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EARTH
We dig earthworms! Without them there would be no plants on the planet!
To see how vermicompost makes plants grow have a look at this slide. -
WATER
We're no drips we don't use plastic water bottles.
To find out why view this presentation. -
AIR
1 Ton of organic waste on a landfill site produces 365kgs of carbon dioxide emissions into. The same amount of waste composted ONLY produces 30kgs of carbon dioxide.
To read what President Barack Obama had to say at the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen. -
ENERGY
We put a lot of energy into finding ways for you to reduce, reuse, recycle.
View Can Add.
Did you know
You can join us for a tour of our wormfarm at the Mount Nelson Hotel last Friday every month.Can-O-Worms
Can-O-Worms instructions
| Can-O-Worms instructions |
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Click on the headings below to flip through the instructions pages.... |
- Introduction
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Can-O-Worms is a stacking-tray worm bin. The words"stacking-tray" refer to the way that the Working trays nest into one another and stack on top of the Collector tray.
The Can-O-Worms has a Collector tray at the base of the system, three Working trays that stack on top of the Collector tray and a Lid that rests on the top Working tray. Stacking tray systems are great in that they make harvesting the finished vermicompost (and other maintenence) much easier. They also help to prevent compaction and water-logging in the lower levels, keeping the process aerobic and healthy. The Collector tray is the solid tray at the base of the system. Five legs slot into the base of the Collector tray and a tap screws into a hole in a recessed area in the the Collector tray (these parts are the components shown in the picture that are not opaque). The Collector tray catches liquid (known as vermitea)from the trays above. Vermitea is a powerful plant tonic rich in nutrients and beneficial organisms. The vermitea can be conveniently tapped off as required. The Collector tray has fly proof vents and a 'worm island' that allows wayward worms that have found their way into the Collector tray to get back to the Working trays above.
- Setting up
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Cut the blue packaging straps that hold the kit together. Remove the cardboard packaging and set it aside for later use (don't throw it away). Separate the parts and open the package containing the Legs, Tap and Instruction Manual.
Find the Reln worm bedding block - it has a brown paper wrapper. Place the bedding block in 6-7 litres of water in a bucket.
There are detailed instructions on the paper wrapper. Read through the instructions before you put the block and wrapper into the water (Step 1 of the instructions) - Step 1
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Find the Collector tray.
The Collector tray is the solid tray that collects the liquid (vermitea) that drains into it from the working trays above.The base of the Collector tray has five cylindrical recesses with plastic ribs and air vents, into which the legs slot. The Collector tray also has a recessed area with a circular hole, into which the tap is installed.
Another feature of the Collector tray is the conical 'worm island'. This is specially shaped and textured to allow wayward worms to find their way out of the Collector tray and back into the Working trays above. - Step 2
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Insert the Legs into the cylindrical recesses in the base of the Collector tray.
Note the plastic ribs that run up (inside) the cylindrical recesses. The curved sides of the legs should face outwards and the tapered end of the legs should slot between the plastic ribs, on the outer side.
Turn the Nut off the Tap (leave the rubber O-ring on the thread). Push the threaded portion of the Tap through the hole in the recessed section of the Collector tray. Place the Nut on the inside of the hole and turn the tap's thread into it by rotating the tap in a clockwise direction. Tighten the Tap and see where it comes to rest. If it does not face down, loosen the Tap a bit and rotate the Nut to the correct position for it to does so. Do not over-tighten the Tap or the O-ring may leak or break. - Step 3
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There are three identical Working trays, and the name 'first Working tray' refers to the tray that is nested directly on top of the Collector tray. Choose any one of the three Working trays.At this stage its a good idea to check that the legs are correctly installed (with the curve facing outwards, and the tapered section inserted between the plastic ribs).
Find the cardboard packaging that was wrapped over the kit when you got it. - Step 4
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Placing the Cardboard disc in the First working tray.Take the cardboard packaging and cut or tear the two side flaps off the central part to complete the circle / disc. Place the disc into the first Working tray, pushing the edges down between the ribs until it is flush with the bottom of the tray.The cardboard disc prevents the coir (coco-nut fibre) from falling through the holes in the base of the first Working tray.
You only have to do this when you set up for the first time. The cardboard disc prevents the fines in the coir from falling into the Collector tray. - Step 5
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Put the moistened Coir bedding on top of the cardboard disk.
By now your Coir bedding block should have fully expanded in the bucket. Break it up a bit with your hands to make sure that there are no hard (dry) bits left.Scoop the moist Coir from the bucket onto the cardboard disc in the first working tray and spread it evenly. Don't squash it down - leave it with an open, spongy texture.
This layer is where the worms will spend most of their time to begin with. The coir holds moisture and buffers the earthworms from extreme temperatures - and they like to eat it too!
- Step 6
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Release the earthworms.
If the surface of the Coir is level with the top of the plastic ribs running up the inside of the Working tray, then release the earthworms into the second working tray. If not, release them into the first Working tray to make up the level.Open the box that your earthworms came in and gently tip it out onto the surface of the coir bedding in the first Working tray (or base of the second Working tray if the coir completely fills the first Working tray - skip to next step).
Gently spread the earthworms (and compost / coir that they came in) over the surface, allowing the earthworms time to move downward into the bedding below.
- Step 7
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The level of the surface of the first Working tray
If the level in the first Working tray is still below the plastic ribs that run up the inside of the tray, then add some strips of moist newspaper to bring it up to this level.The next Working tray will rest on top of the ribs - it is important that the level of the surface of the first Working tray is flush with the base of the second Working tray.
Do not build up the level of the surface above the ribs, or the next tray will compact it. If the coir and worms / compost alone come to the ribs or just above it, don't worry about adding newspaper.
- Step 8
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Place the 2nd working tray on top of the first.
Check that it rests on the plastic ribs and that it is not compacting the bedding / newspaper in the tray below too much.
Look through the holes in the base of the second Working tray - you should see the bedding / newspaper.
If the newspaper is being squashed so that there are no open spaces, take some out and fluff the newspaper up a bit. If there is not contact between the trays, build it up a bit with shredded moist newspaper.
If you did not release the worms into the first Working tray, release them into the second Working tray. Tear up the cardboard box that the worms came in into smallish pieces and place these in the second Working tray
- Step 9
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Feeding the worms their first meal in their new home.
Spread a layer of food scraps a few centimetres deep over part of the base of the second Working tray.Ideal foods are fruit and vegetable peels and waste, and the ideal consistency for the worms is when this has been chopped into smallish bits.
Foods to be avoided are meats, dairy, carbohydrates, salty and acidic foods and citrus peels. - Step 10
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Adding a layer of newspaper bedding.
Take a section of the newspaper and hold it along the fold / spine with your weaker hand. Using your strong hand, grip the spine near the edge and tear a strip 1-2 cm wide off the edge.It takes a bit of practice and you need to get the width of the newspaper strips just right that you can still tear it, but tear lots of layers at the same time.
Flick the strips as you release them from your hand to separate the individual strips, and then soak them in water. The layer of moistened newspaper strips on the food and base of the tray should be 6-8 cm deep, and moist but not wet.