I have thought for a while that in-ground or above and insulated would work very well in most parts of the country. I started one this fall. It is 3 ft. by 8 feet. The worms are definitely down deeper but are active in the lower levels. Thanks for sharing as this makes me feel better about my setup.

Great photos.

I was thinking of doing the same thing in the spring, only long and narrow along side or back of the garage (something like 2' wide ID (tending from one side), by 9'or more long, two tiers high. Against the existing foundation, it would be three sided with new dry stacked block to make the bin. I was thinking of a fitted tarp cover with a slope from back (garage side) to front.

What critters were gnawing through your lid?

Why do you figure they were attracted to the bin? (since most decaying veggie waste doesn't attract mice or rats)

Is there a reason you didn't slope your cover for run off?

Those are great pictures; thanks for doing this post. Do you harvest castings from any of these in-ground bins, or just worms?

You must have a lot of room in your yard. I don't think I can copy because it would be an eyesore in my small suburban backyard. But a hole in the ground in a corner might be good ... except in my experience, kitchen waste left outdoors (unless deeply buried) always DOES attract mice/rats. I don't know how people manage to have such polite wildlife that won't disturb their compost. We used to keep white rats as pets, and they are definitely omnivores. There is nothing they won't eat!

Perhaps living in the country, there's enough other foodstuffs around that my pile of decomposing kitchen waste just doesn't present enough attraction.
One time, I did have some digging evidence at the base of the EarthMachine, but this was short lived.

Susan:

What kind of worms are we talking about with your in-ground bins?

Chuckiebtoo

AbbysDad..I do not have "proof" as to who gnawed through those lids, but I do have pilfering raccoons and some possums that could be blamed. Since I put those plywood and old siding pieces on top of the hinged lids, they have been deterred for over a year. The hardware cloth does keep out burrowing voles and moles, but I have seen some very healthy looking brown mice, (although if you check my pictures, you might notice my "border patrol", that keeps the mice in check.) Raccoons think worms are ice cream! Never had rats, but all that food will attract other creatures foraging, hence the hinged lids. I did not think to slope the lid......but if I had, I think I would still opt for the lids I have. It's easy to build a frame for the lids to be hinged to, and when it rains, it just goes in the bin and down into the ground. Works for me.
Novemberguest.. I do harvest from those bins, as I do use the compost but mostly I add equal lbs of vermicompost with the worms I sell, so the worms barely know they have been moved. All I do to harvest the cinderblock bins, is to quit feeding 1 quarter of the bin. After about 2-3 weeks the worms have mostly all moved into the other 3/4's. I then take a shovel and put the compost in a wheelbarrow to use or store. New bedding and fresh food is added. WA LA! I do not live on a big property, but my backyard goes straight into the woods. No one has any idea what I am doing back there.:D You could make a cinderblock bin and paint it..something pretty or camouflaged. I would highly recommend a hinged top to keep out marauders.

RE: In-ground bins
Posted by SQH1 z7 NC (My Page) on Tue, Dec 13, 05 at 20:53

Chuckiebtoo..That's a good question. The hole-in-the-ground bin is all whatever comes up to feast. I have tried to get my friend, Rhonda Sherman, over at NC State University to point me in the direction of someone who can ID the different worms that have come to dinner. She has informed me that it is not very easy to do that, and there is no one that could do it there. (It's a story by itself). I have seen some huge nightcrawlers and I think some PE's, (I think they are iridescent), looks like many redworms too. My cinderblock bins have many redworms, as I dump older bins into those block bins after taking the older worms. But they too, have other worms that have showed up on their own. When I build bins with people, the worms have lived for many weeks in the plastic bins and are very happy to be in those bins. I have some indoor bins that are just redworms and 3 that are ENC's, for those who are particular.

Wow, I can't imagine keeping multiple bins. Sometimes I think about starting a second one, then ask myself: Why? Do I really want to look at/monitor/harvest more homely plastic totes? Not really. And do I want to listen to increased spousal complaints/teasing? Definitely not. So why the urge? Don't know, and so far I have resisted it...

SQH1,

I see you're in zone 7 and I was wondering if you have to deal with fire ants getting into the bins. I used to live in zone 7a (Atlanta) and kept an outside bin with no worries. Here, the ants love my raised garden beds. I'm thinking a worm bin on the ground would not last long before the ants invade. Your thoughts/experiences?

I have had ants of different varieties, including fire ants in my yard. Usually I would find them in summer when things are dry. I have never had any ants in my bins. I have always heard that ants are a sign of dry conditions and they do not like wet. I have a huge dry leaf pile, that I use the leaves from, and in summer, and I have found it swarming with black ants, of some variety. So, I know they are all here, but the conditions must be not to their liking. 2 of my outdoor inground bins are cinderblock with hinged lids. They stay very moist. My whole-in-the-ground bin, with no cover, needs to be watered during the summer heat and I would expect the ants to come if it was very dry.

Sqh1,

I wish I was so lucky with the ants. The will literally invade any above ground plant container or raised bed, moist or not. I've had wiskey barrerls gowing strawberries, porch containers with Hostas, raised veggie beds, etc. and all were invaded. I can say I maintian a normal moisture lvel in them as well since they were activly growing plants and veggies.

Perhaps you have a point though and that the worm bed would no doubt be moist beyond what a planter or veggie bed would be.

By the way, I love your bin design. I'm thinking about mimicing that for mine. I was wondering, too, that if you filled the block cavities with vermiculite (block insulation) if that wouldn't help keep them cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Just a thought.

I did think of filling those spaces with pea gravel or sand and then decided I was, once again, in the over-kill mode. It has not been necessary to buy those additions. My thought was to add them to ward off mice and such. The temps stay good all year without doing anything to those blocks and if some mice find it, I hope they enjoy the buffet..I know my cats do!

SQH1,

I was talking to AbbeysDad on another threat about building a bin. For me, if I were to build a bin of this type in the shade it would be a great deal away from a water source. How much water do you have to add to the bin per watering? Also, we have a real problem with armadillos down here. Do you have such a problem? Building a bin of this type will call for me to build on the edge of the woods which are teaming with all kinds of wildlife. Your help is much appreicated...

Blutranes

Blutranes..Because the cinderblock bins are covered, I have never added water, even all this very dry summer. With all the produce I add, the water released during decompostion is more than enough. Now, my uncovered bin needs to be watered often in summer and is visited by nighttime marauders, more in the summer. We do not have armadillos here..and I must admit I would love to see one. We have possums and raccoons as major scavengers here in NC. Have you seen my pictures of my cinderblock bins?

sqh1,

You do not want to see a armadillo around your home. When I see one they have their heads down digging holes in my lawn, flowerbed, or garden. They have dug over 40 holes in my lawn in one night. Needless to say, armadillos don't live very long over here. Take my word for it, they are bad news for a home, and they dig for worms and grubs.

I have seen your bin, it is very impressive. I had not thought of making one until AbbeysDad mentioned it to me earlier today. The photos are very well done, I can't think of any questions on how to build it, you did really good in that area. No water, huh? I am further south than you are, do you think that will make a difference in the need for water?

I am going to order Alabama Jumpers, plus I am looking for a good source close for reds here in the south (ahem). In addition to your photos I did check your site page for a email address, but no luck (ahem).

If you think the block design is a good option, and if you think there is any tips you can give I would really appreicate it. Although the fire ant problem here is very bad. I know what you have said about them, but...they are not to be taken lightly. Any thoughts?

Blutranes,
Where at in zone 8 are you?

mcrean1...

I am about 75 miles southeast of Macon.

would burying a bin that was used for indoor worming work as an outdoor bin?

carey