Comments on: Preparation for Winter Worm Composting

By: Paul Chalmus

Paul Chalmus — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 22:44:15 +0000

Hi, Bentley….I just stumbled across these old comments about you rigging up your compost container to secure your worms from the winter weather. The articles are 2010 it is 2014 now….How did things turn out? I had lost all of my worms during the winter. By the way, What’s a spammer?

By: cecil pearson

cecil pearson — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 00:03:00 +0000

I’m in north eastern North Carolina and I keep my totes of worms in a closed room off the side of my open garage. Because my water pump is located in this room I keep a 250 watt light bulb burning all the time. The temp stays around 55 to 60 degees from October until March/April. Even with the current temps of 10 to 17 it maintains at least 45 degrees with the help of a heat lamp on the cold nights………………………

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:38:42 +0000

glad I could help

By: Bentley

Bentley — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:47:23 +0000

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

Kristen — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:29:41 +0000

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

Jonathan — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:07:42 +0000

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

Bentley — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:31:21 +0000

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.

By: GRAHAM

GRAHAM — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:17:06 +0000

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

Bentley — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 04:17:30 +0000

Great, J!
We’ll have to compare notes once the snow really starts to fly! 🙂

By: J

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:51:25 +0000

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