IGNYTE Magazine Issue 05 | Page 52

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Width

Since red wiggler worms love making a break for it, it’s important to drill holes that make it difficult for them to escape. This means that any hole larger than the diameter of a pencil offers a greater opportunity for escape. The best option is to install a mesh screen over the ventilation holes to ensure that no one gets out.

Fill with Dirt and Decomposers

Step 4

Once your bin is constructed, it’s now time for the fun part. However, before we start adding in food scraps and yard waste, we must first build our foundation. Adding a light sprinkling of garden soil or recently finished compost between layers of our green and brown materials can help create a suitable environment for the types of bacteria needed to trigger the composting process. This type of compost starter can usually be found at most hardware or gardening stores. After the basic ingredients, what you place in your bin will change depending on where it’s located. Here’s a breakdown of each location.

Outside

Outdoor compost bins require significantly less effort to maintain but still demand special handling depending on the climate. Cold weather often leads to slower microbial growth, which slows down the composting process depending on how long the cold weather lasts. It may seem counterintuitive, but regularly turning your bin is one of the best ways to ensure that it stays warm throughout the winter. Turning your pile evenly distributes oxygen, which allows your bacteria to thrive.