Worms in the Hotbin
Once again there are worms crawling up the walls and over the lids of the two Hotbins at the Stokes Wood Allotment Composting Demonstration site.
Although the Hotbin is a sealed unit worms may be added to the bin the initial base layer during the initial set-up of the bin and worm and worm eggs may be added in soli attached to plants added to the bin during use. While the worms can survive, and self-evidently breed, in the in cooler temperature of the base layer and there is often an increase in the number of worms in the bin worm to sallow breeding through the winter, they are unable to survive the high temperatures inside the “working area” of the Hotbin where hot composting is taking place.
Prior to the lockdown our bins where topped up to try to keep them at 50-60°C during the time that they will not be fed regularly
The photo shows the worms trying to escape from the heat. No doubt many will have descended to the cooler base, but a significant number always make their way up to the top of the bin and round the lid.
As they are not necessary for the Hotbin to work they can be left to take their chances, be put back in the cooler bottom layer or collected and put into a cool compost bin or wormery if one is available. A scrunched by empty compost of refuse bag can be put in the top of the Hotbin to provide them with a refuge. This can then be removed to the cool composting system as an easy way of moving the worms.
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Very informative site. Having been away for 5 weeks and returning to evidence of rats under and around the compost bin, I can testify to lack of human activity allowing the rats to get comfortable.
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