MAKING A WORM BIN
6/14/10
What you see in this container is undiluted, worm tea. It is the only fertilizer besides compost I want to use. Because it is organic and I can't burn my plants with it. This is concentrated. It needs to be mixed 6 parts water to 1 part tea. That is a lot of fertilizer.
I know this is the 'project' section. The project is to build a worm bin. My worms got out of hand and I needed to build two more bins. They ate through their bedding in a month. It is supposed to last 6 months.
I know this is the 'project' section. The project is to build a worm bin. My worms got out of hand and I needed to build two more bins. They ate through their bedding in a month. It is supposed to last 6 months.
I now have three bins. Two lime green ones and the black on in the middle. It takes two 18 gallon storage bins for each worm bin.
I started out by drilling holes around the edge. Remember now, I was making two worm bins, so I kept two bins together and drilled them at the same time. I think you can only do two at a time if the drill bit is big enough.
Just so you all know...I have been a heavy duty structure mechanic. I used to build airplanes. I have drilled through all kinds of materials and NEVER bent a bit before. I broke plenty of them...but not bend them. So I went to a bigger bit.
I drilled all around the lowest edge and all over the flat bottom. I drilled several hundred holes.
What this picture shows is the water bottles in the bottom. I filled them with tap water. The reasoning being that if the worms get heavy, the water will help keep the water bottles more sturdy and the worms out of the worm tea. We don't want the worms to drown.
What this picture shows is the water bottles in the bottom. I filled them with tap water. The reasoning being that if the worms get heavy, the water will help keep the water bottles more sturdy and the worms out of the worm tea. We don't want the worms to drown.
This package contains coconut coir. That is the outside of a coconut chopped up real fine and squished into bricks. This is a very 'green' thing to use because it is waste. Worms love to eat it. They love fruits and veggies, no seeds, newspaper, whole or shredded. Any green waste but they don't like citrus very well. Or any fat or meat or dairy. The smaller their food is, the faster they can eat it. Potatoes need to be cooked first an little and cooled off. So I just don't use them much. They can go in the compost bin.
Here are the bricks in all their glory. Sorry about the focus.
The coir looks like this after you soak the bricks in water. I think I used 6-8 quarts. I used a 5 gallon bucket.
Line the bottom of each bin that has holes in it. I use cardboard and a paper lining. Worms love to eat paper and cardboard, plus it keeps them from falling through the holes too easy. This was a really large paper bag my sugar came in. I try to recycle as much as I can...being the green girl that I am.
Once your bin is lined, you can add the fluffy coconut coir to the bin. Then the worms. Then the food. Then a cup of water. Every time you feed the worms, add a cup of water. For every pound of worms they eat a pound of scrapes. Make sure when you feed the worms the scraps, you dig back some of the bedding first, lay down the feed and cover it back up. That way flys won't get in there. Also, take a newspaper, wet it with water and cover up the top. It keeps the light out, and the water from evaporating. Worms need water, but not too much.
As you can see there are two different colors of bedding in this bin. Since I was making two bins, I divided my worms into three batches. Normally, I would take the worms out and use the old bedding to plant with. This time I wanted all the bedding to stay because worms lay eggs and I wanted all the eggs to stay in the bins. The more worms, the more bins, and the more worm tea. See where I'm going...
As you can see there are two different colors of bedding in this bin. Since I was making two bins, I divided my worms into three batches. Normally, I would take the worms out and use the old bedding to plant with. This time I wanted all the bedding to stay because worms lay eggs and I wanted all the eggs to stay in the bins. The more worms, the more bins, and the more worm tea. See where I'm going...
Here are the worms all covered. Now I put on the lids. Just remember to drill several holes in the lids so the air gets in. You can drill through two lids at once, just like I did the bottoms.
Now you have suitable living quarters for your worms. As long as you keep them someplace not freezing in the winter, and not in the sun in the summer.
I kept mine in the garage 85% of the year this year. But that is because I had only one bin. This year, they will have to stay there all the time. They don't stink... so you can keep them in your kitchen. It makes it easier to feed them if they are close by.
Anyway...I hope you liked the lesson. Class dismissed!
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Now you have suitable living quarters for your worms. As long as you keep them someplace not freezing in the winter, and not in the sun in the summer.
I kept mine in the garage 85% of the year this year. But that is because I had only one bin. This year, they will have to stay there all the time. They don't stink... so you can keep them in your kitchen. It makes it easier to feed them if they are close by.
Anyway...I hope you liked the lesson. Class dismissed!
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My poor couch
As you can see in the last post here...my Bad Dog had her way with my Leather couch. I was not happy....but it was the price I paid to go help my Mom in her final days. So, when I got back, I decided the couch itself still had "good bones". Plus I had bought some material months before hand that I could utilize to repair this mess.
I took some newspaper and taped it together so I had a piece big enough to fit over the seat cushion. I laid the cushion on top of the newspaper and drew around the cushion as a pattern. I kept close to the cushion with my pencil so I knew exactly how big the cushion is. When I took the cushion off the paper, I drew another line outside the first line by 5/8ths of an inch. That would be the cutting line. The first line is the sewing line. Since my couch is a sectional, the middle cushion is wedge shaped. I followed the same process as I did for the first cushion. Those are now Pattern pieces. I cut out 4 pieces for the square cushions and one for the wedge. The pattern was big on the material and I wanted each cushion to have the same pattern on the top so I was mindful of where I put my pattern before I cut it out. When it came to the side piece of the cushion I just measured from where I wanted the edge seam on top, to the bottom of the cushion edge and then doubled the measurement so it would reach all the way under the cushion...allowing for a 5/8 th inch seam on the top AND on the bottom.
I took some newspaper and taped it together so I had a piece big enough to fit over the seat cushion. I laid the cushion on top of the newspaper and drew around the cushion as a pattern. I kept close to the cushion with my pencil so I knew exactly how big the cushion is. When I took the cushion off the paper, I drew another line outside the first line by 5/8ths of an inch. That would be the cutting line. The first line is the sewing line. Since my couch is a sectional, the middle cushion is wedge shaped. I followed the same process as I did for the first cushion. Those are now Pattern pieces. I cut out 4 pieces for the square cushions and one for the wedge. The pattern was big on the material and I wanted each cushion to have the same pattern on the top so I was mindful of where I put my pattern before I cut it out. When it came to the side piece of the cushion I just measured from where I wanted the edge seam on top, to the bottom of the cushion edge and then doubled the measurement so it would reach all the way under the cushion...allowing for a 5/8 th inch seam on the top AND on the bottom.
The pattern for the wedge was made out of five pieces of newspaper. AND lots of tape to hold it together.
I sewed the edges of the sides to the top, WRONG side OUT. When you turn the cover right side out the seam will be hidden.
I then had a "bolt" of batting. Batting is like stuffing, only in a roll for quilts (mostly). I used that to stuff the holes in the foam Bad Dog ate. Once I felt the holes were completely full, I slipped the newly made cushion covers on.
Now, I have to be honest here....I didn't have time to "finish" the covers...yet. I have elastic to slip in the bottom seam. That way I can take them off and wash them and the elastic will hold the cover on tight. I did take large quilting pins and I pinned them to the under side of the cushion.
I sewed the edges of the sides to the top, WRONG side OUT. When you turn the cover right side out the seam will be hidden.
I then had a "bolt" of batting. Batting is like stuffing, only in a roll for quilts (mostly). I used that to stuff the holes in the foam Bad Dog ate. Once I felt the holes were completely full, I slipped the newly made cushion covers on.
Now, I have to be honest here....I didn't have time to "finish" the covers...yet. I have elastic to slip in the bottom seam. That way I can take them off and wash them and the elastic will hold the cover on tight. I did take large quilting pins and I pinned them to the under side of the cushion.
As you can see, the edge of the "covers" match my curtains...which I also made. By hand. The curtains, couch covers, and some new quilting equipment cost me about $90. I still have enough material to make some matching pillows, curtains for my slider-door, table cloth and place mats for my kitchen. AND...I don't have to wring my dog's neck! She might be Bad dog, but I have never had an animal make me laugh like she does. She IS worth keeping around just for that. Besides...I really like the way the couch looks now.
Project plans
One of my projects is to learn how to use this site better. After that, I am hoping to re-do my kitchen counters, sink, faucet, and flooring. I also have plans to make a patio cover, re-do the front entry to the house, and build little places to sit around my yard. Who knows what else I will come up with in the mean-time.
Just so you all know, I used to build airplanes as a heavy-duty structure mechanic, and I was good at it. Plus this is a part of the "green" part of my site because I re-purpose a lot of things in ways you might not have thought of. That is part of not having money but having a need. For a lot of years I would clean houses for people who rented. When someone moved out, I would go clean the house for an hourly wage and take anything of value they had left and either keep it for myself or sell it at a garage sale for extra money. That way, I could work while my son was in school, and didn't need a babysitter. Being divorced and far from my family, babysitting was a big expense I tried to keep to a minimum. Besides....kids want their parents, not the babysitter. Ask them they will tell you.
This is a picture of our little trouble-maker. She thinks her name is "Bad Dog". She ate our couch. I have since recovered it and I will show you what I did...just in case you have a little trouble-maker of your own.
Just so you all know, I used to build airplanes as a heavy-duty structure mechanic, and I was good at it. Plus this is a part of the "green" part of my site because I re-purpose a lot of things in ways you might not have thought of. That is part of not having money but having a need. For a lot of years I would clean houses for people who rented. When someone moved out, I would go clean the house for an hourly wage and take anything of value they had left and either keep it for myself or sell it at a garage sale for extra money. That way, I could work while my son was in school, and didn't need a babysitter. Being divorced and far from my family, babysitting was a big expense I tried to keep to a minimum. Besides....kids want their parents, not the babysitter. Ask them they will tell you.
This is a picture of our little trouble-maker. She thinks her name is "Bad Dog". She ate our couch. I have since recovered it and I will show you what I did...just in case you have a little trouble-maker of your own.
Trials and Tribulations
I have been trying for two days to post on here. I am hoping that I will be Divinely guided today to get this to work. I have rested, bathed, and prayed....so here goes.
I am a self taught computer nerd.....sometimes I am really good and others, I stumble big time! I am still having trouble editing my photos before I publish them...what is a Girl to do? This WILL be a great site once I figure it out.
Today I am going to town to help a friend get another friend a flu shot...and then we go to lunch! Woo Hoo! Girls day out. So I better hurry and post or I will be late.
I am a self taught computer nerd.....sometimes I am really good and others, I stumble big time! I am still having trouble editing my photos before I publish them...what is a Girl to do? This WILL be a great site once I figure it out.
Today I am going to town to help a friend get another friend a flu shot...and then we go to lunch! Woo Hoo! Girls day out. So I better hurry and post or I will be late.