I do occasionally get asked if I can supply loose parts for the Urbalive worm composter. This is either the tap or the filter cloth. My answer is always: It can be done, but it is not necessary. In fact, there is a way to use urbalive without these parts. A way that is also… Continue reading Urbalive hack
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Can compost worms withstand the heat?
The answer is simple: compost worms cannot withstand the heat. Outside temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius can be disastrous. Especially in a dark worm box that is in full sun, the temperature can easily rise to above 40 degrees. From 35 degrees, they will really try to flee from your worm bin en masse to… Continue reading Can compost worms withstand the heat?
National compost day at Balkonton, visit March 25 the Worm Bin-Expo
National Compost Day 2023, visit Balkonton s worm composter in Amsterdam
Separate parts for the round worm composter
Is your wheel or tap broken? Or your lid blown away? In the webshop you can now also buy individual parts for the round worm composter. TIP: in high winds or storms, place a stone on the lid to prevent it from being blown away
New movie: Mounting worm tower
Video with explanation about the assembly of the wormery worm box
Refurbishment for the garden
This autumn I’m going to tackle a piece in the garden where my plants are clearly struggling to keep their heads above water. Apart from grass, little wants to grow, and what I have planted has largely been eaten away by the snails, caterpillars and I know a lot. Above you can see what I… Continue reading Refurbishment for the garden
Wooden worm composter
Wooden worm composterare popular because of their beautiful natural appearance. Not all wooden worm compostercan be placed outside, especially without additional protection
Help: The worms crawl through the bin and do not stay in the compost
This is especially common if you have just installed a new worm bin and is not a cause for concern. During the first 2 to 4 weeks, your worms are still getting used to it. They will investigate and can also try to crawl out of the box. But they will certainly explore everywhere IN… Continue reading Help: The worms crawl through the bin and do not stay in the compost
Whether or not to buy a worm bin (re)starter kit
The (re)starter package contains hemp mats, lava flour, worm feed and growing soil. You especially need the growing soil if your worms have had a hard time (hot summer or extremely cold winter, or little food during your holiday). You can also use the worm food if your worms need to recover or if you… Continue reading Whether or not to buy a worm bin (re)starter kit
How do you protect your worms from the cold?
Read the tips in the blog,share your photo on Facebook and have a chance to win a worm bin (re)starter pack. This makes your worm colony a quick restart when the temperatures start to rise again. The winner will be announced on February 28. NB: the starter package has gone to Stichting Mens en Tuin,a… Continue reading How do you protect your worms from the cold?
Reorder plant ring without shipping costs
Around Christmas 2020, the stock of green worm boxes and the stock of plant rings were used up. The new stock is on its way. So fortunately from Monday 18 January the stock is back in order. Tot 21 februari 2021 kun je een plantenring nabestellen zonder verzendkosten. If you want to reorder a plant… Continue reading Reorder plant ring without shipping costs
Can a worm bin stand in the rain?
tips to keep your worm bin dry when it rains. Comparison of various types of worm binsin the rain.
How to use worm poop?
Worm droppings that you buy ready-made can be immediately sprinkled on the soil or added to your plants. Worm droppings from your own worm bin can be quite wet but do not have to ripen first like cow dung. It can be useful to let the wet worm droppings dry first so that you can… Continue reading How to use worm poop?
Wormenbak expo-garden on the Moestuinlaan
Come and have a look at the worm bins and compost bins that are being tested in the Expo garden
Cardboard in the worm bin
You can read it in every manual for worm composting: always alternate the kitchen waste that you feed to your compost worms with a layer of cardboard, or other waste from the ‘brown’ group. Such as branches, straw, dry leaves. Yet I notice that many people forget that adding cardboard at some point. And that’s… Continue reading Cardboard in the worm bin
Mosquitoes in your worm bin
Are you sure they are mosquitoes and not fruit flies? In both cases it is important to add enough cardboard and perhaps let the container dry out a bit at the top (lid off). Check whether your drip tray drains well. If there are water accumulations in the lower compost rings (or in the drip… Continue reading Mosquitoes in your worm bin
Citrus peels in your worm bin or compost bin
Orange peels and other citrus peels should not be placed in your worm bin. But you can use them to improve the soil
Speed up worm bin compost process
How do you get your compost worms to process more waste? Many people have a worm bin because it is a quick way of composting. Worm composting is a compost method that also takes up little space due to its speed. Sometimes the working pace of the compost worms is unfortunately a bit disappointing. I… Continue reading Speed up worm bin compost process
How many compost rings should I order for my worm bin?
As a guideline, you can keep in mind that you need approximately 1 compost ring per person. With a minimum of 3 rings for a good functioning of your worm bin. And a maximum of 6 rings because of the weight. But there are several factors that play a role: How many vegetables do you… Continue reading How many compost rings should I order for my worm bin?
Help, the top compost ring of my worm bin fills up too quickly
There can be several reasons that the upper ring is already full before the bottom ring is composted: From too low temperature to too much waste. Either way, you have an acute problem. What to do? Here you have four options: 4 ways to empty a compost ring See if the compost in the bottom… Continue reading Help, the top compost ring of my worm bin fills up too quickly
The (virtual) Compost Garden
All of Balkonton’s worm bins and compost barrels can be viewed in the Compost Garden in Amsterdam North. Make an appointment and you will receive a personal, no-obligation tour of my garden where everything is set up and in operation. Of course you can then answer all your questions about (worm) composting.
Compost barrel / worm bin Aerobin 200
Small Worm composter or compost heap not an option? Do you have more waste than a regular worm bin can handle? And no space (or time) for an ordinary compost heap? Or does the idea of a worm bin oppose you? Then you (in the city) quickly end up with a self-aerating compost container. The… Continue reading Compost barrel / worm bin Aerobin 200
How long can you store compost worms in the packaging?
You can easily store the compost worms for 2 weeks in the bag in which they are sent. They are packed in a large amount of growing soil. That is compost, bedding and nutrition for at least 2 weeks. Make the contents of the bag of compost worms nice and moist However, it is important… Continue reading How long can you store compost worms in the packaging?
Can I still go on holiday if I have a worm bin?
You can easily leave your worms alone for a week or 2 in the summer. If you are going away longer, ask a good neighbor to feed something 1 time a week. What you really shouldn’t do is add a supply of food for several weeks in one go. That will stink and scare away… Continue reading Can I still go on holiday if I have a worm bin?
Workshop “Make your own Balkonton” will no longer be held.
I am regularly asked when there will be anotherBalkonton MakingBalkonton ” workshop. Unfortunately, I must then reply that I no longer teach this workshop. It was always a lot of fun and inspiring to do. But I quit anyway. It often took me 2 days to pack all the tools and materials, transport them, conduct… Continue reading Workshop “Make your own Balkonton” will no longer be held.
Time for a movie! Sustainable 100
Pieter Tinbergen made this nice video about the origins of and developments at Balkonton. In the first part you immediately see how to assemble the round worm box. Skillful! The Sustainable 100 of North This report was made in the context of the Sustainable 100 of Noord. This is a network of sustainable entrepreneurs in… Continue reading Time for a movie! Sustainable 100
Compost in the city because your GFT is valuable.
GFT is often collected separately, but still…. Cat litter pellets and cigarette butts Your carefully properly separated organic waste ends up in the municipal compost pile. Along with the neighbor’s cat litter, that woman around the corner’s cigarette butts, and that cute baby’s dirty diapers. All these things do NOT belong in the GFT bin,… Continue reading Compost in the city because your GFT is valuable.
Cuttings wanted, in exchange for a discount in the webshop
I have a nice vertical wall system for my home that has 81 plants in it. That will be an expensive joke so I propose a kind of barter: I offer per plant that you send me 5 Euro discount on www.balkonton.nl. For 3 plants you already have a bag of worm poop of 14… Continue reading Cuttings wanted, in exchange for a discount in the webshop
How do you remove the worms from the compost?
If you are ready to harvest the bottom compost ring of your worm bin, most worms will have already migrated to the top bins. After all, that’s where the food is. You can process the compost with remaining worms and already just in the garden. You can also choose to remove the worms first. The… Continue reading How do you remove the worms from the compost?
Invasive exotics: whether or not on the compost bin or worm bin
Do you also suffer from the Japanese knotweed? Then you might be wondering if you can just pull these plants out of the ground and throw them on your compost heap or in your worm bin. Full composting takes place when all green residues to be composted have been at least at a temperature of… Continue reading Invasive exotics: whether or not on the compost bin or worm bin
House-Worming in Alkmaar
Information worm composting at Gaaf Groen. Come to Pop Up Centre Gaaf Groen on Meerweg 11 in Alkmaar on Thursday 24 September at 19:30 for the festive opening of the neighbourhood worm bin, and for information about setting up a worm bin yourself. Worm composting is the way to close the biological cycle in the… Continue reading House-Worming in Alkmaar
Anti-snail tip
A few snails in your Balkonton is not a problem: they eat the dead worms, digest waste. but unfortunately they also eat your plants. Anti snail tip: wrap some copper wire around the legs of your Balkonton or vegetable garden container. They never get over that. Make sure that the wire is ‘grounded’, so either… Continue reading Anti-snail tip
Ants in your worm bin
A few ants in your worm bin can’t hurt, but if there’s an invasion, it can get annoying. Fortunately, I have no experience with this myself. I can list a number of tips that I have collected here and there. With the question if you want to share your experiences. Add plenty of coffee grounds.… Continue reading Ants in your worm bin
The benefits of worm droppings or vermicompost
The compost worms in your Balkonton or worm bin digest your organic waste. What remains is ‘vermicompost’. A mixture of worm droppings, fungi, bacteria, and organic matter. This worm droppings can be used as fertilizer. Worm compost has many advantages over other fertilizers. To name a few: 1: Your plants grow faster Worm droppings contain… Continue reading The benefits of worm droppings or vermicompost
Where to buy compost worms?
You can buy your compost worms through our webshop. Order them through our webshop. Then you get a mix of Eisinia Fetida and Eisinia Hortensis teo-controlled. About 200 grams is more than enough to start your Balkonton. For a larger worm bin, choose a portion of 500 grams. If you order a worm bin from… Continue reading Where to buy compost worms?