Gardening Methods

Does anyone know how to make your own “Worm Composter”?

I know you can buy these worm composter in Bunnings Warehouse, but I would like to make my own. I heard that these composter gives your garden a very good organic liquid fertisliser and also gets rid of your kitchen waste too. Anyone have make one?

We have a worm bin. It looks like a big garbage can with four places down near the bottom where we drove big bolts into the ground (to stabilize it). The lid twists and locks down to keep the varmints out. We have raccoons in the neighborhood, so that is reassuring.

The large container has a few vent slots (upper and lower) around the sides. The bottom of the bin consists of a plastic grid (for drainage and air flow).

We started ours with a sack of manure and then we had sawdust from a project. We have the composter under a bay tree but I read someplace where it wasn’t advisable to add those leaves (toxins?) but I have now forgotten reason. I ordered the worms after setting up the bin. Since then, the population has multiplied. The worms just love the fruit we throw in there and multiply like crazy with papayas, pineapple, and apricots.

Periodically, I turn the compost using a garden fork. When adding kitchen garbage, avoid adding meats or foods with oils in the bin — as advised by the brochure we got along with the bin. We only put-in fruit and vegetable trimmings. Whenever I add kitchen stuff to the bin, I push aside some of the compost and pour it into the well, then cover it up because otherwise, flies grow and multiply. After a week or so, I turn the compost. Must turn the compost periodically. Sometimes need to sprinkle with water, can’t allow it to dry. The resulting compost has a sweet clean smell after it’s been digested by the worms.

It’s really hard for me to turn the compost with a frozen shoulder on the mend. No, my husband won’t help. I wish I had one of those rotating types instead.

http://www.cityfarmer.org/wormcomp61.html

Broadcasting Organic Garden Compost