Oh, I have also found that partially hot composting my wastes first allows me to produce much more vermicompost than simply adding right to the worm bins etc. The worms really dig right into the partially composted wastes!

Nice design!

For schools we build single layer boxes made from used redwood fencing. Free to get, looks natural, and the worms love it.

Nice setup bstruss. By the look of it, it's about 2' x 3'? I'll bet you'll end up with a hugh population out of that! I'll have to try the idea of "drying out" the top bed a little to enhance cocoon production.

My biggest problem is being too moist. I never dampen newspaper before addition to the bin. I also add half a bucket of dry leaves to the system every 2 weeks, just to try to keep the moisture down. And boy, do the worms love that after a week or 2. I peeled back a layer of leaves today to add more kitchen scraps, and found a "ball" of worms in the middle about the size of half a fist. I think they may be stressed without the addition of the dry leaves, and thus tend to gather in the leaves as they absorb moisture from the system.

Anyway, keep up the vermicomposting!
Cheers Jay