Can I build a wormery?

[Claire72]

I would so love a wormery, I think they are a great idea, and would really be a bonus, but I just cannot justify the 60-90 pounds I have seen them advertised at.
Can I build them out of plastic storage boxes? What are the basic requirements? I know I want some way of collecting the 'juice', but is it necessary to have layers? would a plastic storage box with a lid work???

[BrideXIII]

I would so love a wormery, I think they are a great idea, and would really be a bonus, but I just cannot justify the 60-90 pounds I have seen them advertised at.
Can I build them out of plastic storage boxes? What are the basic requirements? I know I want some way of collecting the 'juice', but is it necessary to have layers? would a plastic storage box with a lid work???

i know they built one in a wheelbarrow on gardeners world, i did think about building one in a lidded box, as long as it drains so the worms don't drown i don't see the problem, after all the woms only live in one
part of it.

have you tried googling, i am pretty sure i found plans for one on there, and you could adapt them.

there is one here:
http://www.durham.gov.uk/durhamcc/us...ur+Own+Wormery

and you could stand it on another bin if you get stackable ones, to harvest the 'juice'

[Claire72]

Thanks for that, now to find a bin with a lid!!!!

[NOG]

Do a search on this site cos there was a thread on here about building your own.

[BrideXIII]

Thanks for that, now to find a bin with a lid!!!!

Son2 has decided he wants to build one, so we are off to get the boxes tomorrow same ones i use for container veg, stackable toy boxes, two boxes, one lid, holes in the top worm home one, bottom one to collect 'juice' i'll take pics when its done

[MaureenHall]

I'm seriously considering starting a wormery too. I found this Cheap and Easy Worm Bin! - it's got pictures so I can follow the instructions

[nerobot]

You certainly can build a very cheap (and in my option, better) wormery at home.

I built mine out of 4/5 cat litter trays that cost about 70p each. Drill holes in all but one of them (big enough for the worms to get through). Stack on top of each other. Use botton one (with no holes in it) to collect the worm juice. The one on top of that should then have gravel in it. This will allow juice to collect but stop the worms going into the very bottom tray. And then just include as many stacks as you want on top of that for your worms to live in.

Made mine in about 10 minutes, though I was able to get worms from some one.

If if would be helpful, I'll put some pictures up of it.

Steven

[Jameslovell]

I presume that the wormery's are left outside. Should they be protected in any way?

[nerobot]

I have mine inside in a cupboard.

Steven

[Jameslovell]

A cupboard inside your house? Does it smell at all?

[stevemac]

Nerobot i Would be interested in some of your photos as i like the idea of a wormery but certainly not the cost of a proper one!

[nerobot]

It's in a cupboard in a room beside my bedroom, and I have had no problems with it smelling at all, even when I put some chicken bones in it (which the worms loved).

I'll try to get some photos up tonight or tomorrow.

Steven

[nerobot]

Well here are the pictures. Not sure if they make any sense, but hopefully they do. I bury the food in the vermacast, which is why it might look like there is no new food in it. Also, I use a final, empty tray on top, with no holes in it. I think this helps keep the moisture in, and I have not found any need to bedding this way either.

Steven

edit: Second to last picture shows the tray that has both grit and shredded paper in it. It seems quite good at keeping the worms out of the bottom tray, but as you can see from the last picture, it does not keep out the baby worms.

[Digger-07]

Nerobot - the white worms are not "babies" they are a different species, Enchytraeus albidus. I used to buy them for my tropical fish. Wish I knew how easy they were to collect from a wormery, it would have saved me pounds.

[Digger-07]

PS if you have a pet shop nearby try to sell them. Collect them under a piece of damp bread laid on the top of the compost.