Featured Customer Question – Jason H
Hi Jerry,
I have a can o worms outside in my shed. So far the worms have lived ( europeans) through a 20 inch snow. I am on the 3rd layer, it has partially composted kitchen scraps from my compost drum. At night we are getting down in the teens now. The compost has froze solid. The euros are staying in the 2nd and 3rd tray now. I put hand warmers on the surface of the 3rd tray and warm water bottles. I cannot bring the setup inside, I do not have a heater either. My booklet says to give them a lot more food scraps so they generate warmth. The compost is not warm at all that I have on the 3rd level. I was reading about how a piece of bread will generate heat in a bin. Is there any food that is guaranteed to heat up? My euros hang low in the system now, I figure any heat would help them. I am considering replacing the top tray with coffee grounds, banana peels, other kitchen waste. Just looking for your advice first. I have the system out of the wind in a plastic shed, but it is cold. Thanks Jerry.
Jason
Hi Jason,
When it get’s so cold that your bedding starts to freeze, that is seriously cold . I wanted to make sure I answered your question quickly, as one bad night could freeze your worms.
Though high nitrogen material such as coffee can heat up your bedding somewhat, it’s not likely to overcome a hard freeze. Additionally, you are more likely to sour your bedding by adding too much high nitrogen material than you are to make your Euros warm.
Instead, I’d suggest surrounding your bin with insulating material such as hay bales. If those are not available, you could try using a few old comforters on top and around your worm bin. The thicker and more layers of insulation, the longer it will take for your entire bin to freeze.
You may also want to layer a tarp over the comforter. Obviously you want to make sure you don’t cut off all the oxygen, but you’d really have to work to do that.
Good luck with your efforts here. A large part of the country is struggling with extreme temps right now.