Steve’s Awesome Flow-Through Bed

wes
#1. January 23rd, 2013, at 12:52 PM.

for the flow through on the bottom how large should the openings be?

I just built a new system that is using 1/4 in galvanized mesh.

Is that too small?

thanks !
Wes

John W.
#2. January 23rd, 2013, at 5:22 PM.

I think 1/4 is the recommended spacing. you can even go down to 1/8th from what I have read and tried. The way I understand it…the smaller the spacing…the more “concentrated” the castings are and the less you need.
I don’t know if that’s true or not.

RAY
#3. January 24th, 2013, at 7:38 AM.

This is a very nice work Steve! But I have few questions and this are very important I think:
*Do you know exactly how long take to decompose the news papers?
*Do you think that in the time the news paper decompose is enough time for the worm to transform a 16 cubit feet of materials, because I think your bed is 4′x2′x2′ if I’m not wrong is how it looks in the picture.
*Whats going to happens when the news paper decompose and everything falls down to the bottom.
*Is your plan to harvest the worms, and eggs that don’t hatch on time when this happens.
*After you don’t have a false bed anymore what are you going to do, if you don’t have a 100% castings on the top with that a mix of food scraps, that is going to fall into your real 100% castings from the bottom.
Don’t you think and this is only a suggestion Steve, that you must create a system where you can harvest the 100% castings from the bottom with out disturb the worms on the top, in this way all you have to do is add more food scraps every time you aged for them, in this way you will have an 100% control over the environment, no only of the worms but of the eggs to, and your colony will grow faster, healthier and more happy with out been disturb all the times you are going to harvest your castings.

RAY
#4. January 24th, 2013, at 7:42 AM.

I try to put a message on Steve’s page but This block [ 1,061 Spam Comments Blocked so far by Spam Free WordPress ] don’t let your message goes thrum I think, some one please let him know that

wes
#5. January 24th, 2013, at 8:48 AM.

I really like the idea here! I forgot to put that in my first post! Thanks for the helpJohn W.

Andy
#6. January 26th, 2013, at 6:08 AM.

Very nice flow through system. Good job. I was thinking using warehouse shelving myself too.
Commercial built flow through bins use the same type of grate with 1″ by 3″ holes. Plus my worm wigwam’s grate have the same holes. I don’t have a problem with finished vermicompost dropping down loosly. I just use newspaper on the grate, in a few months when vc is ready to be harvest the newspaper will just fall apart very easy. I just sift it through. With the right amount moisture levels, the vc will stay up above the grate.

William
#7. February 26th, 2013, at 11:20 AM.

I want to make a box but I need insulation for it gets cold even in my garage I am concerned that the flow through method will let to much cold air in the box from the bottom and will freeze my worms. Is there any one from way up north that has vericompost that can help me.