We just modified two 18 gallon tubs to serve as bulk worm composting bins. These tubs significantly increase our capacity and will assist with the sorting process during harvesting. During the long, cold winter, our capacity was pushed to its limits. We allowed the outdoor bins to sit full and undisturbed, hoping that the compost would serve as insulation and protect the worms in a central thermal reservoir. By that mechanisms or some other, the worms survived, but they were clearly not munching much over the traditional holiday feasting season. The bins we moved indoors remained active and hungry. They served as our only repositories for compostable material during the winder months. As the weather warmed, all the bins moved back outdoors, but our available capacity was near zero. The worms in the outdoor bins grew active, but still needed to compost material that sat frozen in their bins during months of inactivity. The bins that had wintered in warmer surroundings were bursting with worms and compost ready to harvest. But, harvesting requires excess capacity to receive the livestock, which must be separated from the final agricultural product. So, we spent one evening with a drill constructing new habitat for our expanding herd. Now, we are waiting for some warm, sunny days to begin the harvest. Sun aids the culling process, because worms naturally withdraw from the sun, (theoretically) allowing a top layer of worm-free compost to be brushed into a harvesting container. Warm weather keeps the harvesters happy because you have to get in there with your hands. It is a gooey, finger numbing job if it is cold.
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