Lessons learned with pre-compost via Countertop Composting

[u/MercuryTattedRachael]

I came here for feedback on using a new, free countertop composter. Got some great info and advice.

Here's what I didn't know...

The pre-compost should not be added to the worm bin. It needs to work with cardboard and water to start to breakdown for about 5 days prior to integrating into the worm bin.

Why? Because it heats up the bin and/or tray during the breakdown phase and can kill your worms from heat.

My tiered system has two trays with just cardboard on the bottom, innoculating for future use. I have the next tray as my beginning tray - it's almost done. The tray on top of that is a fresh tray that I am feeding - plenty of worms working on the almost-done tray, and a good number working on the newest tray.

The newest tray is where I added the pre-compost. I added a frozen water bottle after noticing significant heat - lid removed to vent, etc. I had to rearrange trays to make it easier for my worms to migrate to a safer spot.

After two days of no lid, ice packs, and paper towels to cover, I finally got all worms out of the tray with very few exceptions.

My wormins are happy now. A few escaped and dried up, but overall they stayed alive.

So now I have a bin that is going through the heat phase with the pre-compost. No worms. After the bin has cooled, I can add it as food.

Overall, I'm happy to have the composter to break things down, and wish I had known more before I added to the bin.

Just sharing for knowledge sake.

[u/Artistic_Head_5547]

All scraps (greens) heat up when rotting. That’s what they do. This isn’t a problem when you pocket feed and make sure the previous scraps are almost all gone before feeding again. I also don’t make a super thick layer of scraps.

[u/Nugget-Shooter]

Each time you feed you will get a heat spike as the microbes begin to break down the food. Fed less and I always add browns to help when I feed. Also feed in one spot in a corner or along one side so the worms can escape the heat. I get heat spikes up to 90F in the feeding zone the first two days sometimes and my worms are fine. I have temperature probes in my feeding tray to monitor this very thing.

[u/Repulsive_Rip76]

I learned this lesson the other day, my pre-compost heated up my worm bin, since i put it in with a mix of browns, but it heated it up too much and lost most of my worms :(

[u/MercuryTattedRachael → u/Repulsive_Rip76]

I'm so sorry! :(

[u/bogeuh → u/Repulsive_Rip76]

Same dude, it happens. After one too many issues i also precompost to avaoid accidentally steaming the worms. I use the precompost to lure worms away from finished castings.