Most Efficient WORM Bin- 55 Gallon Worm Bin

[@NanasWorms]

Ann, I believe the phenomenon that causes stickers and other large elements in a worm bin to end up on the top is called granular size separation. Although the worms are not shaking the material, they are moving through it, which will cause smaller particles (castings) to move downward and larger chunks to rise to the top. There's nothing better than worms and science together! ~ Sandra

[@PlantObsessed]

Sweet. I hoped you would know. Worms rule👍🏼🪱😃

[@ausfoodgarden]

Wow! That thing really produces. I'm stuck with a multi-level bin and a couple of totes. My plans for a bathtub worm bin have been quashed by the boss. But I can't complain too much as she's ok with my 5 plastic compost bins. I shred the leaves to help them break down as others have suggested. Most of my leaves go in the regular compost though. To avoid paper clumping up, maybe mix say 25% paper with 75% cardboard. Works for me. Thanks for the video.

[@MarkSmith-qk2rl]

Definitely leaves take longer and oak leaves take even longer. I mow over and over to chop them up as much as possible then use the bagger on my mower to Pick them up then soak them in water a hour or so before I add them and they LOVE THEM !!

[@PlantObsessed]

I am definitely doing that next time. 🪱👍🏼🙂

[@brianseybert192]

That is one monster of a worm bin. Several years ago I switched to all natural bedding, leaves and partially finished compost or leaf mold. Dry leaves can take a while, so if I am using leaves I soak them in a worm casting or compost extract, and just keep them on hand for when I need them. Dry leaves are excellent for sucking up extra moisture in a bed that gets too wet. Different leaves break down at different rates, the higher the lignin content the longer it takes for fungi to break it down, oaks take the longest silver maple goes pretty quick. Stay Well!!!

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you. Looking at the leaves it seems to be mostly maple and poplar. Now that they are mixed in better they should go faster. 👍🏼😁🪱

[@roserainy7586]

Yes, my worms also tend to push nonpreferred items to the top. Recently move worms from a stacked 5 gal bucket situation to a large tub, larger surface area. Got the idea from watching your videos of Blue, and its worked out tremendously. ❤❤❤

[@PlantObsessed]

That is great! You're totally right. It is all about the surface area. I'm so glad that the videos have been helpful. 🪱👍🏼 🙂

[@A-V]

Mite TV! Haha!! Blue check-ins are always fun to watch. Go Blue, GO!

[@PlantObsessed]

Yeah that was creepy. I'm lucky I don't have a sink in the basement. The urge to wash the potato was serious.😃🪱👍🏼

[@morgan79347]

I grind up my leaves so they break down faster. They are for my two 55 gallon home made tumblers. I plan on using some in my new worm bin as well.

[@eulerizeit]

I was going to comment the same. Shedding leaves make them go much faster.

[@NanasWorms]

I agree - we shred cardboard, so to be a fair comparison we should do side-by-side with shredded leaves! I use whole leaves, shredded leaves and pulverized leaves. Worms love them all! ~ Sandra

[@PlantObsessed]

I'm afraid the shredder was in the back of the garage. I was hoping one little bucket wouldn't need it. 😕🪱👍🏼

[@PlantObsessed]

I will know better next time 👍🏼🪱😃

[@PlantObsessed]

That is cool. Are they on stands?😃🪱👍🏼

[@upcycleableme7215]

Holy crap! That’s a pile-o-food. “Blue” is awesome.

[@PlantObsessed]

I'm lucky to have such a large bin that can eat that much. 😃🪱👍🏼

[@jeffcaudill8641]

@@PlantObsessed, Do you leave light on above or close to your worm bins? Thanks

[@Vermicompost]

Super cool time lapse Ann!! That is incredible that your VermiBag is a similar volume to Blue!! Blue is such a fantastic bin!! Excellent video!!🪱🪱🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you. They were pretty creepy lol. Good worms!!👍🏼😃🪱

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Hi Ann, I feel better drinking tap water or from the fridge versus bottled water. And I just read about nanoplastics in all of the bottled water. I understand your concern. I've been adding Drake Elm leaves to my outside worm bins (Jack & Jill, Dick & Jane and Little Wally). My inside Can-O-Worms only gets cardboard. Yikes..that's a feeding👍👌👍

[@PlantObsessed]

It takes a bunch of food to keep that many worms fed for 3 weeks. I need to check on your experiments 🪱😃👍🏼

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

Ive got the blues but is a good thing!

[@rickjay4639]

I use lots of leafs but I compost them for about 3 or 4 months first.

[@katiem9644]

Really enjoy your videos.

[@PlantObsessed]

Glad you like them!👍🏼🪱😃

[@lindap9079]

I think leaves are much slower at being broken down than paper. I have one bin that I use only leaves as bedding, I thought that since that is their natural habitat it would break down quickly but I was wrong. The worms don't seem to grow as big either.

[@PlantObsessed]

Interesting about the size. I agree that the leaves are going to take longer. That is ok. It takes about 6 months to progress from one end of the bin to the other. 🪱😁👍🏼

[@kinsjsmggoiktaylor5659]

Leaves Definitely Take Longer To Get Eaten Before Cardboard And Paper Flower 🌹 Juno,Great Programme 👏👏👏♥️♥️♥️

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you 😃🪱👍🏼

[@rdraffkorn3184]

yes it seems they push small bits of plastic to the surface. but not small rocks. i find less plastic bits lower down in the profile while sifting. ... Leaves decompose pretty fast if they are shredded first. Do you still pre-condition your paper bedding for a few weeks before using it? Maybe try that process with leaves to help them get started and break down faster once they're in there.

[@PlantObsessed]

Good call, I do age my paper bedding but I didn't with the leaves. I'll do that next time.👍🏼😁🪱

[@IngloriousHomestead]

ive used shreded dry leafs and they go through it pretty fast.

[@PlantObsessed]

I should have broken out the shredder. Live and learn. 👍🏼😁🪱

[@merchanttube2036]

What did you use to hold the two halves of the barrel together? Just screws? I need something long and shallow to keep worms in but nothing online is the right shape or size.

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes, just screws. The first video in the playlist shows how it was made.👍🏼🪱😃

[@thurstonmr]

I used a deck box I bought at a yard sale. It’s 2ft wide 4ft long and 18” high. Its been very productive horizontal migration set up. Used plywood underneath the box and 4 caster wheels to make it easy to move around my garage.

[@jeffcaudill8641]

@PlantObsessed, Do you leave a light on to keep your worms in bins? And do you worry about your worm bin temperatures ? I would like to know your bin temperature compared to your basement temperature. Thanks love watching your videos! Happy worming!

[@PlantObsessed]

@@jeffcaudill8641 I leave the light on for a few hours after I work in the bin. The worms that are in the basement are good at the room temp. They do slow down in the cold. My African Night Crawlers are up with the people because they need warmer temps.👍🏼😁🪱

[@jeffcaudill8641]

@@PlantObsessed, Thanks!

[@woof3482]

How do you harvest your casting without losing your worms?

[@PlantObsessed]

The worms leave the end of the bin without food. It also gets drier so they don't want to visit. 👍🏼🪱😊

[@dnawormcastings]

Great video as always 🇳🇿❤️

[@PlantObsessed]

Thank you🪱😁👍🏼

[@thomasbazin1529]

Hey 🙌 So far I've got 1 ghost pepper (bhut jolokia) and 1 Sabah white (lada putih, from North Borneo) which survived overwintering and 1 month of holidays 😅 They were almost dead as I got back 1 1/2 month ago, but growing back nicely considering the neglect they went through. 👍 Trying to bloom already but probably not a good time lol. I'm gonna start a few more varieties, some tomatoes... whatever I can fit on my 3x5' balcony (South facing thank God) 😂 My Haworthias and cacti are already taking a bit of space lol Cheers, have a great week & take care 😜

[@PlantObsessed]

Chillis are tough plants. All my over winter ones have worms in them. My one Hatch has lasted 8 winters now. Good luck in the garden 👍🏼🪱🌶️🍅😃

[@thomasbazin1529]

@PlantObsessed yeah these two chilies still got worms although the soil's been completely dry for that long, which is absolutely awe-inspiring. True Miracles of Nature. 🙏

[@windhamflowers]

Hey there! I’ve picked up some lovely, aged horse manure herbicide free from a friend but it’s teaming with earthworms! Is there a problem with putting native earthworms in with my other worms in my indoor Irma composting set up?

[@PlantObsessed]

The ones you find in horse manure are likely red wigglers. I would absolutely put them in my bins. My blue bin has 3 or 4 types of worms. They get along fine.😄👍🏼🪱

[@eelast]

how long it takes for you to harvest one medium bucket?

[@PlantObsessed]

After the whole system is running for about 6 months I can expect to get a few gallons of castings a month.😃👍🏼🪱

[@marshajamison7463]

Is plastic in the rainwater also?

[@PlantObsessed]

I didn't personally do the research. If you watch the gardening in Canada video I bet she can answer the question. 👍🏼🙂🪱

[@sqeekable]

What do you do with your casting?

[@PlantObsessed]

I add them to my bonsai edible and ornamental gardens. 🙂👍🏼🪱

[@nancyfargo4209]

hi there 1- i haven't watched the entire blue playlist but enough over the years so that i'm convinced i want to do this method. i have 15,000+ anc over 5 large totes (4' by 15" by 20" deep. 57 GAL EACH) and ONE uwb. worms seem to work from the top down. i need help transitioning them to one or two bins. can i use the wedge method by slowly transferring worms into one or two totes? i don't have the ability to create a rain barrel so i have to use these totes which are deeper and smaller from side to side, so less surface area. are there videos that would address this? 2-unrelated question, are you familiar with adding spent mushroom blocks (free) to create mycelium/glomalin which i've read creates more fungi to outcompete anaerobic bacteria, thereby making castings more aerobic, thus more balanced npk, better castings (more fruit, less green leaves)? you seem to have a science background, i don't, and it's hard to wrap my brain around stuff like this! thanks so much, love your channels nancy

[@PlantObsessed]

I don't have a video on doing a wedge in a tote, but I'm sure it will work just like you explained. I do occasionally buy the mushroom kits and the spent blocks go into the bin. I get a huge bloom of mycillium then it seems to die off. Maybe it is still in there only dormant . I'm not sure. I add the bagged mycorrhizal dust when planting. Keep asking questions. It's how I learned.👍🏼😃🪱

[@jennycooper7776]

Can I put my gerbils bedding in my bin it's paper and hay and cardboard boxes thay have demolished

[@PlantObsessed]

It seems like this would be similar to rabbit bedding and poo. They say that is the best. I have not tried it but I bet it will work. 🪱😃👍🏼

[@marilynrobertson6265]

Newbie ❤

[@PlantObsessed]

Keep watch we will get you through this stressful time of being a worm mom. 👍🏼🪱😃

[@TheOriginalStriker]

How you make that they dont escape?

[@PlantObsessed]

The top is open and the sides of the bin are dry. They don't escape when they are calm. After I work on the bin I leave the light on for a few hours. 👍🏼🪱🙂