Tuesday, January 11, 2011

vermicomposting fabulousness!

chris and i have been lusting after the vermicomposting tray systems we have seen various places (a la this), but i didn't want to spend a shitload of money on it. so we decided to make our own!

step 1: find the proper container. this thing is PERFECT - the trays snap together, and you can move the bottom tray up to the top once the compost in it is done.
20100111. worm bin tray system, part 1 - an awesome, already built interlocking box system.

step 2: safety first!
20100111. worm bin tray system, part 2 - safety first!

step 3: dremel large holes in the bottom of each tray.
20100111. worm bin tray system, part 2 - dremeling holes in the bottom of each tray.

step 4: cut wire to fit the bottom of each tray.
20100111. worm bin tray system, part 3 - cutting wire for the bottoms of each tray.

"it's like i'm in prison!"
20100111. worm bin tray system, part 3 - cutting wire for the bottoms of each tray. so proud!

step 5: vacuum the bits of plastic up off every surface in kitchen (including us).
20100111. worm bin tray system, part 4 - vaccuuming chunks of plastic off EVERYTHING. including faces.

step 6: take break to watch colts lose fabulously in the playoffs.
20100111. worm bin tray system, part 5 - must take a break for football.

step 7: drill holes to string wire bottoms into each tray (and freak the cat out with power tools).
20100111. worm bin tray system, part 6 - bean makes her escape.

step 8: string the wire through.
20100111. worm bin tray system, part 6 - attaching the wire using tiny drilled holes and more wire.

the trays are ready for... the worms!
20100111. worm bin tray system, part 7 - ready for worms!

20100111. worm bin tray system, part 7 - ready for worms!

and there they are - one tiny, sweet little ball of worms.
20100111. worm bin tray system, part 7 - worm ball.

2 comments:

Rabbit said...

Very nicely done. You're a regular handyman!

In my area, the flow through bins on the Internet are not even available. I just bought in/out trays and stacked them. It works just fine. I just taped some of holes on the sides so the contents don't dry out too quickly.

Check out my bins too

famousthecat said...

very cool! we were first looking at gardening flats - super cheap, but concerns of space and the flimsiness of flats worried me. so... here we go with this little experiment! the wormies seem happy so far. tonight - we see if they like avocado bits.