Outside worm bin

outside worm bin, Composting, Setting up a outdoor worm compost bin

Category:

Education

Tags:

• desert gardening
• high plains gardening
• Worms
• worm bin
• composting
• home compoating
• bin
• compost kitchen scraps
• vermiculture
• Red worms
• Red wiglers

[tillacat1]

can i use chicken manure to heat the boxes in the winter - i don't have horses or cows..also will adding IMO4 help to heat it?

[HighPlainsGardening]

@tillacat1 I wouldn't, you can use chicken manure, however, it needs to be leached out of all the salts and ammonia. In some parts of the U.S. People will spray water over the wind row creating ice that will insulate the beds. You could also use straw, hay, ect... I will sometimes buy composted cow manure from a garden center. Hope this helps.

[undergroundbasement]

I'd like to make an outdoor worm bin, I have a few issues concerning that.I live at 7,800 ft in the mountains of Colorado.Night time temps in July can drop to 40 degrees.I've seen snow lightly dust the ground the first week of June(happened last June) .I live in a rural area with fox,coons,skunks all over that would tear into the worm bin.I just can't seem to multiply enough worms inside with a 4 tray and 6 tray worm bin.I'd like to be able to pull 40 lbs of black vermicast every 3 months.

[HighPlainsGardening]

@undergroundbasement I totally understand I am from West Arvada between Arvada and Golden. The night temps can change a lot. There are a few things you can do 1. Get a soil heater for the worms and keep the compost at least 6in deep I would try 12 or more that way the worms will migrate to the warmth. Also up North in MT, ND, MN. they spray water on there out door rows and it freezes and keeps the worms warm. 2. add fresh cow manure as it composts it will let off heat.

[HighPlainsGardening]

@HighPlainsGardening ( go out HWY 76) there is a big manure composting place and you can see the steam coming off the mounds. 

[HighPlainsGardening]

@undergroundbasement It can be done. I have talked to worm farmers as far north as Montana. If your worm box is deep enough the worms can survive (12 + inches you might even go 18 +) You can also use a soil heater to keep the worms working all year. You could also use fresh cow manure, as it composts it will get hot and heat the soil use this with cair it can get to hot. to keep your little friends out I would use a lid or 1 inch chicken wire. Good luck hope this helps.

[MrBeermanx]

i have a problem with ants.  i've lived in two different locations and the ants seem to be every where. how can i control them or get rid of them, without killing the worms?

[KingRyltar]

Bro, ya don't want bleach paper in the system, just an fyi!

Otherwise. Please keep the updates coming. ty

[daggermail1999]

@undergroundbasement You know, if the worms are red wigglers or european night crawlers they should be able to do well as long as they don't freeze solid. The weather should be no problem.

[AndysGreenhouse]

good video...

[undergroundbasement]

@HighPlainsGardening It's a small world,I live in Evergreen,just on the inside of the west outer edge of Jefferson county.Would this work- Maybe a hole dug 4'x8' wide by 18" deep,lay a sheet of 4'x8' plywood in the bottom with 1" drilled drain holes, lining the sides all the way around with 18" plywood walls, then putting another 4'x8' on the top with hinges so the entire 4'x8' top acts as a door flush with the ground, then add just enough bales of hay on top to act as a cold weather barrier?