build your own worm composter/ wormery

smokeyo

anyone tried building their own wormery.was going to buy one but they cost around around £100.

stilernin

I've seen plans for doing one with 3 or more plastic storage boxes that can be stacked - the sort that are slightly odd shapes so when stacked they sit on the lip of the one below.

The base of all but the bottom one is cut out leaving an inch around the edge to fit wire mesh to. The bottom one has a small plastic tap fitted to it for the worm wee. The top one has the lid on.

When you start it off, the worm bedding and worms go in the first one above the one with the tap. When that is eventually full, put the next one on the top with more waste to bring the worms up through the wire mesh. When you want the worm compost, you remove the first one that is full, and the remaining ones just move down.

It seemed even better than some of the ones that you buy because you can remove the box that is full after the worms have migrated upwards to the new food. The ones that look like a wheely bin are such a faff to separate the compost and the worms.

Sambucus_Nigra

I made one at school - £15.71 was the total cost - it would have been about £10 if I hadn't bought a tap.

4 of these

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/60094072

1 of the lid that goes it it

and one of these to sit it on

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80159519

Drill holes in 3 of the 4 trays, about 5mm diameter so that the worms can go through but don't fall out. Sand them down smooth.

Assemble with the non-drilled at the bottom, and the others on top. Sit it on the stool. Either glue or velcro the bottom tray to the stool. Job indeed done.

You can tailor it to your own design but the above works well.

The worms were the correct ones, but I used some from my own compost bin - when it gets warm they congregate at the top of the lid of my dalek so I scooped a load into a bag and took them to start the wormery off.

You can use bigger trays [this one was for school as I said so didn't have to cope with too much stuff] and sit it on an upside down recycling box if it's for home.

Davesnave

If you can stand the smell, then making comfrey water is an alternative, as shown on last night's GW. (Catch on iPlayer)

rabidbun

Tempted by a trip to Ikea now Sambucas!

Which tap did you get and how/where did you attach it please?

Sambucus_Nigra

rabidbun wrote: »

Tempted by a trip to Ikea now Sambucas!

Which tap did you get and how/where did you attach it please?

It was from wickes - the usual water butt tap - however I wasn't convinced about it and you have to buy a 25mm drill as well. It's attached as low as possible to the side of the bottom tray

If I did it again, which I will, I'd just teach them to tip the bottom layer into a watering can every week or so. And I'd put some gravel in the bottom to stop the worms from drowning with a piece of matting over the top to keep the gravel back when tipping the worm wee out.

The lad that took charge of it shows it to every visitor to the school

Incidentally, I'm doing a trial on comfrey, worm wee and no feed and the plants with the worm wee are looking the best.

jim22

I got mine for free by placing a wanted ad on freecycle. You would be surprised how many frustrated owners of these there are.

alanobrien

Here are the DIY instructions for the Ikea tubs.......
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-DIY-Wormery/

smokeyo

wow, thanks for the brill replies.im going to ikea this week to get some boxes.will try and post some photos of the finished product.