The cardboard/paper I avoid (and instead add to the recycling box) are those with a shiny colour finish. I’ve read that there can be heavy metals in some colour inks - not much, but if you add these materials over and over again I’m sure it can accumulate.
I don’t really use newsprint all that much anymore and I when I do, like yourself I tend to stick with the black and white pages only.

As for keeping worms cool, one obvious suggestion is to place your worm bin in a very shady spot, or at least create shade my setting up some sort of shelter. Also, having your worm bed partially or fully in-ground can help a lot. When it gets really hot the worms can move downward into cooler zones.

Great ideas re: new videos! I’ve been meaning to do a harvesting video, and I like the idea of showing people how often (and how) to feed - I think a lot of people get into trouble with worm bins due to overfeeding.

Regards,

Bentley

A question about the cardboard - do you use any particular type of cardboard or is there any type of cardboard that you avoid? I used shredded newspaper but first removed the colored sections because I had heard they were toxic. Do you use cardboard that has colors or is inked? What are the sources of your cardboard?

Also, do you have any ideas about how to keep worms cool in the summer in extreme temperatures? I would like to get a worm box going again but would need to keep it outside.

Finally, please make a video about how and when you add new food to your wormbox, and when and how to take down or freshen a wormbox. Removing the worms and changing out the box was the part I liked least about managing my box.

Thanks!

Tuna cans would definitely be more structurally sound (than milk carton sections) for a larger bin. Just make sure the top bin isn’t so far down that its sides are wedged against the sides of the reservoir bin. This will impede airflow. You may want to try larger cans instead, but you are definitely on the right track.

As for the liquid that collects in the bottom - while there has been some evidence to indicate that plain leachate (technical term for this sort of liquid) can be beneficial, it is widely thought that the best compost teas are 1) Aerated (oxygenated via an air pump) and 2) Made using high quality compost (not by collecting the liquid from partially decomposed materials).

Anaerobic (without oxygen) materials/liquids often contain compounds that can impede plant growth, but if you add these liquids (or composts that have been allowed to go anaerobic) to your garden they will become aerobic and harmful compounds will be broken down relatively quickly.

If you happen to have an aquarium air pump you might want to try aerating the liquid before using it.

As for landscape cloth under the lid, thats a cool idea for keeping them out (although the holes in the side of the bin will provide access), but if they hatch from inside, every time you feed the worms they will fly out anyway. The cloth should still allow a decent amount of oyxygen in. Landscape cloth at the bottom of the (upper) bin is also not a bad idea - would prevent the worms from crawling through your drainage holes.

Anyway, hope this helps!

SECOND: I am looking to start up a worm bin following your video. I am planning to use larger tubs as you suggested in earlier comments. I will use something like tuna cans with the tops and bottoms removed for my supports. My question is regarding the liquid collection .. Do you like the liquid in some type of compost tea ?

THIRD: Before placing the lid (with air holes) on the upper bin, I was planning to add a layer of landscape fabric to impede the fruit flies. Do you think that this will also impede the aeration needed for the bin ?

Looking forward to your response ….. will probably have more questions or concerns along the way.

Anyway, many more videos on the way - will actually be dedicating an entire site just to worm vids (good quality ones - not YouTube versions). More on that very soon!

B.

One other thing to mention - with larger bins a couple milk carton supports definitely won’t support the weight of the upper bin. You’ll need something stronger.

I’d definitely be interested to hear how you make out with the Alpaca manure!

B.

Allen

B.

Thanks!