You are a great teacher. I'm a new grandpa and this will make a great project to teach kids value of nature and keeping them close to the earth. Thanks!
@@GreenShortzDIY Safety first and always is a great motto. Keep the cut away from hands and pinkies; and keep the helping hands away from all sharp and mobile tools or they will get mangled. (word derived from Man and Hand)
FYI. On the subject of safety, while some woodworkers may disagree, most experts say NOT to wear gloves when using a table saw. Like loose clothing, hair etc. they can get caught in the blade plus they take away the important sense of touch.
This is easily the best DIY worm composter video I've seen. Its just like the Hungry Bin that I can't justify buying. Thank you for this awesome video!
Thank you, Chad. I appreciate the encouragement. I redid this design to make it simpler. There are a few videos about that one too. It took some iteration to get it there. Thank you for watching.
After watching your video a couple of times, my husband and I made your worm bin. I purchased the wrong size bin (10 gallon instead of 13) and had to do a few adjustment, but it looks great! Your instructions were clear and easy to follow. I am hoping to make one in the correct size in the near future. Keep those videos coming!
My mind is BLOWN! THANK YOU for doing such beautiful teaching! You've just taught me some really valuable pro-tips on how to use tools, and why you do things a certain way, and how it saves time and work and improves the overall functionality and visual design! This video just made me want a gorgeous organized workspace.
Thank you for showing us your design. Will make one in the Summer, always wanted to try it. Thank you very much and God bless you for sharing this with us.
Thank you for watching. I’ve done a much simpler version of this. You might want to check out those videos before you build. Just search for “simple flow thru worm bin.” Look for the black trash can. In the last video in that series, I eliminated the trimmer wire. Thank you for watching. Good luck with your project.
I have not scrolled down and read any comments yet. I want to see how many people tell you how to improve your worm box. Omg at the suggestions. Some very good suggestions too. But I think the tennis racket was the best. And those screws you’re using are the best ever made. If you go to this much detail on a worm box I’d love to see a dog house
As an agriculturalist, i have resd about this in our Books but haven't really seen one in practical use out here.i really need to see a model of this. Thanks for uploading and sharing your idea.
I live in the inner city and use as many free, discarded items as possible in my urban homestead. I built something similar out of 3, 5 gallon buckets sourced from a restaurant. The principle is the same but I put the third bucket on bottom to catch the worm juice.
Thank you. Before you build, check out my simpler version. There is also a design mid made in the harvest video for that version as well. Plans are available for that unit as well. Thanks for watching.
You all prolly dont care but does any of you know of a method to log back into an instagram account? I stupidly forgot my account password. I would love any tricks you can offer me.
Agree. Hours of watching backyard hacks. Finally found the design I like. Now it's time to put my boyfriend to work. He'll build something totally different.
I’ve used bin contraptions but prefer the Urban Worm Bag. I keep it in the utility room. It sits in/on a plastic tray that think may have been designed for washer/dryer as a precaution.
Very impressive; quite the craftsman; I think I'm just using a plastic tub to start my worm bin; maybe I'll get fancy down the road. Thanks for all the tips along the way; I learned alot about wood working.
A tub works great too. I did a simpler version of this flow through worm tower. It is still more complicated that a two-bin system. I've got a video on a two-bin build that is pretty easy. Take a look if you are interested: ruclips.net/video/aHS1UKdUzVo/видео.html Thanks for watching.
+Stephanie Davis go for it! A few tips...I could probably have used a little less angle on the taper. The worm castings are pretty sticky. I'll be making a simplified version of this in a month or so.
I meant to ask u about the screws u used for securing the taper. Were they the same as u used elsewhere(excluding the rake screws)... Subscribed 2 your channel; keep up good work. Merry Christmas.
This is a great instructional video, but I could have indicated that with a "Like". I am worrying because your work is intended and practical, your teaching style is comprehensive and clear. I am amazed and pleased. Thank you so much.
I really enjoy your videos. You have some really good ideas (like securing the end with a bolt). Easy to follow with good explanations and you're real!
Get a pair of shop shears. You'll never struggle with scissors again AND you will have an incredible tool that you would never consider normal scissors for. Best 20 bucks ever spent.
Great video with clear and concise instructions. I want to start vermicomposting but I hate the maintenance of those bins. So I am definitely leaning toward either the work tower or this flow-through. Love your work.
You appeared in the side bar. I'm soon to build a raised bed garden. I will want to build a double canopy cover also, We have to grow our own food now. Thank you for teaching your food growing strategies. I hope you get rich from this since people are waking up to the solar minimums leading in to solar cycle 25. Social Distancing just might keep farmers from getting the crops in the ground on time Global.
+AlaFefe I will say that a hurricane moving through Atlanta, Georgia is different than Miami, Florida. This was the remnant of a hurricane coming ashore 350 miles away, but still nasty none-the-less. :-)
I don't even know WHY I watched this, but found it mesmerizing ! I have red worms, but they produce castings soooo slow, but are easy to take care of, so, I guess it's red worms for me. Your video is excellent! Great job, GreenShortz!! :-)
Thanks, John. I actually did a simpler version. If you are interested, look for the videos with the black trashcan. I removed the trimmer line element from that design as well, but not until the third video. Thank you for watching.
Thanks for the design tips, they were very helpful. I used the cut lines for the compacting changing them to 3.5 and seven only because I had a speed square handy. Instead of the wood frame, I used 48 qt. & 21 qt. bins so they fit nicely inside each other. I used food grade silicone and rivets to hold the compacting area together and the bottom of the 21 qt. bin with weep holes replaces the weaving nicely being held in place with grommets and two 12" Dollar Tree Bungie Cords. So the whole thing looks like a 15-gallon trash can and costs under $50 to build. I lined the inside 3" of the bin with packing tape so the crazy ants that started showing up in the house in the spring couldn't escape the bin and I haven't seen any for a while now so either the queen has died or the worms eat them as well.
Hi Roger. I did a simpler version of this design. Will save you time and it is easier to harvest. Adding “simple” to a search for flow through worm composter should guide you to that video. It is with a black trashcan. Thank you for watching.
looks good... one suggestion when you wrap and tighten the string with your bolt head by crossing the string over itself (17:30 and 18:25) it will snip it off at the point where they cross. Any electrician would pick this up as a no-no for solid wire,
Thanks for sharing. I use rivets instead of screws if there is a chance I'll be putting my hands near the pointy end. I respect that you're using items you already have.
Hi Rodney. Sorry you went down the first path. This project was a learning experience for me as well. It took several videos to get to a final product. By the way, I eliminated the trimmer string in a later video and replaced it with a metal plate. Thank you for watching.
Great idea. I was thinking of making a tower somehow. I have a trash can I can use for this and worms on the way in the mail. Thanks for the detailed tutorial!
This was VERY detailed and i am just anal enough to enjoy all the creativity of what you showed and how i can stain the wood and get a bronzed color bin to make it look high brow in my yard. Thank you So Much!
Thanks Robyn. I am all about being detailed...but not one second longer than needed (erring on the side of the details). Thanks for the encouragement. (I've always loved your spelling of Robyn)
NO DUMPING SOLUTION: To solve your problem with the two-bin system, turn it into a three-bin system. The two-bin system bascially stays the same. The bottom bin will catch the leachate and the bin above it will be the "home" bin. BUT, add a second perforated "home" bin with fresh bedding and scraps on top of the other two bins. As the food supply is consumed in the now-middle bin, the worms will wriggle up through the holes into the new-top bin in search of food. Once they have all migrated, simply remove the middle "home" bin (now abandoned) which is now only castings and put the new "home" bin back in above the leachate bottom bin. Rinse and repeat. Bins top to bottom: 1. New home 2. Current home (castings) 3. Leachate
Scott Jordan, I currently have a three bin system and it is not working that way. I have to put a couple of damp sheets of newspaper because about about 1/8 to 1/5 of my worms end up in the bottom bin. They bring castings with them but my bottom bins never become wet enough on their own to keep my downwardly mobile worms from drying out. The containers become full of castings and the worms become very sluggish and don’t generally move up or down for food. I don’t think it has to do with temperature because, living in Southern California, temps outside can be very high and I would have to stay home all the time to make sure they are not getting too much heat when the sun moves and containers are in the sun again. I have tried moving them with light but they don’t move to greener pastures. I go through a 3 container stack every month to five weeks.and I have to do most of the sorting by hand. I still end up with worms producing wonderful castings and worm cocoons. The time I spend harvesting and sorting is quiet and mentally relaxing. One or more of the dogs usually hang out with me and I listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks I wouldn’t have time for otherwise. I enjoy checking to see how everyone in the bins is doing, if they have food leftover, what they seem to have eaten quickly and completely. I guess I enjoy being hands on with my worms and the dogs like to know I put gloves on sometimes I am not going to flush their ears or dig dirt clumps out of their paws.
I really appreciate your craftsmanship and willingness to share with the public. However, worm farming does not need to be this complex. Hardware cloth could take the place of trimmer line, the natural taper/depth of the can would keep most of the worms out of the castings anyway, and the few that remained could easily be picked out by hand. You could also use pop rivets to create a taper. In place of a trash can, one could also sew a tapered cloth bag with heavy fabric with drawstrings at top and bottom. Search “digestible table” for plans on that concept. Thanks so much for sharing! Really great video.
Hi Jerry. I've created a simpler version of this system. Here's the video: ruclips.net/video/l43GwJ-mCus/видео.html Note that I removed the trimmer wire element in the "Harvesting" video in this series. Used a perforated metal plate instead. Take a look at this series first, before your build. I've got plans for that one as well, if you want reference guidelines beyond the video. Thanks for watching.
Thank you. Make sure you check out the simpler version of this bin I made in a later video. ruclips.net/video/l43GwJ-mCus/видео.html The third video in this particular series (harvesting) also removes the trimmer wire. Thanks for watching.
I went on your channel and couldn’t find the follow up video you spoke of near the end of the video saying you were going to do a tutorial of you filling up the worm bin. Thanks
Interesting. I made one of your 5 gallon bucket types, got some great 'black gold' out of it and great compost about half way up now. Was thinking of making a 2nd one and just taking top portion over to new bucket where most of the worms are working to be able to use the compost they/ve made.
Papa Bly Glad to hear you've had success. I think having to bucket worm composters is a great option to manage the worms and get castings out. To help with this, I suggest cutting down a bucket lid (or any other plastic lid) into a circle that would fit down in the bucket. Think of it as a layer divider. Drill lots of holes to perforate this so the worms can migrate up through it. Put two loops of string through a couple of the holes. This will allow you to lift out the top portion of your compost, with the worms in it, more easily. I did something similar in this video: ruclips.net/video/aHS1UKdUzVo/видео.html Except it was with a rectangular worm bin design. Just scroll to about 8:10 to see what I mean.
Papa, here is my case for going with a flow through worm composter: How to Harvest a Flow Through Worm Composter: ruclips.net/video/6ScnbSySrFg/видео.html
I just bought the Hungry Bin bc Im a 4'10" lady who loves these types of projects but I can't cut through those plastic containers with scissors (I had Cancer in upper body so my strength is super challenging)...... maybe I could use my Dremel? But that would take forever prob.... my question is wouldn't a black trash bin be better to use since it will keep the light out better? The darker the better right? Also wouldn't 1/2" mesh work just as well for the bottom to keep the castings from falling through but also allowing it to fall through? Just put it inside and secure with some screws? Idk just wondering bc it seems to me the plastic trimmer wire will break down or it won't keep the dirt from falling through?
Hello, thank you for your video. I have a question. In winter and cold weather(less than 0), what do you have to do? how can we keep the same productivity of the worms Especially when the worm box is in the cellar? Thanks in advance for the replies
Hello I cannot find the part 2 to this video.. Can you give the link please? Also how do you like it? Do you see any issues with it that you would modify? Thanks!
Hi. I did a full redesign on this with a goal of simplification. If you search for simple flow through worm composter you should see it. I used a black trash can for that build. Note that I initially started using the trimmer line element, but replaced it with a perforated metal plate in the third video in that series. Thank you for watching.
How do you keep the gnats out of the bin? I'm ready to get rid of it and winters coming. I'm so sick of these nats I've tried everything to kill them and I don't want it in my shop raising more of them. Thank u
Omg, I love you, hmmm, not really but I am really excited, I love making s##t, I’m goon make one , been wanting to make one, this video is awesome . Can’t wait to see the follow-up.
I am a new subscriber. Thank you for all the information that you teaching me. Very useful information. Thanks a million. Have a happy holiday weekend. God blessed !
I of course have my two cents to add, which is that you can attract the worms by starving them a bit and then putting a double layered brown paper bag with food, or burlap sack or old t shirt. Poke some holes for the worms to enter and give them a day or two, then remove worms and harvest castings (you still get some babies but you get most of the adults out, especially doing it twice).
The part about moving your hand away from them razor knife is common sense but happens all too much even by experienced workers. Good tip and great reminder
Amazing information! I like the flow through concept a lot. It solves many issues. I need a composter like this where I can get my castings and not have to do much more than load compost material where the worms can turn them to castings then the separation process takes place with the design if the compression zone. Thank you so much for sharing.
Well done video. You clearly are knowledgeable and experienced. Just the tools you own indicate that. For someone that doesn't have the tools, or wood lying around, or an old trash can to use, would make this homemade version more costly and less portable than an urban worm bag with a PVC frame. Plus because the worm bag is made from material it is 100% breathable all the way through not just where holes would be put in. But this is a great alternative for someone like yourself who has the materials on hand the tools needed to make it and the knowledge to do so. I wish you spent a little more time discussing the sizes of the wood pieces you cut. A few pieces were cut where you didn't mention the size.
Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate your encouragement and the info about the worm bag. I’ll need to check it out. I’ve been thinking about building a design that has more surface area using a tarp. Thank you for watching.
I enjoyed this video including the sea weed mulch process and the development of the hungry bin. I want to begin composting, my concern is the security of the lid. I live in an urban setting with some wildlife such as opossums and raccoons, squirrels ferril cats. The animals already open rubbish bins in the neighborhood since human population growth has encroached greatly on their natural habitat. Does the company consider a lid that will allow the use of a lock? I visited their direct website and the models do not include an option to lock the lids.
i really like the idea, the lox cost easily doable out of scrap and old items at the house. if you were to just build one out of wood, even the compression section would you/ could you just put a door on the side to to scoop the casing out? Also how long do you generally wait for harvesting?
Didn't read thru the comments but ever try the banana trick to attract all the worms to the top? One over ripe banana partially unpeeled will attract all worms to a massive clump. You'll be able to remove most worms in one go.... Also I would recommend a piece of hardware cloth instead of sewing the bottom with string... But I understand the recycle bit ... Use what you got
i love the vid its super helpful, constructive criticism i personally think u should turn down the music a little bit as i have a hard time hearing you throughout some parts, great video!
hey mr shotz :) thanks for your Videos! i am planning my first gardening Adventure and here are a few Questions from a newbie.. what About a bamboo-bin (this flexible ones like a strandmat) and Fixing the smaller Opening at the Bottom with a metal or plastic ring - when you now seperate the Opening by a few wires or other strong tubes that you can remove for harvesting, then you coulg get the soil by "massage" (kneading the Bottom section). or not? and: what About horse apples? will they produce too much heat? and i did´t get the fact how Long it takes from the first feeding to the first harvesting - could you help me? best regards from germany
I am SO grateful I came across your Channel! Was there a specific reason for using the plastic line instead of metal (for example, from metal clothes hanger or metal insulation holder in cross grid fashion)?
Thank you. I primarily used the trimmer line because of its durability and lack of corrosion. The screw heads on the inside of this pretty much get dissolved. Coat hanger would suffer a similar fate, I think. Ultimately, I did remove the trimmer line in favor of a perforated aluminum sheet. Thanks for watching.
Hey, it's pretty satisfying to watch, but the one thing I thought of that I'd want to know in your shoes- when you're putting those brackets on particularly, but this also applies to the rest of the woodwork/fastening- old school carpenters putting a nail through two horizontal boards don't put the nail straight down, they put it at a 45 degree angle in, and then they'd come back on the other side and put in a nail going 45 degrees the other way- making an "X" inside the join of the two boards, roughly. Why is this important? Because, it means that no matter what direction the board is moved, there's not a direct friction path for the nails to come out- and so the board stays more secure for longer. Also as I watched you use the weedwacker line (great idea!) I couldn't stop thinking about that hack to turn 2 liter coke bottles into string (or, really, any size of bottle) by basically pulling the string end through a razor blade secured to a work bench with a couple of screws and washers. Something worth googling.
Hi Choscura. Thanks for sharing the tip. I’ll remember it on my next build. Screws are usually my preference, given their resistance to loosening, but nails can be a less time consuming choice. I do love my framing nailer. :-) I’ll have to check out the hack you mentioned. Sounds pretty cool. I actually did a simpler design of this flow through worm bin, which slides to harvest. I tried the trimmer wire at first, but ultimately took it out in favor of a perforated metal plate. Thanks for the feedback and suggestions.
The metal is probably a better bet. I've been discovering/researching/dealing with metal corrosion as a topic a bit recently and so I've been turned on to the material Aluminum Bronze, which is used in things like heat intensive processes (computer heat syncs for example), and also in situations where corrosion is an issue (oceanic vessel propeller blades, for example) or both (such as the inside baffles of some firearm silencers/sound suppressors). I kind of wonder what a full-stack system would look like if you integrated this into basically the water systems of an earthship- rainwater collection, filtration for human consumption, all the way through to gray water re-use (so your tapwater that doesn't get used goes into the toilet to flush it, after watering the plants in the front planter)(this is very worth googling if you're not familiar with it- the guy that came up with it is very nice and competent but a bit crackpotty and so ea, I don't think there's anything super-spiritual about the buildings, but the technology of how to build better houses that provide utilities is worth seeing). I really would like to see something like this integrated into a biogas digester/collection system, maybe, so that it can be basically ignored by the family in the house with it- the most successful case is that it becomes 'the other trash can' that produces the gas + fertilizer for house use, I think.
+taibhsear71 thank you. If all the worm composter I've built, I think this one is going to be my favorite. It is the prototype, so I'll report back on how well the compression zone separates the worms out. Let me know if you build this composter.
It's not the black gold that's crap, it's the wife's bitching, lol. I got the worm factory on the condition that it stays outside, then realized it had to be kept at room temperature, which in the northern Alberta means inside.
I'm a geezer w bad knees. I cringe whenever I see makers working on their knees on a concrete floor. I appreciate your use of the Workmate. Reminds me to round up mine. Would hinch hardware cloth work instead of the trimmer line? Thanks 😊
Good design but probably not practical for a whole lot of people. Many people don't have the tools, money or time to invest. Definitely a high maintenance project for just a worm composter. Much easier designs out there! Good job though I applaud you for ingenuity!
Nice design. How would you say this vertical setup compares with a horizontal one that has more surface area? Would the horizontal be a faster more populous bin?
Thanks Matty. I do see more rapid composting happening in my horizontal worms bins, just because of the surface area. I think the worms feel less crowded there and will expand their population. I was digging through my flow through bin last week for a demo, and didn't see any worm cocoons. So, the flow through bin might not be as conducive to growing the worm colony. That is still a gut feeling right now...I need more time with the flow through worm bin to know for sure. Thank for watching.
I know I'm being nit picky, but the woodworker in me couldn't get over how much it wobbled. I really wanted to just reach into the video and fix it for you
Thoughtful design .... very cool. Why not leave the tabs and the rim of the trash can on and use it to self-seat and secure the trash can in the frame? Seems like you've sacrificed 3" in depth of your trash can by cutting all of that off, and putting screws through this kind of plastic usually ( for me anyway ) results in eventual tears.
I think I did a harvest video on this. But I also made a simplified version. It uses a black trash can and gets into the harvesting. Thank you for watching.
You are a great teacher. I'm a new grandpa and this will make a great project to teach kids value of nature and keeping them close to the earth. Thanks!
Thank you, Dean. Composting is a great Grandpa project. Thank you for watching.
That is honestly the best tutorial for anything I’ve ever seen. I liked your safety tips. Many tutorials don’t mention those. Great job.
Thank you, Sidrah. I appreciate the feedback.
@@GreenShortzDIY Safety first and always is a great motto. Keep the cut away from hands and pinkies; and keep the helping hands away from all sharp and mobile tools or they will get mangled. (word derived from Man and Hand)
FYI. On the subject of safety, while some woodworkers may disagree, most experts say NOT to wear gloves when using a table saw. Like loose clothing, hair etc. they can get caught in the blade plus they take away the important sense of touch.
This is easily the best DIY worm composter video I've seen. Its just like the Hungry Bin that I can't justify buying. Thank you for this awesome video!
Thank you, Chad. I appreciate the encouragement. I redid this design to make it simpler. There are a few videos about that one too. It took some iteration to get it there. Thank you for watching.
After watching your video a couple of times, my husband and I made your worm bin. I purchased the wrong size bin (10 gallon instead of 13) and had to do a few adjustment, but it looks great! Your instructions were clear and easy to follow. I am hoping to make one in the correct size in the near future. Keep those videos coming!
Somebody give this guy a raise! You put so much time and work into this build. Keep up the good work we are all impressed.
My mind is BLOWN! THANK YOU for doing such beautiful teaching! You've just taught me some really valuable pro-tips on how to use tools, and why you do things a certain way, and how it saves time and work and improves the overall functionality and visual design! This video just made me want a gorgeous organized workspace.
Thank you for showing us your design.
Will make one in the Summer, always wanted to try it.
Thank you very much and God bless you for sharing this with us.
Thank you for watching. I’ve done a much simpler version of this. You might want to check out those videos before you build. Just search for “simple flow thru worm bin.” Look for the black trash can. In the last video in that series, I eliminated the trimmer wire. Thank you for watching. Good luck with your project.
@@GreenShortzDIY thank you
I have not scrolled down and read any comments yet. I want to see how many people tell you how to improve your worm box.
Omg at the suggestions. Some very good suggestions too. But I think the tennis racket was the best.
And those screws you’re using are the best ever made.
If you go to this much detail on a worm box I’d love to see a dog house
I actually reworked this whole system. This version was a little complicated...but that's how I roll. :-) Thanks for watching.
Excellent video and very effective composter!
As an agriculturalist, i have resd about this in our Books but haven't really seen one in practical use out here.i really need to see a model of this. Thanks for uploading and sharing your idea.
I live in the inner city and use as many free, discarded items as possible in my urban homestead. I built something similar out of 3, 5 gallon buckets sourced from a restaurant. The principle is the same but I put the third bucket on bottom to catch the worm juice.
DUDE! This is genius! Absolutely doing this. I was looking at work composters online today, no doubt this is WAY cheaper. Thanks for the education.
Thank you. Before you build, check out my simpler version. There is also a design mid made in the harvest video for that version as well. Plans are available for that unit as well. Thanks for watching.
@@GreenShortzDIY ko
You all prolly dont care but does any of you know of a method to log back into an instagram account?
I stupidly forgot my account password. I would love any tricks you can offer me.
I have been tacitly watching a lot of wurm composters this is the best one I have watched
Agree. Hours of watching backyard hacks. Finally found the design I like. Now it's time to put my boyfriend to work.
He'll build something totally different.
It is much more cost-effective than a hungry bin.
Thank you.
I love this! I might have to drag my dad out for a father daughter project for this one.
I'm now convinced I'm going to buy the Urban Worm Bag and be set up in 5 minutes.
I can’t argue with your logic. This was a time consuming build. But, I like doing things the hard way. :-) Happy worm composting. Thanks for watching.
I’ve used bin contraptions but prefer the Urban Worm Bag. I keep it in the utility room. It sits in/on a plastic tray that think may have been designed for washer/dryer as a precaution.
Very impressive; quite the craftsman; I think I'm just using a plastic tub to start my worm bin; maybe I'll get fancy down the road. Thanks for all the tips along the way; I learned alot about wood working.
A tub works great too. I did a simpler version of this flow through worm tower. It is still more complicated that a two-bin system. I've got a video on a two-bin build that is pretty easy. Take a look if you are interested: ruclips.net/video/aHS1UKdUzVo/видео.html Thanks for watching.
SUPERB! I think this is a low cost way to scale into a commercial enterprise. Thanks
+Stephanie Davis go for it! A few tips...I could probably have used a little less angle on the taper. The worm castings are pretty sticky. I'll be making a simplified version of this in a month or so.
I meant to ask u about the screws u used for securing the taper. Were they the same as u used elsewhere(excluding the rake screws)...
Subscribed 2 your channel; keep up good work. Merry Christmas.
This is a great instructional video, but I could have indicated that with a "Like". I am worrying because your work is intended and practical, your teaching style is comprehensive and clear. I am amazed and pleased. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much Laurel. I’ve got a simpler version of this black soldier fly larvae composter coming this Spring. :-)
whatever
I really enjoy your videos. You have some really good ideas (like securing the end with a bolt). Easy to follow with good explanations and you're real!
Thanks for the encouragement, Heather. Thanks for watching.
Get a pair of shop shears. You'll never struggle with scissors again AND you will have an incredible tool that you would never consider normal scissors for. Best 20 bucks ever spent.
Thanks for the tip. Gonna get some. Thanks for watching.
Great video with clear and concise instructions. I want to start vermicomposting but I hate the maintenance of those bins. So I am definitely leaning toward either the work tower or this flow-through. Love your work.
Thanks for the feedback, Kamp. Let me know what you decide. But, I like your two choices.
Very cool and step-by-step video
You appeared in the side bar. I'm soon to build a raised bed garden. I will want to build a double canopy cover also, We have to grow our own food now. Thank you for teaching your food growing strategies. I hope you get rich from this since people are waking up to the solar minimums leading in to solar cycle 25. Social Distancing just might keep farmers from getting the crops in the ground on time Global.
Excellent video. Love the mini woodworking tips along the way. Very well done! Thanks for putting the time and effort into this!
great video. Oh, there's a hurricane coming, so lets get on building the worm composter. Nothing like a local for laid back attitude. Loved that.
+AlaFefe I will say that a hurricane moving through Atlanta, Georgia is different than Miami, Florida. This was the remnant of a hurricane coming ashore 350 miles away, but still nasty none-the-less. :-)
I don't even know WHY I watched this, but found it mesmerizing ! I have red worms, but they produce castings soooo slow, but are easy to take care of, so, I guess it's red worms for me. Your video is excellent! Great job, GreenShortz!! :-)
Thanks for watching. Thank you for the compliments.
Saw a video in which the person put food in one side only for several days in order to harvest from the other side. It was pretty clever.
Amazing. So simple yet so genius. Thank you
Thanks, John. I actually did a simpler version. If you are interested, look for the videos with the black trashcan. I removed the trimmer line element from that design as well, but not until the third video. Thank you for watching.
Great job mate. Better than a shop one.
Thanks for the design tips, they were very helpful. I used the cut lines for the compacting changing them to 3.5 and seven only because I had a speed square handy. Instead of the wood frame, I used 48 qt. & 21 qt. bins so they fit nicely inside each other. I used food grade silicone and rivets to hold the compacting area together and the bottom of the 21 qt. bin with weep holes replaces the weaving nicely being held in place with grommets and two 12" Dollar Tree Bungie Cords. So the whole thing looks like a 15-gallon trash can and costs under $50 to build. I lined the inside 3" of the bin with packing tape so the crazy ants that started showing up in the house in the spring couldn't escape the bin and I haven't seen any for a while now so either the queen has died or the worms eat them as well.
Nice mods, George. Glad you found my video to be a good starting point. Makes me happy when people make stuff. Happy composting. Thanks for watching.
Great video. Enjoyed your style, attention to detail and simple approach
Glad you enjoyed it! I did simplify on this design in another video. Look for the black trashcan video, if you're interested. Thanks for watching.
Thanks...I was trying to figure out something to do just this !
Going to make two of them !
Hi Roger. I did a simpler version of this design. Will save you time and it is easier to harvest. Adding “simple” to a search for flow through worm composter should guide you to that video. It is with a black trashcan. Thank you for watching.
Woooow. Your attention to detail is fabulous. Great worm farm
Thanks for watching, Judith. I made a simpler version of this system as well...still detailed...just less of them. :-) Thanks for watching.
looks good... one suggestion when you wrap and tighten the string with your bolt head by crossing the string over itself (17:30 and 18:25) it will snip it off at the point where they cross. Any electrician would pick this up as a no-no for solid wire,
Thanks for the feedback, Gregory. In a later version of this design, I eliminate the trimmer wire altogether.
Thanks for sharing. I use rivets instead of screws if there is a chance I'll be putting my hands near the pointy end. I respect that you're using items you already have.
Thank you, Emma. Thank you for watching.
I started to make your first blog. Then i watched further blog. Had to change mines
Hi Rodney. Sorry you went down the first path. This project was a learning experience for me as well. It took several videos to get to a final product. By the way, I eliminated the trimmer string in a later video and replaced it with a metal plate. Thank you for watching.
I made a slide out bottom instead of sliding the whole bin.
Excellent solution.
Great idea. I was thinking of making a tower somehow. I have a trash can I can use for this and worms on the way in the mail. Thanks for the detailed tutorial!
This was VERY detailed and i am just anal enough to enjoy all the creativity of what you showed and how i can stain the wood and get a bronzed color bin to make it look high brow in my yard. Thank you So Much!
Thanks Robyn. I am all about being detailed...but not one second longer than needed (erring on the side of the details). Thanks for the encouragement. (I've always loved your spelling of Robyn)
NO DUMPING SOLUTION: To solve your problem with the two-bin system, turn it into a three-bin system.
The two-bin system bascially stays the same. The bottom bin will catch the leachate and the bin above it will be the "home" bin.
BUT, add a second perforated "home" bin with fresh bedding and scraps on top of the other two bins. As the food supply is consumed in the now-middle bin, the worms will wriggle up through the holes into the new-top bin in search of food. Once they have all migrated, simply remove the middle "home" bin (now abandoned) which is now only castings and put the new "home" bin back in above the leachate bottom bin. Rinse and repeat.
Bins top to bottom:
1. New home
2. Current home (castings)
3. Leachate
Scott Jordan QQAaq
Aa
What if my worms doesn't want 2 homes and they want 4? They won't I be building a worm skyscraper with a top penthouse?
Scott Jordan, I currently have a three bin system and it is not working that way. I have to put a couple of damp sheets of newspaper because about about 1/8 to 1/5 of my worms end up in the bottom bin. They bring castings with them but my bottom bins never become wet enough on their own to keep my downwardly mobile worms from drying out. The containers become full of castings and the worms become very sluggish and don’t generally move up or down for food. I don’t think it has to do with temperature because, living in Southern California, temps outside can be very high and I would have to stay home all the time to make sure they are not getting too much heat when the sun moves and containers are in the sun again. I have tried moving them with light but they don’t move to greener pastures. I go through a 3 container stack every month to five weeks.and I have to do most of the sorting by hand. I still end up with worms producing wonderful castings and worm cocoons. The time I spend harvesting and sorting is quiet and mentally relaxing. One or more of the dogs usually hang out with me and I listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks I wouldn’t have time for otherwise. I enjoy checking to see how everyone in the bins is doing, if they have food leftover, what they seem to have eaten quickly and completely. I guess I enjoy being hands on with my worms and the dogs like to know I put gloves on sometimes I am not going to flush their ears or dig dirt clumps out of their paws.
Outstanding work!!! Thank you.
Great filming and editing as well. These vids should leave you with an “I can do this”- your vid was 👌🏻
Love that work bench!
I really appreciate your craftsmanship and willingness to share with the public. However, worm farming does not need to be this complex. Hardware cloth could take the place of trimmer line, the natural taper/depth of the can would keep most of the worms out of the castings anyway, and the few that remained could easily be picked out by hand. You could also use pop rivets to create a taper. In place of a trash can, one could also sew a tapered cloth bag with heavy fabric with drawstrings at top and bottom. Search “digestible table” for plans on that concept. Thanks so much for sharing! Really great video.
Your videos are great! Those are very helpful in teaching my pupils. Goob job Sir!
Ernesto, that is great. Thanks for letting me know. What age-level students are you teaching?
You're very welcome Sir! They are almost 10-12 yrs.of age sir!
I've been looking to build one of these. Thanks for the videos.
Hi Jerry. I've created a simpler version of this system. Here's the video: ruclips.net/video/l43GwJ-mCus/видео.html Note that I removed the trimmer wire element in the "Harvesting" video in this series. Used a perforated metal plate instead. Take a look at this series first, before your build. I've got plans for that one as well, if you want reference guidelines beyond the video. Thanks for watching.
Nicely don.... I am impressed. I may try it.... thank you
Thank you. Make sure you check out the simpler version of this bin I made in a later video. ruclips.net/video/l43GwJ-mCus/видео.html The third video in this particular series (harvesting) also removes the trimmer wire. Thanks for watching.
I went on your channel and couldn’t find the follow up video you spoke of near the end of the video saying you were going to do a tutorial of you filling up the worm bin. Thanks
Never mind. The following video of you harvesting the worm castings just showed up on my RUclips 👍🏻
You are
Awesome
Vaquisher...
Thank you for watching. :-)
Engineer with a self sufficient hobby
Interesting. I made one of your 5 gallon bucket types, got some great 'black gold' out of it and great compost about half way up now. Was thinking of making a 2nd one and just taking top portion over to new bucket where most of the worms are working to be able to use the compost they/ve made.
Papa Bly Glad to hear you've had success. I think having to bucket worm composters is a great option to manage the worms and get castings out. To help with this, I suggest cutting down a bucket lid (or any other plastic lid) into a circle that would fit down in the bucket. Think of it as a layer divider. Drill lots of holes to perforate this so the worms can migrate up through it. Put two loops of string through a couple of the holes. This will allow you to lift out the top portion of your compost, with the worms in it, more easily. I did something similar in this video: ruclips.net/video/aHS1UKdUzVo/видео.html Except it was with a rectangular worm bin design. Just scroll to about 8:10 to see what I mean.
Papa, here is my case for going with a flow through worm composter: How to Harvest a Flow Through Worm Composter: ruclips.net/video/6ScnbSySrFg/видео.html
I just bought the Hungry Bin bc Im a 4'10" lady who loves these types of projects but I can't cut through those plastic containers with scissors (I had Cancer in upper body so my strength is super challenging)...... maybe I could use my Dremel? But that would take forever prob.... my question is wouldn't a black trash bin be better to use since it will keep the light out better? The darker the better right? Also wouldn't 1/2" mesh work just as well for the bottom to keep the castings from falling through but also allowing it to fall through? Just put it inside and secure with some screws? Idk just wondering bc it seems to me the plastic trimmer wire will break down or it won't keep the dirt from falling through?
Hello, thank you for your video.
I have a question.
In winter and cold weather(less than 0), what do you have to do? how can we keep the same productivity of the worms Especially when the worm box is in the cellar?
Thanks in advance for the replies
Hello I cannot find the part 2 to this video.. Can you give the link please?
Also how do you like it? Do you see any issues with it that you would modify?
Thanks!
Hi. I did a full redesign on this with a goal of simplification. If you search for simple flow through worm composter you should see it. I used a black trash can for that build. Note that I initially started using the trimmer line element, but replaced it with a perforated metal plate in the third video in that series. Thank you for watching.
How do you keep the gnats out of the bin? I'm ready to get rid of it and winters coming. I'm so sick of these nats I've tried everything to kill them and I don't want it in my shop raising more of them. Thank u
Could you just use some sort of hardware cloth or mesh at the bottom? To make it a bit easier?
great video start great hook
Omg, I love you, hmmm, not really but I am really excited, I love making s##t, I’m goon make one , been wanting to make one, this video is awesome . Can’t wait to see the follow-up.
Thank you for the tips and on your channel. Really informative.😍
I am a new subscriber. Thank you for all the information that you teaching me. Very useful information. Thanks a million. Have a happy holiday weekend. God blessed !
Thank you Loeuk. Thank you for the nice comment.
I of course have my two cents to add, which is that you can attract the worms by starving them a bit and then putting a double layered brown paper bag with food, or burlap sack or old t shirt. Poke some holes for the worms to enter and give them a day or two, then remove worms and harvest castings (you still get some babies but you get most of the adults out, especially doing it twice).
An interesting idea. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for watching.
Well done.
Thank you for watching.
Are the holes on the bottom of your bin for the drainage as big as the ones on the lid?
The part about moving your hand away from them razor knife is common sense but happens all too much even by experienced workers. Good tip and great reminder
+S. Carter too true. One slice is too many. Thanks for the feedback.
Nicely done. God bless!
Thanks for watching.
Amazing information! I like the flow through concept a lot. It solves many issues. I need a composter like this where I can get my castings and not have to do much more than load compost material where the worms can turn them to castings then the separation process takes place with the design if the compression zone. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks Chelle. Good luck with building your flow through worm composter. 👍🏼
Really good instructional style.
Thank you for the feedback. That is my goal...detailed DIY. Thanks for watching.
I’ve watched a shitload of YT videos. This was art! Excellent job!
Thank you for the kudos. I appreciate it. And thanks for watching.
Just need a handle for the lid. Nice job!
Agreed. That was missing. Thank you for watching.
Well done video. You clearly are knowledgeable and experienced. Just the tools you own indicate that. For someone that doesn't have the tools, or wood lying around, or an old trash can to use, would make this homemade version more costly and less portable than an urban worm bag with a PVC frame. Plus because the worm bag is made from material it is 100% breathable all the way through not just where holes would be put in.
But this is a great alternative for someone like yourself who has the materials on hand the tools needed to make it and the knowledge to do so. I wish you spent a little more time discussing the sizes of the wood pieces you cut. A few pieces were cut where you didn't mention the size.
Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate your encouragement and the info about the worm bag. I’ll need to check it out. I’ve been thinking about building a design that has more surface area using a tarp. Thank you for watching.
NIce. A bit of work but a lot cheaper than what the guy from New Zealand wants for basically the same thing.
A great opportunity to use that rivet gun!
Thanks😊
great video lots of ideas coming to mind thank you .the guy whos blowing his leaves huh Hurricane coming .
I enjoyed this video including the sea weed mulch process and the development of the hungry bin. I want to begin composting, my concern is the security of the lid. I live in an urban setting with some wildlife such as opossums and raccoons, squirrels ferril cats. The animals already open rubbish bins in the neighborhood since human population growth has encroached greatly on their natural habitat. Does the company consider a lid that will allow the use of a lock? I visited their direct website and the models do not include an option to lock the lids.
Excellent video!
Thanks for watching, Graphene. :-)
i really like the idea, the lox cost easily doable out of scrap and old items at the house.
if you were to just build one out of wood, even the compression section would you/ could you just put a door on the side to to scoop the casing out? Also how long do you generally wait for harvesting?
Great work buuts
Thanks for watching.
Didn't read thru the comments but ever try the banana trick to attract all the worms to the top? One over ripe banana partially unpeeled will attract all worms to a massive clump. You'll be able to remove most worms in one go.... Also I would recommend a piece of hardware cloth instead of sewing the bottom with string... But I understand the recycle bit ... Use what you got
i love the vid its super helpful, constructive criticism i personally think u should turn down the music a little bit as i have a hard time hearing you throughout some parts, great video!
U one smart dude awesome workb
hey mr shotz :) thanks for your Videos! i am planning my first gardening Adventure and here are a few Questions from a newbie.. what About a bamboo-bin (this flexible ones like a strandmat) and Fixing the smaller Opening at the Bottom with a metal or plastic ring - when you now seperate the Opening by a few wires or other strong tubes that you can remove for harvesting, then you coulg get the soil by "massage" (kneading the Bottom section). or not?
and: what About horse apples? will they produce too much heat? and i did´t get the fact how Long it takes from the first feeding to the first harvesting - could you help me?
best regards from germany
Awesome video! I can’t wait to build one! 👌🏻
I am SO grateful I came across your Channel!
Was there a specific reason for using the plastic line instead of metal (for example, from metal clothes hanger or metal insulation holder in cross grid fashion)?
Thank you. I primarily used the trimmer line because of its durability and lack of corrosion. The screw heads on the inside of this pretty much get dissolved. Coat hanger would suffer a similar fate, I think. Ultimately, I did remove the trimmer line in favor of a perforated aluminum sheet. Thanks for watching.
wow not only composting i also learnt some carpentry!
+Vs Guevara thank you for watching. :-) happy worm composting.
I’m new to composting and working with worms... what is casting? Is that the worm refuse?
Yes. The castings are the worm poop...or rather, the processed compostables. :-)
@@GreenShortzDIY ohh, ok. Also, thank you, your video helped me identify eggs this morning 😁 I’m gonna be a worm dad! 😂
Hey, it's pretty satisfying to watch, but the one thing I thought of that I'd want to know in your shoes- when you're putting those brackets on particularly, but this also applies to the rest of the woodwork/fastening- old school carpenters putting a nail through two horizontal boards don't put the nail straight down, they put it at a 45 degree angle in, and then they'd come back on the other side and put in a nail going 45 degrees the other way- making an "X" inside the join of the two boards, roughly. Why is this important? Because, it means that no matter what direction the board is moved, there's not a direct friction path for the nails to come out- and so the board stays more secure for longer.
Also as I watched you use the weedwacker line (great idea!) I couldn't stop thinking about that hack to turn 2 liter coke bottles into string (or, really, any size of bottle) by basically pulling the string end through a razor blade secured to a work bench with a couple of screws and washers. Something worth googling.
Hi Choscura. Thanks for sharing the tip. I’ll remember it on my next build. Screws are usually my preference, given their resistance to loosening, but nails can be a less time consuming choice. I do love my framing nailer. :-) I’ll have to check out the hack you mentioned. Sounds pretty cool. I actually did a simpler design of this flow through worm bin, which slides to harvest. I tried the trimmer wire at first, but ultimately took it out in favor of a perforated metal plate. Thanks for the feedback and suggestions.
The metal is probably a better bet. I've been discovering/researching/dealing with metal corrosion as a topic a bit recently and so I've been turned on to the material Aluminum Bronze, which is used in things like heat intensive processes (computer heat syncs for example), and also in situations where corrosion is an issue (oceanic vessel propeller blades, for example) or both (such as the inside baffles of some firearm silencers/sound suppressors).
I kind of wonder what a full-stack system would look like if you integrated this into basically the water systems of an earthship- rainwater collection, filtration for human consumption, all the way through to gray water re-use (so your tapwater that doesn't get used goes into the toilet to flush it, after watering the plants in the front planter)(this is very worth googling if you're not familiar with it- the guy that came up with it is very nice and competent but a bit crackpotty and so ea, I don't think there's anything super-spiritual about the buildings, but the technology of how to build better houses that provide utilities is worth seeing). I really would like to see something like this integrated into a biogas digester/collection system, maybe, so that it can be basically ignored by the family in the house with it- the most successful case is that it becomes 'the other trash can' that produces the gas + fertilizer for house use, I think.
That is so awesome. I definitely have to make one of those.
+taibhsear71 thank you. If all the worm composter I've built, I think this one is going to be my favorite. It is the prototype, so I'll report back on how well the compression zone separates the worms out. Let me know if you build this composter.
I definitely won't be making it until next summer, as my wife will not let me keep that in the house, lol.
I get enough crap about my worm factory.
Don't think of it as crap...think of it as black gold. :-) By the way, here's the set up video: ruclips.net/video/Q8wJK2Xtd74/видео.html
It's not the black gold that's crap, it's the wife's bitching, lol.
I got the worm factory on the condition that it stays outside, then realized it had to be kept at room temperature, which in the northern Alberta means inside.
Taib...here is part three...How to Harvest a Flow Through Worm Composter: ruclips.net/video/6ScnbSySrFg/видео.html
I'm a geezer w bad knees. I cringe whenever I see makers working on their knees on a concrete floor.
I appreciate your use of the Workmate. Reminds me to round up mine.
Would hinch hardware cloth work instead of the trimmer line?
Thanks 😊
This dude has every single power tool ever existed at his disposal 😆
My in-laws know what to get me for Christmas. Although, I am in the market for a big bandsaw. :-) Thanks for watching.
What about a worm drive circular saw? And yes they exhist, I'm only being halfway stupid lol
Except for shop shears. He uses his wife's sewing scissors to cut plastic.
How long does it take to be able to harvest the castings
Im gonna have to raid my husband's lumber stash... thanks for the video.
He’ll never know. Lol. Thanks for watching.
GreenShortz DIY As if it’s not bad enough you borrow his razor lol
New to the channel and loved this video... Thanks
Thank you sir! You going to give worm composting a try?
a very cool concept, my question is how is this working?
Good design but probably not practical for a whole lot of people. Many people don't have the tools, money or time to invest. Definitely a high maintenance project for just a worm composter. Much easier designs out there! Good job though I applaud you for ingenuity!
Nice design. How would you say this vertical setup compares with a horizontal one that has more surface area? Would the horizontal be a faster more populous bin?
Thanks Matty. I do see more rapid composting happening in my horizontal worms bins, just because of the surface area. I think the worms feel less crowded there and will expand their population. I was digging through my flow through bin last week for a demo, and didn't see any worm cocoons. So, the flow through bin might not be as conducive to growing the worm colony. That is still a gut feeling right now...I need more time with the flow through worm bin to know for sure. Thank for watching.
Matty...I just uploaded a new design for the flow through worm composter. Check it out: ruclips.net/video/l43GwJ-mCus/видео.html
Very cool!
Chuck, here is the next installment: How to Harvest a Flow Through Worm Composter: ruclips.net/video/6ScnbSySrFg/видео.html
Skills!
I know I'm being nit picky, but the woodworker in me couldn't get over how much it wobbled. I really wanted to just reach into the video and fix it for you
I appreciate the help, Adam. :-) It’s been a few years since I built that. I can’t remember the wobble. Thank you for watching.
Thoughtful design .... very cool. Why not leave the tabs and the rim of the trash can on and use it to self-seat and secure the trash can in the frame? Seems like you've sacrificed 3" in depth of your trash can by cutting all of that off, and putting screws through this kind of plastic usually ( for me anyway ) results in eventual tears.
Would love to see a follow up on how this actuallly works!
I think I did a harvest video on this. But I also made a simplified version. It uses a black trash can and gets into the harvesting. Thank you for watching.
@@GreenShortzDIY thanks!!