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The Dirt Maker 14 Flow-Through Worm Bin

Flow-through worm bins are the ultimate composters, and the Dirt Maker 14 is the perfect size for serious gardening. This composter is easy to use, and built to last. Organic matter goes in the top, and vermicompost (worm compost) comes out the bottom when a flat cutting bar is pulled across the bottom of the worm bin by a winch. After setting up this machine with composting type earthworms and the initial bedding, its operation involves only feeding and watering the worms, cranking a handle for less than a minute at a time, and sweeping the vermicompost out from underneath.

Feeding and harvesting windrows with a loader is the vermicomposting method that uses the least amount of labor per volume, and is used for large scale worm farming. Flow-through worm bins use the least amount of labor for small to medium scale vermicomposting. They are the best choice when you’re feeding your worms less than a cubic yard at a time, but still want to make enough worm compost for the garden. Flow-through worm bins produce vermicompost with an extremely high percentage of worm castings (worm manure). This is partly due to their incredible aeration, and also because of the continual collection of the very oldest material in the bin. The soil produced by these composters is as plant-ready as can possibly be achieved in a composting system.

In addition to making the best possible compost, this composter is also great for raising compost worms. Vermiculture (raising worms) goes hand in hand with vermicomposting. When the bedding temperature is within range, a pound (or occasionally two) of worms can be removed weekly without significantly affecting worm casting production. When used for dual purpose worm farming, this worm bin can pay for itself with worms every two years while also producing more worm castings than most people need for maintaining their lawns and gardens.

Click photos to enlarge.

The steel parts of this composter have a tough UV resistant baked-on finish. The sides of the box are UV resistant HDPE marine board (so-called because it’s the high-tech plastic material used for boat decks. The cutting bar and its welded-on hooks are stainless steel, and the bar is beveled, making it easier to pull. The delta rings on the winch straps are stainless steel. The cutting bar slides on UHMW polyethylene strips, so it never makes contact with the screen. UHMW is the material used on the tips of snowplow blades. It’s a high-tech plastic with better abrasion resistance than metals. All of the nuts, bolts, and washers inside the composting area are stainless steel.

All the information on this website comes from years of experience and extensive research. This information is honestly presented and reliable. One thing to consider when comparing worm bins is; some companies exaggerate the amount of worms their composters will support, along with the vermicomposting rate. Some claims even go beyond the the highest documented earthworm density that has been achieved in an optimally controlled laboratory environment, which is 4 lbs/sq ft. The only meaningful number when comparing worm bin to worm bin is the vermicomposting area. Worm biomass and vermicompost production are directly related to vermicomposting area.

This composter has a 5-year limited warranty.
Must be used on a concrete or asphalt surface.
Made in the USA.

SPECIFICATIONS

Composting volume	210 gallons
Composting area	14.1 sq ft
Composting depth	2' 0"
Length	9' 1"
Width	3' 3"
Height	3' 5"
Height under frame	1' 4"
Weight	240 lbs
Shipping weight	415 lbs

PRICE

$1995 plus shipping from Reno NV.

SHIPPING

Call or email for a shipping quote. When requesting a quote, include city, state, and zip. Tell us whether the address is residential or commercial (home-based businesses are considered residential). If commercial, are you equipped to unload?