by Wonder Worman | Nov 11, 2010 | Red Wiggler World
Tis the season for blankets and layers. This is also the case for your Red Wiggler friends. If you have an outdoor bin, it’s important to think about insulation so your wiggly friends will be warm and cozy all winter long. There are various things you can use. You can use hay to create a thick wall of insulation. Two years, I purchased some inexpensive fencing material from the hardware store. Then, secured it in the ground leaving some space to stuff the hay in between the bins and the fence. I also opened the lid and put a bunch of hay above the bedding. When it snowed, I left the snow on top to create another natural layer of insulation. If hay is not readily available, then lawn clippings and leaves will do which I am using this year. You can also use old blankets or tarps to cover your bin. Be creative!
You can also transfer some worms into a large plastic bin and put the bin in the garage or laundry room. Then the worms will consume the food at a quicker rate due to the warmer temperatures. If the worms are in an outdoor bin, you will notice their consumption rate has decreased. They too, like the bears go into a hibernation/dormant state.
by Wonder Worman | Nov 10, 2010 | Less in the Landfill, Red Wiggler World
Ready, Set, Go!!! This empty SunChips compostable bag will be put to the test in a Wonder Worman Bin! I have faith in Frito-Lay and believe this compostable bag will break down. The time frame is what I am not too sure about….13 weeks. My gut is telling me it will be longer due to the temperature of the bin. The website states that composting will occur at quicker rates if the pile is at 130 degrees F. We are close to winter,and the temperatures are hovering in the 20’s-40’s. Yesterday the temperature in the Wonder Worman bin was 60.
I sprinkled the bag with some of the bedding and compost mixture. This bin has been actively composting since May. It is already established with the brown(leaves, shredded newspaper, peat moss combo) and green(veggie scraps and lawn clippings) mixture.
By the way, the SunChips bag was added to my experimental bin! About 4 months ago, I added compostable party plates to this bin to test their ability to compost. These plates are breaking down and are very flimsy. Since these plates claim to be compostable and are showing signs of composting, I have faith in Frito-Lay and their compostable bags!
I am not too sure what is driving me to prove them right. Maybe it’s the hope that all disposable products will be compostable. I know there are other businesses out there looking to the future of our planet, Elements Naturals to name one off the top of my head! I’m just disappointed that the consumer couldn’t see the benefits of this bag which out weighed the minutes/seconds of noise they would need to endure. The plastic bags will be around A LOT longer than the noise!
by Wonder Worman | Nov 9, 2010 | Less in the Landfill, Red Wiggler World
I am pumped and ready to put the SunChips bag to the challenge. I am not too concerned with the amount of time it will take for the bag to be completely composted. I am more focused on the hope that it will just break down into usable compost.
As an avid composter for about 6 years, I know all of the right conditions need to be present for the optimum breakdown to occur, adding the right amount of brown and green waste and also reaching the right temperature. These conditions, I believe only happen in a controlled environment. The Sunchips bags were tested in a facility which maintained the composting temperature at 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The bags broke down in about 12-16 weeks. Realizing a home composter would not have access to those conditions, the SunChips testers mimicked a home composting bin and added browns and green waste to the SunChips bags. The bags broke down in about 13 weeks. They also conducted an Industrial Composting Standards test which is way beyond my backyard so I am not going to discuss all that they did…….
Basically, they passed a rigorous test protocol conducted by Cedar Grove in Seattle, Washington.
So, I am going to try two different composting methods, maybe even 3, depending on SunChip cravings!
1) Red Wiggler composting Bin
2) Backyard compost pile
3) Compost tumbler
All of these are already set up with brown and green waste. Temperatures will vary among the three.
I am thrilled SunShips created this compostable bag and am excited to see the results.
Happy Wormin’
by Wonder Worman | Nov 9, 2010 | Less in the Landfill
I’ve heard the upset about the SunChips compostable bags being too loud and disturbing. I’ve read blogs and viewed videos but haven’t had my own experience so I decided to purchase a bag last week. Yes, I agree they are very loud indeed. They are loud enough to wake a sleeping husband on the couch and probably loud enough to wake a sleeping baby.
I am really not upset with the fact that the bags are noisy. I am more upset that Frito-Lay had to switch back to the plastic bags and do away with the compostable bags with 5 of their 6 chip flavors, keeping the compostable bag limited to the Original flavor.
I do understand Frito-Lay needs to listen to it’s customers in order for the business to survive. They are working on a better, and I am sure quieter compostable bag. I am just bummed that the consumers couldn’t hold out until the new bag was made rather than forcing Frito-Lay to change back to plastic.
Does the consumer buy so many bags of SunChips for the noise to be that annoying?
by Wonder Worman | Nov 5, 2010 | Red Wiggler World
The “Feed the Wigglers” campaign has officially come to a close! It was so cool to look outside at different times during the day and see groups of pumpkins left on the lawn.
I’m not too sure if the sign on the corner of Awbrey Rd and Portland Ave actually brought people to the drop site. I have a feeling it just made people wonder, but that’s cool, too!
Thanks to all of my friends and readers who dropped off their carved creations. My Red Wigglers are set for quite some time.
I think…(this is an estimate)… there were about 35 pumpkins dropped at the house. I am not certain because my kids were infatuated with grabbing something hard, like a baseball bat, and whacking the heck out of the pumpkins the minute they got home from school! The guts and rinds went a-flying.
Their madness was actually much appreciated. They saved me an hour of smashing them myself. It was fun to see them get their wackiness out!
I wasn’t too concerned about the size of the pieces, knowing the wigglers would devour any piece they were given.
On a side note, I am so distracted and can’t concentrate! My newly adopted fury sidekick, Bob, is having some troubles. I think I will put up at post about him soon! Maybe writing about him will help me get my mind focused a bit!
Any way…..Happy Wormin’ and thanks!
