How deep would I have to keep an outdoors worm bin?

16 years ago

I was thinking about having an outdoors worm box, with the only intention that it would actively compost during the late spring, summer, and fall. However, I want to keep the worms alive over the winter.

I was thinking of building a pit (4' x 4' maybe) to keep the worms. However, I have some design questions:

1. How deep should the pit be? I live in zone 4 and it can get pretty cold here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

2. Do I need to have a wood bottom? Could the worms simply go as deep as they need to prevent freezing?

I would harvest some of the compost in the fall, fill in that space with manure or other foodstuff, and then mound the bin with straw, covering it all with a black tarp.

The tarp will help warm the soil sooner in the spring.

I'd appreciate any feedback from experienced cold weather vermicomposters. Again, I am not concerned about having active composting going on in the winter. Simply keeping a good part of the population alive.

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Comments (4)

cathd66
16 years ago
Bentley over on redwormcomposting.com has loads of information on winter worm composting
kmcdonou
Original Author
16 years ago
Yeah, I read his stuff. Good information, but he seems to be struggling keep his temps from reaching freezing. Lot of effort to keep them alive. However, he doesn't say how deep his bins are. That's what I am wondering.

If I dig a 4 x 4 x 4' deep hole, it would be below the frost line. I've read that red wigglers like to stay near the surface. If so, then they would just die and I'd hope the cocoons they laid would hatch in the spring. However, is it possible they would dig down deep, below the frost line and live? Would I need to enclose this pit in plywood or could I just line the sides?
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plumiebear
16 years ago
No direct experience, but you might want to check out the link below. Click on the "We are growing" link on the left and scroll to the bottom to see their snow covered bins. Why not email them and ask how they keep the bins active in winter?

I'm in a fairly mild climate, but I am thinking of building an in-ground wormery similar to the wood ones they have.

Good luck.

Andrew

Here is a link that might be useful: outdoor worm bins
kmcdonou
Original Author
16 years ago
Great! That link is pretty helpful. Thanks much.