Worm Bin 3: Flow Through System

In my recent addiction to vermicomposting, I must have watched over 50 videos and read over 50 blog entries for my research and entertainment.  I think I dream about composting worms in my sleep already.  Anyway, freaky behavior aside, I was intrigued by the can'o'worms contraption. Basically, it's a stack of flow-through trays or trays with little holes at the bottom.  It's supposed to let worms move from one tray to another; once they finish eating through one, they'll migrate to the other trays with more food sources.  Now, this system  goes on sale for about $105 or PHP4,600.   So I figured, hey, that's not so hard to replicate and shouldn't cost that much money.

So I bought three trays from Landmark and they're full of holes all over.   It cost me P120 or $2.75.  Well that's not so bad.  To make sure the worms don't escape, I used packing tape around the sides.  You won't see on the picture, but I actually left small holes on the sides: good enough for ventilation but a challenge for worms attempting to escape.  I also taped folded paper on the sides (all 4 sides) to make sure the trays don't get stacked tight.  Now the only way out for the worms is up or down.  Below the bottom tray, I put in a whole newspaper.  Since the bottom is flat, that basically takes care of escape routes from the bottom.   But it'll still have excellent drainage since a whole newspaper won't impede water flow. On top, I'll just place a another whole newspaper and that's it.  No more escape routes.  And yet, since everything's loose, there'll be enough air for the worms. 

So that's it.  I now have a makeshift multi-layer flow-through vermicompost bin.  Will it actually work?  For now it seems better designed than worm bins 1 and 2.  But, we'll see in a couple of weeks if it lives up to my expectations. 

---