the moisture and any food juices. ~ Sandra

[@PlantObsessed]

100% the worms are in charge. My basement is warming up a little. I have started seeds with my castings I have been making all winter. I live vicariously through the Aussies until I can get my own warm weather. 😊

[@MaraLin9]

Hi! Big fan of this channel, thanks for all your content. How tall are your risers - trying to figure out what the optimal height for each layer is? Also, would you still recommend drilling 1/4 inch holes for African Nightcrawlers or would you make the holes larger for them?

[@PlantObsessed]

I made the risers 3 inches. I would probably make all the holes a half inch. That way the worms can come and go as they please.

[@MaraLin9]

@@PlantObsessed thank you!

[@RockinWorms]

Hi Ann! Another great video! I’m getting close to trying to make a DIY stacked bin system and I’m taking notes! Seeing what you’ve done - and what you’d do differently- is incredibly helpful ❤ I can’t remember which video it was but you added lemongrass to a bin. How did that go? Did the worms eat it fast or slow? I have a TON of lemongrass every week as I make 8 gallons of lemongrass tea at a time for hubby. I’ve been using it after tea making as mulch. Didn’t think to see if the worms would like it! I’ve also started adding it to my experimental leaf mold bin. Oh and I referenced you in a scientific leaning comment on my channel this morning- hope that was ok. Looking forward to the next video you put out!

[@PlantObsessed]

They are still working on the lemon grass. When cooked it appears to be a slow food. I have overwintering lemongrass in the basement. I should grab a base and see if it goes faster when fresh. I'll have to go look at your channel. Thanks for the shout out. 😁🪱👍🏼

[@RockinWorms]

@@PlantObsessed But they are clearly eating it/it’s breaking down? And it’s not matting or getting yucky like regular grass does? Glad to give you the mention! Please do stop by, I’d love to see you there ❤️

[@IngloriousHomestead]

great video and greta idea on the risers thanks

[@PlantObsessed]

Glad you liked it!

[@chaswood1234]

thank you for you knowledge

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you for watching 😃👍🏼🪱

[@cherylhowker1792]

What I’ve decided to do is have single tubs- with lids and holes in them for air…. As I don’t want to have risers etc I want them to be able to stack on the lids…. If I get to the point I need more air and need lid off I will use a smaller plank of wood in between and take lids off….. or turn them round- haven’t got the boxes yet as ordered them just now- my worms don’t seem happy in the smaller round buckets- think it’s surface area they are lacking so have decided to get some rectangle ones and see how it goes.

[@PlantObsessed]

That is a good idea too. I didn't think about that. 👍🏼😁🪱

[@-ChrisD]

Muddy 👍🏻

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you 👍🏼😊🪱

[@tiffany7023]

Can you telle if citrus, but especially pineapples are harmful to earthworms? I have 3 I'm trying to add to my compost, but I don't know if it will burn them.

[@PlantObsessed]

If you have bins that are over 6 months and have a pound or more I would add them a little at a time. I use all of them but I have large bins. Pineapple will take 5 months to break down. They will not go near it when it is first in there. I keep mine to one place where it can age.

[@christiantorres5708]

I’d love more than anything to have a lid-less bin setup but the neighbors free range chickens would have a fiesta with my poor worms 😢

[@PlantObsessed]

Oh my that would make it a worm buffet 😔🪱👍🏼

[@bensnodgrass9007]

I just started my worm bins about a year ago with 1/2 lb of red worm mix. I now have three bins with thousands of worms, lol. As I start my veggie garden I will use neem oil and mint extract as insecticides because they are listed as organic. Will my garden debis be safe for my worms after composting?

[@PlantObsessed]

Neem and mint will be ok for the worms. People often use Neem to control insects in the bins. I feed mine mint quite often.

[@bensnodgrass9007]

@@PlantObsessed Thank you!

[@KoLuX57]

What are those pieces of PVC tubing for?

[@PlantObsessed]

To keep the bins from crushing each other. Seems to be helping the bedding from getting compressed.

[@koyuikishi1442]

Do you use/consider fabric grow bags?

[@PlantObsessed]

I have. I'm thinking about making an end of the bin grow bag to put my overs.

[@reciclareorganica]

Hey. Greetings from Bucharest, Romania. Question: What is the purpose of that pvc pipe cut in to small pieces placed in the corners? Thanks

[@PlantObsessed]

Hello. They are to keep the upper layers from compressing the casting in the lower layers. The bins do not have a good ledge inside to prevent this.

[@reciclareorganica]

@@PlantObsessed oh yeah. Smart

[@sueliem755]

@@reciclareorganica I have many used Prescription pill bottles and used those for risers. Just lucky to have of the usable height.

[@laneeacannon1450]

Espoma is the only kelp meal that isn't full of arsenic.

[@PlantObsessed]

Where does the arsenic come from?

[@laneeacannon1450]

The sea. Kelp absords it.

[@simonsuppertime2589]

Can someone give a second thumbs up for me? I gave a thumbs up for the first worm ball and then there was a second and I am all out of thumbs up

[@PlantObsessed]

Maybe someday YT will give the ability to give more than one thumbs up?

[@waynepedder2033]

Sorry about the coffee,I'll have a cup for you

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you. Maybe 2? 😃

[@gregbutler9873]

Thy have a bio-clock inside and I am betting that clock tells them Spring is close and as we know most Mother Earth:s creature, this is the best time for reproduction . Those worm balls have been small all Winter long . Maybe you could do a control that monitors reproduction quarterly?

[@PlantObsessed]

The red wigglers seem good to go year round. I have thought that it is warming up that the blue worms take off and go nuts.

[@the_green_anna]

👍💚

[@PlantObsessed]

👍🏼🪱😁

[@pierrelombaard820]

To much citrus,the oil in the skin of citrus,not good Also not pineapple rinds

[@PlantObsessed]

Not true, just urban legends people repeat. That is why I test in my own bins. Little by little testing what is possible myth busting. The ecosystem of the bin takes care of the difficult food.

[@GardeningwithBarchuckin]

This is a great bin for people to try and get started on, less expensive then towers you can buy and fairly easy to make. Wow the worms were having the time of their lives in the middle of that feeding area. 😁🪱🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes, exactly. That was what I thought back in the day.

[@AJsGreenTopics]

The worms made mom happy. 🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

They are good worm babies 😀