I was struggling trying to get my first attempt at pre compost to a high temperature and never got over 105. I did two heat cycle attempts and I left it alone for a few weeks and checked it today. At first glance I am definitely growing something in the tote. Not sure what all of it is but it is interesting. Temperature is at 80 degrees. There is no smell that my 84 year old nose can detect so I guess that is a good sign. Any views on whether this is good enough to start adding some worms to it after I locate some of it in a smaller bin? I still haven’t pulled the plug on ordering some worms but I’m getting close

The babies bin I am happy with but the breeder bin the ants are a bother and the lack of cacoons

Harvested a 14 inch section from Big Ben today. The bedding was only 6 inches deep. I started my dry down process last Thursday. I use a small 4 inch fan that blows across the top and work the bedding 3-5 times a day(3 on work days, 5 weekends). The result is over 90% of the worms vacate, the bedding reaches a moisture level of around 65% and I can hand sift around 5 gallons of castings in about 20 mins. Now I only need 30 more gallons of castings to fill my 4x8 bed. Big Ben and his squirmy crew are paying huge dividends!!! Pics are the before and after with a lil over 4 gallons of 1/8 sifted castings 😁💩🪱😁

This is a follow up video of the Saga of a Worm Farmer. Ice cold water bottles come to the rescue to chill down the situation. Even the AvoCondo that houses the loud Guac concert is serene. So glad the rioters calmed down.

@David Humphrey suggested clamshells with PC, then fruit, then covered. I took it a step further. I fed only in the middle of the bin with worm chow and mixed it up through the whole middle. Then drilled holes on the sides and bottom of my cottage cheese containers and "buried" them in the middle. Small layer of pc, then bananas, then some of their castings with food. We'll see if this gets some worm ball action - which will make sifting easier when I get back.