One of the ways I raise my worms is in 100 gallon stock tanks. My preference is to start with cinder blocks and a pallet on top of that. This elevates and makes for less bending over when feeding or harvesting. The lid doesn’t have to be elaborate and can be a piece of plywood laid over the top of your bin. For a lid like the one pictured, you will want to use the metal instead of the plastic version. The reason- heat is trapped by the plastic and raises the temps in the hotter months. The metal does a far better job of reflecting the heat. There are lots of ways to skin this cat and I encourage you to put you own spin on it. Look for things you have access to already and use what you already have laying around. You’ll be surprised what you can turn into a worm bed.Stock Tank Worm Bed
Rainbow Gardens “OPENING UP MY OWN CAN OF WORMS.”
10 JunThanks to Lisa, Laura, and Rainbow Gardens. Check out “Opening up my own can of worms”.
Bin Raising Alabama Jumpers
9 NovAbove is a pic of one of my Alabama Jumper bins. Worms are feeding on my DIY Worm Chow and some pumpkin.
Alabama Jumpers are best suited for tunneling, aerating, and mixing the soil. They can be raised in bins like your other composting worms (red worm and european nightcrawler). I set my bins up with a few inches of clay soil on the bottom to make the worms comfortable and try to replicate their natural home. Next, I add several inches of compost that will provide the organic matter they will feed on. In a worm bed or bin the second generation will flourish if conditions are right (moisture and food). Having been born in the environment worms will adapt much better from birth and be happy in their new home. When introducing Alabama Jumpers into a new environment (bin or bed), start with an ample supply of the medium that you harvested them from to ensure a greater chance for success.
DIY Worm Trough
28 AprI had been thinking of building a feed trough style worm bed for some time. I found some plastic 55 gallon drums on Craigslist. My dad had some pine 2X4s cut from his saw mill, and we were in business. We began by cutting the 55 gallon plastic drums in half w/ a skill saw.
Materials: (2X4s, plastic 55 gallon drums, 3 inch wood screws, roofing screws, Thompson’s water seal)