Superior womery (Just Green Can-O-Worms Wormery)

Member Name: oasisjoe

Product:	Just Green Can-O-Worms Wormery
Date:	05/05/02 (2277 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: convenient way to make compost, efficient, easy recycling

Disadvantages: expensive

I hate throwing anything away, even teabags and, as I have a garden, it seems sensible to make compost. This has never been quick or easy with a conventional compost heap so I was really keen when a friend offered me her wormery because she was having no luck with it. Hers was one of those that looks like a dustbin with a tap on it. Full description on this site but basically you put your worms and some compost (their bedding) in at the bottom and add kitchen waste.

As you add the waste the worms feed and digest converting teabags and all into compost. As they do this they naturally move upwards into the new waste and liquid waste seeps into the reservoir at the bottom. This you drain off with the tap, dilute and use as a liquid feed on your tomatoes or whatever.

These work OK but, and it's a big but, the compost you want to get at is at the bottom of the bin and the worms and the undigested stuff is at the top. This means turning the lot out, getting your compost, picking out stray worms and returning worms and gunge to bin.

The Can-o-Worms brilliance is that it's in layers. You put worms (from supplier or get some free from a compost heap) and bedding in the bottom layer and then add kitchen waste putting a new layer on as the trays fill up. By the time the top layer is full the bottom layer is compost and worm free 'cos they've all moved up into the next layer.

We've just got to the stage where we're about to use the compost on the first layer. The worms move up through tiny holes and into the next layer and start working on the material there. When you've emptied out your compost, you put the empty tray on the top and the cycle starts again. So far we've had none of the problems we had with the previous wormery (fly infestation, smelly waterlogged compost, dead worms) and none of the soul destroying bin emptying ritual.
Another claim by the manufacturer is that these units aresuitable for
the squeamish since you don't see the worms when you put the waste in (they're all 'downstairs').

Wormeries aren't designed to deal with garden waste but this one will deal with all your kitchen waste (tea, coffee grounds, fruit and veg peelings, cores, etc.) You can also add loo roll inner tubes, shredded newspaper etc. so long as they're damp. The only kitchen waste the worms don't like is citrus and onion peel but I've found they're fine with it if you add plenty of crushed egg shells (I whizz them in a food processor after I've made pastry or breadcrumbs).

The only disadvantage to the Can-o-worms, apart from the fact it's far from attractive, is the price. £60 seems a lot of money for some plastic trays on legs but the dustbin types are only about £10 cheaper and the Can-o-worms is soooo much better. The supplier's website tells you everything you want to know and goods are sent out by return.

Summary: