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Our 2nd Sifting
The sifting date was 6/26/2008 |
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This picture is the tractor that we use to run the hammermil that grinds the papers that we make the worm beddng from. The 3rd picture is of the papers that we grind up to make the bedding out of.
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Here are the bunks that were built. They are a little smaller than the first ones. Next Terry and LeRoy are putting together the tent frame. The frame will be covered with a tarp. The tent will be helpful in keeping all of the ground paper in the bunks instead of all over us and in the air. We just covered the bunks with a tarp the first time. The tent is also fitted with a sprinkler system inside that will spray water on the ground up paper as it is blown in the bunks making it easier on us. The first time we ground papers to fill the bunks it was a lot more work because we had to fill the bunks with paper then spray and stir, then fill the same one again till it was full enough. Plus we were covered in ground up paper from head to toe and we had to were masks to keep from breathing in the paper dust. This was a lot easier on all of us!
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Here are the pictures of the sprinkler system we used to mount in our tent. We used 2 of them, one in the middle and one on the far end of the tent. We cut up a water hose and put new ends on them after we cut them to fit. LeRoy was looking for zip ties to fasten down the sprinklers and the hoses to the tent frame. They ten hooked the hoses up to the hydrant. Everything Work GREAT! LeRoy is making sure that the tent is fastened down good before we start filling the bunks. Now the bunk and the tent are one and we can beging filling the bunks. |
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Starting up the tractor so we can start to grind papers for the bunks. LeRoy is feeding the hammermil with the papers in the 2nd picture. The 3rd picture show Terry feeding the hammermil and it shows the hay that we are feeding right along with the papers to be ground up to fill the bunks to feed the worms. Hay helps boust the nitrogen in the castings. The 4th picture is a little cloudy because the hammermil is running and the paper is coming through the black piping. Hey we could deal with that a lot better than the first time and we didn't have to be in the building as it was filling either...The first time we did. |
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Terry and LeRoy are checking the moisture in the bunk after it was filled. Terry with his arm in the bedding to show how deep the bedding is. He is standing next to the bunk to show how far off the floor they are. We have them on cement blocks so that they are off the floor so that they can drain any excess water. Now we are ready to start sifting the worm beds. |
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Here we are all set up to sift. Notice the blue kid swimming pools under the sifter. That is what we are using to catch the castings as they come through the 1/8th inch screen that we use in the sifting proccess. The next picture is of a bunk that is ready to be sifted. |
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Here is a picture of a bunk that is just about empty and it shows a lot of black castings. |
Here is a picture of the castings being caught in the kid pools under the sifter.
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Here is a picture of the sifting proccess working. |
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Here is a picture of some of castings that we just sifted for in a 31 gallon tote and Carol put some in her hands. |
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