Compost Worm Bucket Done

 

There it is. In the ground and ready to go. I put down a 1" layer of shredded paper to begin, and then added peat moss soil. I think I put in enough to make the bucket half full. Watered it down good. It drained fine with all those holes.

I added kitchen scraps and wet cardboard, along with dead leaves. I put a little more peat moss on top.

The worms arrived and I added them and sprinkled water to wake them up after their trip from the worm farm. My grandson came by with some nightcrawlers he had left from fishing and, after he fed the fish, dumped the rest in the bucket.

I've checked this a few times in the past week and a half. Everything seems to be breaking down real well. Added some ground up eggshells and frozen vegetables.  My grandson has pulled out some of the worms to feed our fish.

It's getting cooler out now and winter is only a couple months away so I'm anxious to see how this does during the winter. The worms can easily leave the bucket and head down to warmer dirt, so I don't see any issues.

I'll update this from time to time.

Indoor Koi Pond Oasis

 I wanted to get this up today. Next week I'll be putting up pictures of the work in progress to get here, as well as giving you step by step instructions so you can build your own.

I have koi outside in a large pond and one that is dropped in my deck. I have pictures of those elsewhere. The one on the deck houses 3 small koi that won't quite be ready for the winter so they will come inside in this pond.

Worm Tower - Make Your Own Compost

 So, I went to Menards and got a 5-gallon food grade plastic bucket and a lid. They said they had food grade lids but, as usual, they didn't. I don't think the lid is that big of a deal and actually, you watch Youtube videos and they seldom say bucket needs to be food grade.

I drilled 1/2" holes in the sides in a 3-2-3-2 pattern. 

Why? I don't know. It sounded cool.

I went the entire way around the bucket and then drilled holes in the bottom for drainage. Still used 1/2" bit and went in a circle. One row and I drilled a hole in the center.

I put it in the hole and filled up the sides with dirt. Then added maybe a 1" layer of shredded paper at the bottom of the bucket. It's good bedding.

I filled up the bucket not quite halfway with topsoil with peat moss. Peat moss is supposed to be what worms like, but I know some areas don't have much available. Just use topsoil but not potting soil. Wet everything down. Don't worry if you think you put too much water in. It will drain.

I added my kitchen scraps and mixed in a little more topsoil. Now I wait. My worms are supposed to arrive tomorrow. I'll update you.

Worm Tower Using 5 Gallon Bucket

OK. So I decided I'm going to try my hand at adding a worm tower to my garden. I'll be using a 5-gallon plastic food grade bucket with a food grade lid. 

This post is just an introduction. Tomorrow I'll go buy the bucket and lid. Cost is around 10 bux. The first step will be drilling holes in the bucket and then digging a hole in the ground for the bucket. 

I'll be posting pictures showing how I do all this, so you'll want to bookmark this site and check back. I have ordered Super Red European Night Crawlers to add to the new tower as they are good composting worms and, this is very important, are a good fishing worm.

I'm pretty sure my koi in my larger pond will enjoy an occasional snack, as well as the bass and two catfish in my smaller pond. But mainly I'll add kitchen scraps regularly to the tower and allow these guys to break down the scraps into a rich compost to feed my garden.

Stya tuned, guys!