Comments on: Winter Worm Windrow – 01-13-10 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/winter-composting/winter-worm-windrow-01-13-10/ Red Wiggler Worms, European Nightcrawlers and loads of helpful Worm Composting Information Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:46:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/winter-composting/winter-worm-windrow-01-13-10/comment-page-1/#comment-24130 Bentley Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:30:12 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1890#comment-24130 Thanks Andrew! Definitely some good ideas there! --------------- Heather - I appreciated the molasses nudge in one of your other comments! Hopefully I will be finding masses of wormies before too long as well! 8) Thanks Andrew! Definitely some good ideas there!
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Heather – I appreciated the molasses nudge in one of your other comments!

Hopefully I will be finding masses of wormies before too long as well!
8)

]]> By: Heather http://www.redwormcomposting.com/winter-composting/winter-worm-windrow-01-13-10/comment-page-1/#comment-24113 Heather Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:32:36 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1890#comment-24113 molasses + food=...I am glad you did that Bentley! Before our string of 12-19 degree F nights, I did the same thing--lots of food and molasses in one region...added a lot more straw, black cloth, then clear plastic. The top layer was a little crusty, but after 2 days of 50s--I dug in to find masses of wormies! Whew, I was worried they were all gonna be goners. molasses + food=…I am glad you did that Bentley!

Before our string of 12-19 degree F nights, I did the same thing–lots of food and molasses in one region…added a lot more straw, black cloth, then clear plastic. The top layer was a little crusty, but after 2 days of 50s–I dug in to find masses of wormies! Whew, I was worried they were all gonna be goners.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.redwormcomposting.com/winter-composting/winter-worm-windrow-01-13-10/comment-page-1/#comment-24112 Andrew Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:27:00 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1890#comment-24112 Hi, Bentley. I thought if you capture some of the heat in water, it could extend the heating from the sun past sunset. The heat in the water would continue to bleed out into the ground for a bit longer. The more water, the better. Yeah, I was also wondering how to keep the water from leaking out of the bag. My initial thought was simply to fold over (or roll) the open edge a few times and duct tape it. The bags I'm thinking of are pretty thick (8-9 mil?). The kind for heavy duty gardening use. You'd have to test it out, but I think they could withstand the heat. A water bed mattress sounds great. Are they dark? Or maybe you could paint it black? Another option would be to go to an oil change place and see if they have empty black liter/quart containers. Fill enough of those with water and they should heat up pretty good. Building a little (maybe 1 ft. above the windrow) hoop greenhouse could help. It wouldn't have to be very fancy as long as there's no severe wind in your area. Not sure how you'd access the windrow if it was covered though. Hi, Bentley. I thought if you capture some of the heat in water, it could extend the heating from the sun past sunset. The heat in the water would continue to bleed out into the ground for a bit longer. The more water, the better.

Yeah, I was also wondering how to keep the water from leaking out of the bag. My initial thought was simply to fold over (or roll) the open edge a few times and duct tape it. The bags I’m thinking of are pretty thick (8-9 mil?). The kind for heavy duty gardening use. You’d have to test it out, but I think they could withstand the heat.

A water bed mattress sounds great. Are they dark? Or maybe you could paint it black? Another option would be to go to an oil change place and see if they have empty black liter/quart containers. Fill enough of those with water and they should heat up pretty good.

Building a little (maybe 1 ft. above the windrow) hoop greenhouse could help. It wouldn’t have to be very fancy as long as there’s no severe wind in your area. Not sure how you’d access the windrow if it was covered though.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/winter-composting/winter-worm-windrow-01-13-10/comment-page-1/#comment-24111 Bentley Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:44:57 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1890#comment-24111 Hi Andrew - I have definitely seen those before (and thought they were a great idea). So, are you thinking in terms of some sort of black water blanket that would go on top of the bed? That's a great idea - I guess my only concern there would be the challenge of keeping it from leaking. I wonder if an old water bed matress (partially filled) would do the trick? (assuming you could get one that was black) I was also wondering if there would be any advantage to adding a sheet of thick clear plastic over top of the tarp - to basically trap more of the heat. It would be like a mini greenhouse effect. 8) Hi Andrew – I have definitely seen those before (and thought they were a great idea). So, are you thinking in terms of some sort of black water blanket that would go on top of the bed? That’s a great idea – I guess my only concern there would be the challenge of keeping it from leaking. I wonder if an old water bed matress (partially filled) would do the trick? (assuming you could get one that was black)

I was also wondering if there would be any advantage to adding a sheet of thick clear plastic over top of the tarp – to basically trap more of the heat. It would be like a mini greenhouse effect.
8)

]]> By: Andrew http://www.redwormcomposting.com/winter-composting/winter-worm-windrow-01-13-10/comment-page-1/#comment-24110 Andrew Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:51:27 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1890#comment-24110 Bentley, have you ever used a solar camp shower? It's basically a black water bottle you put in the sun to heat up water for a shower. The one I have only holds 5 gal., so it obviously wouldn't work for your windrow. But what if you used a heavy duty garbage bag (~33 gal./125 liter) & filled it so it holds a few inches of water when sprawled out? I wonder if there's enough sunlight where you are to warm the water enough to make it worth while. Bentley, have you ever used a solar camp shower? It’s basically a black water bottle you put in the sun to heat up water for a shower. The one I have only holds 5 gal., so it obviously wouldn’t work for your windrow. But what if you used a heavy duty garbage bag (~33 gal./125 liter) & filled it so it holds a few inches of water when sprawled out? I wonder if there’s enough sunlight where you are to warm the water enough to make it worth while.

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