It is nearly two years since I last tooted about my #vermicompost bin. There are simple reasons for this: the system stabilized, I got used to it, and other matters in life distracted me from writing about it. There is, however, a recent development that warrants another update. In short, ... *takes a deep breath*... I feel disappointed by my own #design and I want a different bin. Let's explore this. 🧵🔽

#wormodon #compostodon

Just peeked into my worm bin out of curiosity. The most recent feeding, from last Saturday, was covered in a LAYER of worms. I could only just see bits of the underlying material between the worms, it looked exactly like a worm ball! I could literally HEAR them SQUIRM! 🪱🪱💕

Possibly relevant recent changes:

🪱 prefermenting all greens with lactic acid bacteria
🪱 not adding dry bedding (only damp) because I realized the bin was a bit dry
🪱 perhaps just population growth

#vermicompost #wormodon 🧵

🧵 Nine months in, I'm sure that my self-built vertical flow-through worm bin 🪱 does not settle by itself, or at least, not fast enough.

After a harvest, there is a void in the bottom of the bin. Some worm castings fall down from the bottom surface of the bin contents, so there is a little pile of castings when I detach the bottom dish on the next harvest. However, the bulk of the bin contents does not seem to sink much and the top surface keeps slowly rising.

#compostodon #wormodon 🧵🔽

Five months in, first harvest! 🪱

✅ harvest from the bottom
✅ only the contents I wanted to take out came out (needed to scrape)
✅ just castings (and some undigested wood), no worms
✅ slightly moist but powdery and non-smelly

I'm still slightly worried whether the remaining contents will eventually settle down or whether I will have to stir the bin with a broomstick. Other than that, this self-built flow-through worm bin is living up to its promise!

#vermicompost #compostodon #wormodon