Comments for Speed River Journal http://www.vanwaffle.com An urban naturalist's progress Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:33:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on Beginners’ vermiculture by Van Waffle http://www.vanwaffle.com/2012/02/01/beginners-vermiculture/#comment-195 Van Waffle Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:33:32 +0000 http://www.vanwaffle.com/?p=277#comment-195 Thanks for sharing your experience. This is a valuable comparison of the two products. After taking a couple weeks to settle in, my worms appear to be off to the races! Thanks for sharing your experience. This is a valuable comparison of the two products.

After taking a couple weeks to settle in, my worms appear to be off to the races!

]]> Comment on Beginners’ vermiculture by Reiad http://www.vanwaffle.com/2012/02/01/beginners-vermiculture/#comment-194 Reiad Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:10:14 +0000 http://www.vanwaffle.com/?p=277#comment-194 I bought my first Worm Chalet about 9 months ago. I have since added two more to my collection. Between Chalet # 2 and # 3, I bought a Worm Factory. Running this system along the Worm Chalet is like racing a Focus against a BMW. The Worm Chalet out performed the Worm Factory by 2 months (for the same quantity of end product). The biggest problem with the Worm Factory is that there is hardly any air circulation. The top tray sits directly on the bottom tray, which causes the compost in the bottom tray to compact and go aerobic. Worms, and the composting process requires air flow. I have since dismantled the Worm Factory and transferred the content to my 3 rd Worm Chalet. As predicted, the population of worms have grown, and the process is now moving at a faster rate. The only positive thing about the Worm Factory is that it gave me an idea on how to speed up the migration of worms from the bottom to the top tray in the Worm Chalet. I do this by mounding up the compost in the bottom tray to touch the base of the top tray of the Worm Chalet. I was originally told that the "legs" of the tray will provide a path for migration, but I found my method works better. Good luck Van, I know you will enjoy your Worm Chalet. I bought my first Worm Chalet about 9 months ago. I have since added two more to my collection. Between Chalet # 2 and # 3, I bought a Worm Factory. Running this system along the Worm Chalet is like racing a Focus against a BMW. The Worm Chalet out performed the Worm Factory by 2 months (for the same quantity of end product). The biggest problem with the Worm Factory is that there is hardly any air circulation. The top tray sits directly on the bottom tray, which causes the compost in the bottom tray to compact and go aerobic. Worms, and the composting process requires air flow. I have since dismantled the Worm Factory and transferred the content to my 3 rd Worm Chalet. As predicted, the population of worms have grown, and the process is now moving at a faster rate. The only positive thing about the Worm Factory is that it gave me an idea on how to speed up the migration of worms from the bottom to the top tray in the Worm Chalet. I do this by mounding up the compost in the bottom tray to touch the base of the top tray of the Worm Chalet. I was originally told that the “legs” of the tray will provide a path for migration, but I found my method works better.

Good luck Van, I know you will enjoy your Worm Chalet.

]]> Comment on Beginners’ vermiculture by Van Waffle http://www.vanwaffle.com/2012/02/01/beginners-vermiculture/#comment-187 Van Waffle Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:47:19 +0000 http://www.vanwaffle.com/?p=277#comment-187 Yes, I forgot to mention that the worms are working animals, not pets! The Worm Factory looks like another great product, and it's also a little more economical. The design of the Worm Chalet is pretty cool, and Canadian buyers will like that it is made in Canada. Yes, I forgot to mention that the worms are working animals, not pets! The Worm Factory looks like another great product, and it’s also a little more economical. The design of the Worm Chalet is pretty cool, and Canadian buyers will like that it is made in Canada.

]]> Comment on Beginners’ vermiculture by Darren White http://www.vanwaffle.com/2012/02/01/beginners-vermiculture/#comment-186 Darren White Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:57:01 +0000 http://www.vanwaffle.com/?p=277#comment-186 Great "how to" post. I've been at this for a year and a bit now. Going great. I started with a couple of styrofoam coolers and purchased the "Worm Factory" after about 6 months. (I went with the "Worm Factory" rather than the "Worm Chalet" based purely on name... I wanted the little squirmers working, not loafing in the chalet) Great “how to” post. I’ve been at this for a year and a bit now. Going great. I started with a couple of styrofoam coolers and purchased the “Worm Factory” after about 6 months. (I went with the “Worm Factory” rather than the “Worm Chalet” based purely on name… I wanted the little squirmers working, not loafing in the chalet)

]]> Comment on Beginners’ vermiculture by Van Waffle http://www.vanwaffle.com/2012/02/01/beginners-vermiculture/#comment-185 Van Waffle Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:00:46 +0000 http://www.vanwaffle.com/?p=277#comment-185 Great, I hope this inspires you! The thing is amazingly compact, just 20" square and 30" tall. The Rubbermaster tub type would fit under the sink. Good luck, and if you try it, let me know how it works out. Great, I hope this inspires you! The thing is amazingly compact, just 20″ square and 30″ tall. The Rubbermaster tub type would fit under the sink. Good luck, and if you try it, let me know how it works out.

]]> Comment on Beginners’ vermiculture by Steve in Rhode Island http://www.vanwaffle.com/2012/02/01/beginners-vermiculture/#comment-184 Steve in Rhode Island Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:36:29 +0000 http://www.vanwaffle.com/?p=277#comment-184 Awesome post Van! I'm planning on trying out my hand at vermicomposting either this winter or next. I have to make space in our little 2nd floor apartment for a chalet before I take the plunge. Until then, I keep making a compost lasagne in the compost bin out back. It will be cooking in a couple of months! Awesome post Van! I’m planning on trying out my hand at vermicomposting either this winter or next. I have to make space in our little 2nd floor apartment for a chalet before I take the plunge. Until then, I keep making a compost lasagne in the compost bin out back. It will be cooking in a couple of months!

]]> Comment on Mixed-flock swallow phenomenon by Van Waffle http://www.vanwaffle.com/2011/05/04/mixed-flock-swallow-phenomenon/#comment-107 Van Waffle Sat, 21 May 2011 01:20:55 +0000 http://www.vanwaffle.com/?p=220#comment-107 Indeed it was! It was one of the defining moments of spring, for me. Indeed it was! It was one of the defining moments of spring, for me.

]]> Comment on Eastern screech-owl by Van Waffle http://www.vanwaffle.com/2011/05/08/eastern-screech-owl/#comment-106 Van Waffle Sat, 21 May 2011 01:19:24 +0000 http://www.vanwaffle.com/?p=228#comment-106 You're very welcome. :) You’re very welcome. :)

]]> Comment on Eastern screech-owl by Bob MCDiarmid http://www.vanwaffle.com/2011/05/08/eastern-screech-owl/#comment-89 Bob MCDiarmid Mon, 09 May 2011 02:00:57 +0000 http://www.vanwaffle.com/?p=228#comment-89 This is beautiful Van - thank you! This is beautiful Van – thank you!

]]> Comment on Mixed-flock swallow phenomenon by Charlie Montney http://www.vanwaffle.com/2011/05/04/mixed-flock-swallow-phenomenon/#comment-87 Charlie Montney Thu, 05 May 2011 05:24:30 +0000 http://www.vanwaffle.com/?p=220#comment-87 How fascinating... Swallows are a lot of fun to watch under any circumstances, but to be able to witness a multi-species group feeding and, apparently, interacting sounds like one of those magical moments nature serves up from time to time. How fascinating… Swallows are a lot of fun to watch under any circumstances, but to be able to witness a multi-species group feeding and, apparently, interacting sounds like one of those magical moments nature serves up from time to time.

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