Dirt Free
I had a small garden bed that was not producing. When I tore it up I saw that it was full of pine tree roots that had eaten all the good stuff and made the PH of the soil off. Now I have a wheel barrow full of used up dirt to do something with. I also container garden, so every year I am paying money for DIRT! Even the organic compost is so UN-impressive, full of rocks and bark, I have plenty of those already. I want to recycle the dirt instead,free yummy dirt to use each year.
Supplies:
perforated pipe. I found it is cheaper then the other pipe, and already has holes!
Barrel , garbage can , whatever you have lying around
Drill plus bit
Small container
Bricks, Rocks, 4x4, ect.
Dirt
Worms
Food scraps
Paper or leaves
Pipe
Cut the pipe to fit the barrel or container. It is best if all the holes are covered with dirt to keep bugs out and worms in .
Install
Drill some drain holes in the bottom of container .Place pipe in center of the container. Fill with used up soil.
Catch Water
Place the container up on 4x4, brick, rocks ect. Insert a water catcher, mine is the container salad greens come in. You can pour this water back in the container, or when it starts getting compost you can air-rate it for tea for your plants.
Worms, Food.
Place worms in pipe. I dug some up and used those. Then layer shredded paper or dried leaves with veggie scraps until full, replenish it when needed. Give the dirt some water till damp.
Cover
Cover the opening to keep smelly bugs out. Next year remove the dirt and switch it with the used up dirt from last years container's. And repeat . Good bye $$compost and bags of dirt!