Comments on: Preparation for Winter Worm Composting http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/ 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: Jonathan http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/comment-page-1/#comment-24202 Jonathan Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:38:42 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/#comment-24202 glad I could help glad I could help

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/comment-page-1/#comment-24176 Bentley Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:47:23 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/#comment-24176 Hi Kristen, This is an ancient post, but THANKS for commenting here. I totally forgot about Jonathan's comment (sorry Jonathan!). Interestingly enough, some of my most recently posts have centered around the topic of warming up my current "Winter Worm Windrow". Jonathan's idea certainly sounds like a cool approach. It might be a little involved for me to do something like that in this situation, but what I HAVE been thinking about is placing clear plastic over top of the black tarp that already sits on the bed - this way I should be able to hold some of the solar-generated heat in a little longer. 8) Hi Kristen,
This is an ancient post, but THANKS for commenting here. I totally forgot about Jonathan’s comment (sorry Jonathan!). Interestingly enough, some of my most recently posts have centered around the topic of warming up my current “Winter Worm Windrow”. Jonathan’s idea certainly sounds like a cool approach. It might be a little involved for me to do something like that in this situation, but what I HAVE been thinking about is placing clear plastic over top of the black tarp that already sits on the bed – this way I should be able to hold some of the solar-generated heat in a little longer.
8)

]]> By: Kristen http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/comment-page-1/#comment-24174 Kristen Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:29:41 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/#comment-24174 Bentley, id love to hear what you think of jonathans solar cover idea , i am living where there is no electricity and keeping worms alive during the winter(in N.Y. state) is an issue! Bentley, id love to hear what you think of jonathans solar cover idea , i am living where there is no electricity and keeping worms alive during the winter(in N.Y. state) is an issue!

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/comment-page-1/#comment-22309 Jonathan Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:07:42 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/#comment-22309 Have you considered instead of using a tarp you could try building a "solar heat collector" and using that as the cover to the bin? Something along the lines of a box slightly larger than you bin painted black on the inside (possibly even filled with aluminum cans painted black) covered with a layer of glass or plexi glass. This will collect heat from the sun and the air layer will help to trap it. Got the idea from a solar water heater. Have you considered instead of using a tarp you could try building a “solar heat collector” and using that as the cover to the bin? Something along the lines of a box slightly larger than you bin painted black on the inside (possibly even filled with aluminum cans painted black) covered with a layer of glass or plexi glass. This will collect heat from the sun and the air layer will help to trap it. Got the idea from a solar water heater.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/comment-page-1/#comment-3227 Bentley Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:31:21 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/#comment-3227 Hi again, Graham! Those are good questions, especially considering how much I harp about keeping bin conditions aerobic! For starters, I aim to keep temperatures fairly low (in comparison to summer vermicomposting that is). If I can keep temps in the bin 10-15C (50-59F) all winter I will be thrilled!! So far everything has been proceeding beautifully. We've had some serious winter weather already yet conditions in the bin are perfect. Anyway - I got sidetracked there - haha! Lower temperatures means lower rates of respiration in the bin (thus less oxygen consumption). Obviously we need SOME O2 consumption however since that is what generates the warmth in the bin! I try to open up the bin at least every other day (although sometimes it goes longer), so that helps. Also, the bin itself is not sealed like a plastic tub - it is made of slats of wood with spaces in between. I imagine there is quite a lot of air that gets in from the top. As such, my compost does not smell (other than a nice earthy odour) BTW, you can read about my winter composting experiences on my compost guy blog: http://www.compostguy.com/category/winter-composting/ The most recent posts will appear first. B. Hi again, Graham!
Those are good questions, especially considering how much I harp about keeping bin conditions aerobic!

For starters, I aim to keep temperatures fairly low (in comparison to summer vermicomposting that is). If I can keep temps in the bin 10-15C (50-59F) all winter I will be thrilled!!

So far everything has been proceeding beautifully. We’ve had some serious winter weather already yet conditions in the bin are perfect.

Anyway – I got sidetracked there – haha! Lower temperatures means lower rates of respiration in the bin (thus less oxygen consumption). Obviously we need SOME O2 consumption however since that is what generates the warmth in the bin!
I try to open up the bin at least every other day (although sometimes it goes longer), so that helps. Also, the bin itself is not sealed like a plastic tub – it is made of slats of wood with spaces in between. I imagine there is quite a lot of air that gets in from the top. As such, my compost does not smell (other than a nice earthy odour)

BTW, you can read about my winter composting experiences on my compost guy blog:
http://www.compostguy.com/category/winter-composting/

The most recent posts will appear first.

B.

]]> By: GRAHAM http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/comment-page-1/#comment-3226 GRAHAM Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:17:06 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/#comment-3226 HI THERE BENTLEY JUST READ YOUR ARTICLE ON WINTER COMPOST BIN. (1) WHAT DO YOU DO FOR AIR WITHIN THE MIX??? (2) IF THERE IS NO METHOD OF AIR CIRCULATION OR WHATEVER WOLD THE COMPOST SMELL??? I HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING WINTERIZING MY OWN COMPOST CAGE. HOW DOES IT SEEM TO BE WORKING FOR YOU SO FAR?? HI THERE BENTLEY
JUST READ YOUR ARTICLE ON WINTER COMPOST BIN.
(1) WHAT DO YOU DO FOR AIR WITHIN THE MIX???
(2) IF THERE IS NO METHOD OF AIR CIRCULATION OR WHATEVER WOLD THE COMPOST SMELL???
I HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING WINTERIZING MY OWN COMPOST CAGE. HOW DOES IT SEEM TO BE WORKING FOR YOU SO FAR??

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/comment-page-1/#comment-2629 Bentley Tue, 20 Nov 2007 04:17:30 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/#comment-2629 Great, J! We'll have to compare notes once the snow really starts to fly! :-) B. Great, J!
We’ll have to compare notes once the snow really starts to fly! :-)

B.

]]> By: J http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/comment-page-1/#comment-2627 J Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:51:25 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/#comment-2627 Hey Bentley! I'm right with you trying to make a a comfy outdoor home over the winter. Thanks for the bird bath heater tip, I believe this will help me and my wormy pals feel much better. J Hey Bentley!
I’m right with you trying to make a a comfy outdoor home over the winter. Thanks for the bird bath heater tip, I believe this will help me and my wormy pals feel much better.
J

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/comment-page-1/#comment-2604 Bentley Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:55:36 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/#comment-2604 Hi Nick, Your winter temps actually sound quite similar to ours. I'm in southern Ontario, so certainly warmer than some regions in Canada. I have not tried any sort of bulb myself, but I imagine it would provide a decent amount of warmth - the only question is how much your utility bill might be! Anyway, I'm almost finished insulating my outdoor bin - as mentioned, a video will be on the way shortly! B. Hi Nick,
Your winter temps actually sound quite similar to ours. I’m in southern Ontario, so certainly warmer than some regions in Canada.
I have not tried any sort of bulb myself, but I imagine it would provide a decent amount of warmth – the only question is how much your utility bill might be!

Anyway, I’m almost finished insulating my outdoor bin – as mentioned, a video will be on the way shortly!

B.

]]> By: Nick Halsey http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/comment-page-1/#comment-2602 Nick Halsey Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:51:26 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/preparation-for-winter-worm-composting/#comment-2602 I live in Denmark and although it is nowhere near as cold as some parts of Canada and the US, Temps can go down to -20 C, I thought about using a low wattage infra red bulb, the same kind that you use for young poultry to keep the temp. in the bin up on the coldest nights. has anybody tried this? Nick. I live in Denmark and although it is nowhere near as cold as some parts of Canada and the US, Temps can go down to -20 C, I thought about using a low wattage infra red bulb, the same kind that you use for young poultry to keep the temp. in the bin up on the coldest nights. has anybody tried this?

Nick.

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