We are building a workshop and living space that will be designed under our ten-mile building challenge rubric, that is, everything must come from less than ten miles from the build site, on average. Part of this is dealing with our waste stream as the building is in use. To that end, we’re designing a … More Help! Designing Code-Compliant Greywater System
This project tests the performance of a modular, scalable compost box that uses a composting chamber to support an attached growing bed with nitrogen, moisture, carbon dioxide, and heat to grow greens in the shoulder and off seasons; includes a series of controlled tests to determine best practices. … More Research Project No. 7 — Hot Box Compost: Modular Composting System that Heats, Waters, and Fertilizes Grow Bed for Off-Season Production
In this episode, we put up tomato trellises, get our compost on, and other early summer projects.
#LowTechResilience
#Foodmageddon
#ResilienceGarden … More Foodmageddon, Episode 15: Trellises and Compost
I’ve run out of compost! I’m not half-way through getting my beds in order and I’ve already distributed what I thought was a large pile of black gold. Without going off campus (and out of pocket) to buy more, I’m going to have to get creative to build up some carbon and nitrogen source for … More Compost Goals — via Terry Pratchett’s Discworld
Since the beginning of the institute, we’ve been planning to publish a series of short, technical pamphlets, each on a different subject. Over the last few weeks, you may have noticed a series of posts on Vermicompost. We recently presented about worm composting at the Wisconsin Permaculture Convergence and will be tabling with our worms … More The Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 1: Vermicompost
Worms have their likes and dislikes, but luckily for any would-be worm farmer, they are not as picky as kids (or some adults). Worms are vegetarian and the bins need a carbon-and-nitrogen mix, just like a normal compost system. The “Do-Feeds” Worms like neutral or basic pH foods that are moist, soft, and bite sized. … More Vermicompost 101 — Feed the Worms
Cursory web searches for “vermicomposting” turn up images of stacked bins, but worms are not picky and thrive in many configurations. We can quickly satisfy what the worms need and then concentrate on what system is best for the worm farmer. The Worm Real Estate Market Red wrigglers are near-surface-dwelling earthworms, staying in the top … More Vermicompost 101 — Worm Housing
Red wrigglers are complex composting machines! They’re built to live underground and eat their way through decaying material, leaving behind worm castings, otherwise known as “compost gold.” External Anatomy Red wrigglers are tube-shaped animals made up of up to 120 segments. The name of their phylum — Annelida — comes from the Latin phrase “little … More Vermicompost 101 — Worm Anatomy
Many of us dissected worms in biology class and most have used them for fishing bait, but few know much about the lives of Eisenia fetida. Called “red wrigglers” by composters or “panfish” or “trout worms” by others, they belong to the Lumbricidae family of earthworms and are the only worms you should consider using … More Vermicompost 101 — Worm Life Cycle
Compost systems attract fruit flies — any composter has experienced these little blighters (see yesterday’s post about a fruit-fly trap) — but vermicompost systems mimic the soil and attract a wide variety of creepy crawlies. This is a quick rundown of these insects, many of which are beneficial and help break down the organic matter … More Vermicompost 101 — Pests