Wood Worm Farms

I watched the movie last night and was very impressed. Great job.

Also I have to say that I don't agree with some positions stated in the movie.
The first of them is simplification. It goes through all the film.
The main hero decides to go on his experiment not by solving the main environmental problems, but simply by disregarding them.
For example: toilet paper production cut trees - I don't use the toilet paper.
Washing machine pollutes environment - I don't use a washing machine.
By the same way he simply eliminates his car, TV, disposable products, kitchen chemicals, baby diapers, shopping for new products etc.
Then he shuts of electricity.
The problem is that by not using all those things and services you don't eliminate need in them. Being 23 years of my life in the similar "experiment" (except electricity) in ex- Soviet Union, I dare to claim that there is a need in disposables, diapers, cars and good TVs. It's so good to know that the first strawberry will arrive tomorrow, at 8 AM and not on June 15th... A washing machine + disposable diapers save years of life. I know, I was washing my clothes in a bath tube for 15 years.
Thus the need remains. You can't simplify life. It's complex.
The simplification is dangerous.
The model of simple life style creates a new believe, that right people can change the life for better, so we have to educate and grow the right people.
That's pretty old concept. Mozes, Zaratustra, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Lenin and many others were trying to do this.
But what to do with the wrong people? The solution, according to all the aforementioned authors is also pretty simple...

So what to do? We do have to save our planet.
On some stage the main hero in the movie does come to solution! When he needs to power his computer (which for some reason didn't follow TV), he installs a solar panel - it replaced the environmentally unfriendly electricity (but introduced a non-recyclable junk).
The complex problems are solved by complex solutions. There is no simplification, no return to past. The same way should go diapers, toilet paper, TVs and cars.
For example, compostable diapers, composting toilets with biodegradable paper, fully recyclable TVs (?), electric cars (?), etc...

I think, generally that the main hero started his experiment unprepared.
He could do much more and be more efficient for creating an example of environmental cautiousness.
Especially being so talented in human relations, communication, advertisement and business.

In spite all those notes, the movie did't leave me indifferent.

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Wrong loops: start horizontally, the tube is too wide.


Right loop - makes whole circle. the tube is 1/2".

The first problem with my new aquaponic system was siphons. I discovered, 2000 years after Hero of Alexandria, that tuning them is not so simple. I used a “siphon-loop” concept from Aquaponics 101
1. The internal diameter of a siphon pipe should be not too small - that prevents a siphon to break, and not too big - when water reaches the maximum level, it starts to leak. If it leaks too much - the siphon effect never starts. For a pump of 340 Gal/hour the best choice was a vinyl tube with internal diameter 1/2".
2. The vinyl tube should really form a loop, this creates a sharp siphoning effect, probably because of water molecules cohesion.
3. There should not be internal joints inside the tube after it's highest point. A joint forms an air bubble inside the tube, and siphon doesn't start.
I lost 2 days rediscovering all this and felt embarrassed before Hero...

I decided to give up the floating raft system. It is inconvenient to climb 2 meters to handle it. Plus it's too hot for plants near the greenhouse roof.
So I started the reduced system of 2 half-barrel growing beds + a tote fish tank on March 18th, 2010.
On March 19th PH was 7.8 (not a trusted PH meter though...).
I released 36 goldfish fingerling.

On March 20th water in the tank became clearer, but I found 2 goldfish dead. May be because of transportation shock. The rest seem happy.
One testing plant - a kind of 'compost melon' is still alive in the growing bed.

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This is a new project of Wood Worm Farms. It has several goals:
1. Process maximum amount of food waste
2. grow maximum vegetables in minimal space
3. Built a robust and functional aquaponic and worm composting system from mostly recycled materials
4. Get a new stable supply of compost worms and ready compost

The systems will be built from a reconditioned manure spreader (Massey-Ferguson 512), 2 plastic drums, a tote, a floating raft system and plastic tubing. All those material were saved by Peter Szabo - an absolutely great person, recycling fanatic, who is trying to make this world a better place.
The systems is currently under construction, so I shall return with descriptions of different pieces.

This system is inspired by several nice Internet aquaponic projects:
Utah System
Aquaponics 101
Barrelponics

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Here is a simple solution how to avoid unnecessary mess, and let peacefully coexist to worms and young children in the same home.
Use a ratchet strap.
I've never seen kids under 10, who can open a tightened ratchet strap on their own. (But I've seen some adults above 18, who can't open it as well.) Though it's very easy- just press both springs simultaneously.
The same holds for pets as well.

Ratchet straps are very strong, so you also can lift bins using them, that is much easier, then to hold them on the lowest tray. It's my usual way to take a functional worm bin for next demonstration. Worms are quite tolerant to those travels.

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Here is a small slideshow on how I compost in winter. Most of the action is happening in my basement.
The cycle itself is very simple:
1. Collect the food scrap
2. Freeze it
3. Defrost
4. Damp to worm bin
5. Mix with bedding
6. Add soil and sand
Return to 1.

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