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Intro:
Worms can compost garbage faster than any other type of
composting method. Worms also are very efficient in digesting
kitchen food wastes. Each day a worm eats half its weight in
food. The care and feeding of worms take far less effort than
maintaining an outdoor compost pile. Some of the realized
benefits of keeping a worm bin include: recycling kitchen food
waste, reducing waste disposal costs, producing soil amendments
or fertilizer for house and garden plants, and having a ready
supply of fishing worms.
A worm bin is a self contained system. As with any system,
several components are involved. This system is composed of a
box to contain the worms (see back for a description of how to
build a worm bin); the worms themselves; a controlled
environment; and regular maintenance procedures.
Red worms are the most satisfactory worms to use in a home
vermicomposting (composting with worms) system. The species of
red worm best suited for a worm bin is Eisenia foetida
pronounced "I see nee a fet id a." Eisenia Foetida is
known by several common names: red worm, brandling worm, red
wiggler, manure worm, and fish worm among others. Starter worms
of this species for a worm bin may be found in old compost piles
(ones that no longer generate any heat) or from local bait
suppliers.
Once the worm bin is constructed, make bedding for the worms
with shredded and moistened newspaper or cardboard. Maintain the
system by burying food wastes throughout the bin on a rotational
basis. Every three to six months, move the compost to one side
of the bin and add new bedding to the empty half. The worms will
soon move to the new bedding. Harvest the compost and add new
bedding to the rest of the bin.
Materials:
1 4 foot x 8 foot x 1/2" sheet exterior plywood
1 14 foot construction grade 2" x 4"
1 16 foot construction grade 2" x 4"
1 lb 4d galvanized nails
1/4 lb. 16d galvanized nails
2 3" door hinges
Tools:
Tape measure, skill saw or rip hand saw, hammer, saw horses, long
straight edge or chalk snap line, screwdriver, chisel, wood glue,
and drill with 1/2" bit. Use eye and ear protection.
Construction Details:
Measure and cut plywood as indicated on drawing A above. To
make base, cut the 14 foot 2" x 4" into five pieces: two 48" and
three 20" long. The remaining 12" piece will be used in making
the sides as described below. Nail the 2" x 4"s together on edge
with two 16d nails at each joint as illustrated in diagrams.
Nail the plywood piece onto the 2"x 4" frame using the 4d
nails.
To build the box, cut three 12" pieces from the 16 foot 2" x
4". Place a 12" 2" x 4" under the end of each side panel so that
the 2" x 4" is flush with the top and side edges of the plywood,
and nail the boards into place. Nail the side pieces onto the
base frame. To complete the box, nail the ends onto the base and
sides. To reinforce the box, place a nail at least every 3
inches wherever plywood and 2" x 4"s meet. Drill twelve 1/2"
holes through the bottom of the box for drainage.
To build the lid as illustrated in diagram D, cut the
remainder of the 16 foot 2" x 4" into two 51" lengths and two 27"
pieces. Cut lap joints in the corners (see diagram C), then glue
and nail the frame together. Center the plywood onto the 2" x 4"
frame and nail with 4d nails. Lay top on ground with plywood
surface touching the ground. Attach hinges to the top and back.
Position hinges so the screws go through plywood and 2" x
4"s.
Construction plans courtesy of the Washington State Energy
Extension Office, Seattle, WA
Questions and Answers about keeping Earthworms in
bins
What kind of worms should be used?
Red worms are the most satisfactory to use in home
vermicomposting systems. They process large amounts of organic
material in their natural habitats of manure, compost piles, or
decaying leaves. They reproduce quickly and in confinement.
What do worms eat?
Any vegetable waste generated during food preparation such as;
potato peelings, grapefruit and orange rinds, cantaloupe and
watermelon rinds, outer leaves of cabbage and lettuce. Plate
scrapings, spoiled food from the refrigerator, coffee grounds,
tea leaves or egg shells are waste that you may want to feed your
worms.
Burial of meat is not recommended because decaying meat can
produce offensive odors. Mice and rats are more likely to be
attracted to worm bins containing meat. Some other things that
don't belong are plastic bags, bottle caps, rubber bands,
sponges, aluminum foil and glass.
How much do worms eat?
It is recommended that the worm to garbage ratio be 2:1. Worms
are usually sold in terms of "pounds" rather than number. Use
one pound of worms (about 1,000) to 1/2 pound of daily garbage.
An average family of four generates about 7 pounds of compostable
garbage per week.
To create an environment for the worms to "eat" this much
garbage, the worm bin should be equal to one square foot of
surface for each pound of garbage per week.
Do worms die in the box?
Worms will die in any home worm bin, but in a properly maintained
worm bin, you will rarely see a dead worm.
How long does a worm live?
Most worms probably live and die within the same year. Yet, in
culture, Eisenia foetida, the type of worms in this box
have been kept as long as four and a half years.
Where can more information about worms be found?
A good general reference about keeping worms is identified
below.
Appelhof, Mary. Worms Eat My Garbage Kalamazoo, MI:
Flower Press; 1982
Earthworm Bibliography
Appelhof, Mary. Worms Eat My Garbage. Kalamazoo, MI:
Flower Press. 1982. 100p
Goldstein, Jerome. Recycling. New York: Schocken Books.
1979. 238p
Henwood, Chris. Keeping Minibeasts: Earthworms.
London:Franklin Watts. 1988. 29p
Jennings, Terry. Junior Science: Earthworms. New York:
Gloucester Press. 1988. 24p
Martin, Deborah and Grace Gershuny. The Rodale Book of
Composting. Emmaus, Pa: Rodale Press. 1992. 278p
Earthworm Sources
Joberta Crossin. P.O. Box 186, Clarkston, MO 63837
Phone:(573) 448-3302
Janet Folk, Rabbit-Worm Connection, Rt 4, Box 294,
Rogersville, MO 65742 Phone: (417) 753-3423
Larry Martin, Vermitechnology Unlimited, P.O. Box 130, Orange Lake, FL 32681 Phone: (352)
591-1111 Fax: (352) 591-4550
Dave Metzger, Rt. 3, Box 291, Owensville, MO 65066
Phone: (573) 437-3605
Richard Phelps, Phelps Worm Farm, Rt 1, Box 433, Silva, MO
63963 Phone: (573) 783-3944
Cape Cod Worm Farm, 30 Center Ave., Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
Phone: (508) 759-5664
Carter Fishworm Farm, Plans, GA 31780 Phone: (912) 824-7707
Ron Clausen, 2111 N. Century Blvd, McDavid, FL 32568
Phone: (904) 256-2845
Dan Matura, National Rabbit Enterprises, Box 913, Rogers, AR
72751 Phone: (501) 636-8376
The Potted Thorne Nursery, Box 278, Lake Elsinore, CA 92531
Phone: (714) 674-7041
Oregon Soil Corporation, 1324 Beaver Lane, Oregon City, OR 97045 Phone: (503)
557-9742
Composting Companion, John Reid, 2409 Fleetwood, Columbia, MO 65202 Phone: (573)
474-9293
Noelle Marchand-Koch, 2501 Brookside Ct., Columbia, MO 65201 Phone: (573) 443-4271
This listing of businesses does not constitute endorsement
or approval by the Department of Natural Resources or eDork
Special Thanks to the fun folks at:
Planning Unit
Solid Waste Management Program
P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102
(573) 751-5401 office
(573) 526-3902 fax
Email questions and comments to:
jhull01@mail.state.mo.us
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