Outstanding progress and update! Meme, I suggest if you go with wedges, that they be built the same way as your new bins with slightly higher sides (6"?), so when collecting castings there's not a lot of bending over. Maybe a wider walk/drive space for machinery to be able to drive between the bins, so you're using the wheelbarrow less often. Much love!
7:30 There's a book called "the goal" that can teach you how to calculate the most profitable decision for expanding capacity and choosing bins. This book is typically used in manufacturing, but the math works exactly the same as your worm operation.
Your commitment and enthusiasm for worm farming are truly inspiring, and it's amazing to see your progress! I'm curious, how do you efficiently transport your materials or castings to the screening area? Keep up the fantastic work!
Great update, Samantha. The egg crates and burlap on top probably give the worms some additional airflow as well. I don't think there's any easy answer about using vertical space because anything higher up is going to be more physical. I have the same issues because I do everything, as you know, from a wheelchair. I thought about using the lifting mechanism a standing desks to make bins go up and down effortlessly. For a personal worm bin I might be able to grab one of those mechanisms secondhand and make it work, but I don't think it'll take the weight of a commercial operation - but never say never! ~ Sandra
I love it! It looks like you're really getting things fine tuned. Those worms sure do look healthy. A little side note: I had my first "bigger" (big to me) sale of castings last week; about 75 pounds. Although on a much smaller scale, I am planning to follow your example, and consolidate my many plastic bins into fewer, larger, bins. I'll have to use my vertical space more than you, but the concept will be the same. I'll have two or three layers of, say, 3' by 6' bins, as opposed to eleven layers of plastic bus bins. It just makes more sense. I'm not sure which direction you should go. You have so much square footage, the possibilities are virtually endless for you. Off the top of my head, I could see more of the large wooden bins, and then adding a second layer of those, accessed by a catwalk system of some kind. If that makes any sense. It's exciting to see you moving forward in this way, and it's keeping me inspired to keep on keeping on.
It seems like the easiest wedge systems are on concrete floors due to the need to shovel & scrape. They are the ultimate set & forget systems as you just keep adding bedding/food to the open end and the worms migrate horizontally as you harvest from the abandoned space on the older end. You seem to have poured concrete only in your walkways. You might be able to build deep beds with one open long side and a solid floor. Perhaps there's some factory seconds scrap source for the flooring? Some kind of laminated product that would hold up to the abuse over time? The bins would need to be mostly level to aid shoveling/scraping. Having the bins elevated to dolly/ wagon/cart/wheelbarrow height would lessen back strain. You could then move/feedstock and casting up/down the poured concrete walkways. This is not impossible in your set-up, but would take a lot of thought to maximize ergonomics.
What did you do with your fabric beds? Other than bending over to work them, did you have any issues with the fabric beds? I have used fabric pots for 5 years now, mostly 100 gallons all on pallets. I like the air flow
Looking good! We love our large wooden bins as well.
Thank you
Outstanding progress and update! Meme, I suggest if you go with wedges, that they be built the same way as your new bins with slightly higher sides (6"?), so when collecting castings there's not a lot of bending over. Maybe a wider walk/drive space for machinery to be able to drive between the bins, so you're using the wheelbarrow less often. Much love!
Good idea!!
7:30 There's a book called "the goal" that can teach you how to calculate the most profitable decision for expanding capacity and choosing bins. This book is typically used in manufacturing, but the math works exactly the same as your worm operation.
I will check it out!
@@MemesWorms Let me know if you get stuck.
@@Anythingforfreedom will do
Wow that is amazing
Thank you!!
Love the scale of your operation and watching it grow!
Thanks
Your commitment and enthusiasm for worm farming are truly inspiring, and it's amazing to see your progress! I'm curious, how do you efficiently transport your materials or castings to the screening area? Keep up the fantastic work!
We fill material in 5 gallin buckets.
👍
Your worms are looking great 🇳🇿❤️🪱
You and the crew are doing a great job remodeling.
Thank you
So excited for all your progress
Thank you
Great update, Samantha. The egg crates and burlap on top probably give the worms some additional airflow as well. I don't think there's any easy answer about using vertical space because anything higher up is going to be more physical. I have the same issues because I do everything, as you know, from a wheelchair. I thought about using the lifting mechanism a standing desks to make bins go up and down effortlessly. For a personal worm bin I might be able to grab one of those mechanisms secondhand and make it work, but I don't think it'll take the weight of a commercial operation - but never say never!
~ Sandra
I love the fact you don't let a wheelchair bound you!!
I love it! It looks like you're really getting things fine tuned. Those worms sure do look healthy. A little side note: I had my first "bigger" (big to me) sale of castings last week; about 75 pounds. Although on a much smaller scale, I am planning to follow your example, and consolidate my many plastic bins into fewer, larger, bins. I'll have to use my vertical space more than you, but the concept will be the same. I'll have two or three layers of, say, 3' by 6' bins, as opposed to eleven layers of plastic bus bins. It just makes more sense.
I'm not sure which direction you should go. You have so much square footage, the possibilities are virtually endless for you. Off the top of my head, I could see more of the large wooden bins, and then adding a second layer of those, accessed by a catwalk system of some kind. If that makes any sense.
It's exciting to see you moving forward in this way, and it's keeping me inspired to keep on keeping on.
Cat walk, now thats an idea!!! Thank you!!
Definitely wedge it's the most time effective system for harvesting castings
But whatabout worm production? Im not looking to prod7ce more castings im looking to produce more worms. Castungs are a by product for us.
Cardboard wedge!
Awesome! So happy to see you're progress, can't wait to see what the next stage brings.
Thank you
Looking great with the new setup😁🇦🇺
It seems like the easiest wedge systems are on concrete floors due to the need to shovel & scrape. They are the ultimate set & forget systems as you just keep adding bedding/food to the open end and the worms migrate horizontally as you harvest from the abandoned space on the older end.
You seem to have poured concrete only in your walkways.
You might be able to build deep beds with one open long side and a solid floor. Perhaps there's some factory seconds scrap source for the flooring? Some kind of laminated product that would hold up to the abuse over time?
The bins would need to be mostly level to aid shoveling/scraping.
Having the bins elevated to dolly/ wagon/cart/wheelbarrow height would lessen back strain. You could then move/feedstock and casting up/down the poured concrete walkways.
This is not impossible in your set-up, but would take a lot of thought to maximize ergonomics.
Thank you, Samantha! Lots of info to think about.
How deep do you like to keep the bedding in your new set ups. Thanks. Love the videos
We start with about 2 or 3 inches. We will harvest half the beds every 14 weeks, so once we get there ill k ow more about how many inches it will be.
What did you do with your fabric beds? Other than bending over to work them, did you have any issues with the fabric beds?
I have used fabric pots for 5 years now, mostly 100 gallons all on pallets. I like the air flow
No issues a t all, just the bending over. My back just couldnt take it anymore.
Hi Samantha! The space looks great! So do the worms ❤. Is the building climate controlled? 🪱
It is not climate controlled. It does have fans on one side and louvers on the other side this keeps the air flowing.