Comments on: Vermicomposting Trench Video

By: Bentley

Bentley — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 21:37:03 +0000

Hi Crystal – I live in a similar climate zone as you and yes straw (and various other bedding materials) are excellent for protecting a trench (and outdoor low-lying systems in general)

By: Crystal

Crystal — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 02:28:57 +0000

We live in Zone 5 where the frost can go 4′ deep if there isn’t enough snow cover. Could I replicate the snow cover with enough hay on top and leave my worms in the ground year round?

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:59:18 +0000

Would the worms survive a hot summer in Kentucky? Does anyone know how much cooler the underground temperature would be? Maybe I should leave a compost thermometer in the ground and monitor it for a few days.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:19:51 +0000

Hi Jacque,
I do indeed live in the “burbs”. We are on the edge of town, but aside from loads of birds, the only real “wildlife” we seem to get around here are rabbits and chipmunks (oh – and mice! haha).
Your idea is a good one – I’ve been meaning to try something similar with a buried plastic garbage can.

By: Jacque

Jacque — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:37:48 +0000

Thanks Bentley. You live in a suburb, right? We live out in the woods. I wonder how the worms would feel living in a partially buried metal trash can – with plenty of drainage holes of course. Do you have any thoughts? (A determined rodent can gnaw through plastic.)

By: Bentley

Bentley — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 04:08:25 +0000

Hi Jacque,
I have not had any serious critter problems. I seem to get some mice when I build up the beds a bit (and more so in the colder weather), and plenty of robins seem to root around in search of worms (a thick layer of straw works really well though). This is definitely a good question, and something others will definitely need to keep in mind, depending on their location.

By: Jacque

Jacque — Thu, 20 May 2010 02:19:37 +0000

Any problems with raccoons, squirrels, etc digging in the trenches?

By: Bentley

Bentley — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:21:02 +0000

KUAN – You should definitely expect to see some roots growing out into the trench. I would imagine there is an even more extensive network further down. Roots never created issues for me in terms of adding food materials since I always add near the top. As for how many times I fed the trenches – during my first summer I fed them ALL the time (multiple times a week) since I have so much restaurant food waste to deal with. Last year I didn’t have nearly as much (periodic aged manure additions, plus grass clippings and yard waste), but I still fed quite a few times during the growing season. If you don’t your trench will likely sink down quite a lot.
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MARK – Thanks! I was really looking forward to finally getting this one (video) put together. Can wait to get my trench gardens going again this year.
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ANNA – Your first question definitely made me laugh! My daughter is DEFINITELY a handful when we are out in the garden – don’t let the picture fool you. She pulls plants and stomps on trenches and wants to get involved in everything (which is great) – we have a lot of fun, but I definitely don’t get much work done (other than perhaps shooting the odd photo – haha). Good question about the wooden covers. One of my dreams has actually been to set up a network of “square foot gardens” with a network of trenches in between them. I thought some sort of removable boardwalk over top would be really cool. You’d want it to be above the actual trench (don’t want it compacting everything), and if it was slatted that would keep the air moving nicely.
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HEATHER – Great to hear that the trenches are working so well for you. I wonder if a REALLY thick layer of straw would help you to keep them active in the summer. I’m probably naive, being from Canada and all – but figured it was worth asking. haha
I am seeing real improvement of my soil as well. We have really clayey soil here and over the last few years my gardens have become increasingly crumbly and earthy – loads of soil earthworms doing their thing as well, so that’s always good.
8)
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YODER – Thanks for your support and enthusiasm! Glad your trenches are working so well for you. I agree that plants could be grown in the trench itself – only thing is that, in my case anyway, this would create hassles when trying to add new food, harvest worm-rich material etc etc.

By: yoder

yoder — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:28:26 +0000

people == get on youtube and “thumbs-up” this video… spread the vord! this is an extremely effective technique that very few people know about.

You can plant things right in the middle of the trench!
Bentley, I made a 5X10X10-foot pile of relatively-fresh horse manure (5′ is the height) in jan/feb, and already the redworms have somehow migrated up to the surface of the pile. They’re all over, one every few inches or so, under the (1-6″) straw mulch. It is very exciting, and makes me look forward to taking out the compost (I bury buckets of food scraps in “tunnels” dug about halfway down from the top. I walk on a 2×6 plank set up diagonally across a chosen corner of the pile, which is held up by wood pallets…) I’m adding N-heavy scraps (with some browns, but not too much) to more quickly break down the manure/bedding, getting it ready for three 30-foot long worm trenches that are to run along 40″-wide beds this summer… WOOWOOWOOO!!

By: Heather

Heather — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 13:27:47 +0000

Wonderful, Bentley….
I have been doing this here in Texas straight in my garden since September. I have been pulling my worms and VC out, as I just don’t think they will be able to handle the summer heat right in full sun. Besides having a fabulous winter garden, one of the side benefits is my surrounding garden beds are just the most wonderful texture and consistency from all the worm work in those areas too. Also, as I have been planting my spring/summer stuff–I just reach over and grab some of the rotting straw from my trench and mulch with that, and just grab some VC from the trench and top dress with that. I’ll be planting peppers and eggplants in that trench, and think there will be some left over goodness to grow some beautiful veggies.
I will be starting the trench again in September!