Hot bin / worm farm

[Andrew Ridsdale]

Hi all.

I find the closer to compst I get the cooler my bin gets. It seems as though the air can't flow fully with ready compost or mulch in the bottom.
Because of this and the fact that I am filling my hot bin quickly I have been taking my compost out early and using it as mulch.

I have a old style dust bin and I'm thinking if I build a worm farm out of this and put in the mulch from the hot bin to finish it off would this work? I know nothing about worm farms so advice is needed.

Many thanks

[Penellype]

I have a wormery as well as a hotbin, but I haven't tried putting in half rotted compost, although I don't see why it shouldn't work. I'm sure the worms would love it. You'd need some sort of drainage at the bottom otherwise liquid would accumulate.

My wormery has mesh trays which stack so that the oldest compost is at the bottom and new material is added to the top. Once the compost is ready you simply lift off the trays, empty the bottom one and put it back at the top. I'm not sure how you could replicate this system in a dustbin. The worms tend to come to the top, and you would need to keep a lid on to keep it dark, but not airtight or they will suffocate.

[Maple-P.I.]

H Andrew

As waste breaks down it does naturally become more compacted but you shouldn’t be experiencing whole bin cool downs unless you haven’t emptied your bin for 6 months. Cool down can be due to a lack of bulking agent in the bin, not enough waste being added regularly, waste being too wet or the valve being too far open.

Happy to discuss your HOTBIN use in more detail if you’d like to drop us an email.

[email protected]

Hi all.

I find the closer to compst I get the cooler my bin gets. It seems as though the air can't flow fully with ready compost or mulch in the bottom.
Because of this and the fact that I am filling my hot bin quickly I have been taking my compost out early and using it as mulch.

I have a old style dust bin and I'm thinking if I build a worm farm out of this and put in the mulch from the hot bin to finish it off would this work? I know nothing about worm farms so advice is needed.

Many thanks

[Andrew Ridsdale]

Thanks for your responses. I have emptied the bin twice upto now. Both times I have had good temps until I get three months in the I struggle to get 40 degrees. I am currently on my 3rd lot that I started on Sunday (using the top uncomplicated bits from the last batch and mixed in with fresh waste, bulk, and card) 2 days later I have reached 55 degrees. I don't understand how I have good temps then they suddenly drop after 3 months.

[Andrew Ridsdale]

Thanks penellype

I think I might try the worm farm and put a tap in the bottom and fill the bottom with grit or stones and see if it works. I'm not sure about putting in the hotbin mulch yet or just have it as a separate thing.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Over the spring and summer I have been taking batches of compost out of the bottom of my Hotbin every 2 to 3 weeks, and dumping it into a conventional wooden compost bin. A few days ago I decided to do some mulching, and took about 4 wheelbarrows full of compost out of the wooden bin. It was absolutely teeming with worms, particularly near the bottom. They love it!

[Roysy]

I was going to try using the Hotbin compost for my wormery. It does sound like there must be enough partially composted product if it is actively attracting worms when being further composted. I was hoping to use this and shredded paper only so all my wormery castings have been sterilised by the Hotbin process. Has anyone tried this and is it sustainable?

It would be nice as it would be the best of both worlds, the concentration of worm castings and the sterilisation process of the Hotbin to eliminate seeds.