Name: Worm Factory 360 (left)
Price: $119.99
Rating: Recommend*
Name: VermiHut 3-Tray Worm Composter (right)
Price: $50.00
Rating: Weak Recommend*
It has now been one month since we started testing our new Worm Factory and VermiHut, and while it usually takes a few months for these types of bins to reach their optimum performance, we're going to rate them based on our experience so far. We'll update you again in the future, but for now we can say the more expensive Worm Factory 360 actually did perform better.
If you'll recall, the Worm Factory 360 was redesigned with a "Thermo Siphon Airflow" design to allow air, but not light, to flow through the sides and base. We initially didn't like the higher legs of this model, but over the past month have noticed that it does seem to make a positive difference. The compost has stayed at a moderate moisture level – not too wet, not too dry – and the internal temperature has been consistently five degrees lower than that of the VermiHut we tested.
The setup instructions for the Worm Factory were more complicated, requiring several different layers of material. It was also recommended that food be placed in just one corner of the tray. Whether it was the airflow, the bedding, the food location, or a delicate balance of all these things, the worms quickly acclimated to their new environment. Within a day they became actively involved in the processing of food and we swear they were fatter every time we checked.
We haven't had a chance to test the stacking tray system or worm tea spigot yet, but so far the bin has been sturdy, the instruction booklet has been informative and easy to follow, and the worms seem to be happy.
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VermiHut 3-Tray Worm Composter
Alas, things have not been so rosy for the VermiHut. Alhough this is not unheard of, it took about a week for the worms to acclimate as opposed to the quick experience we had with the Worm Factory. We don't know whether it was the design of the bin, the simpler bedding instructions, or the placement of food in a layer rather than a corner, but it took several days for the worms to start eating. And even when they did, they never seemed to get fat like the ones in the other bin. (Note: We purchased our red wigglers at a local nursery and divided them up between the two bins.)
As mentioned above, the temperature stayed about five degrees higher than the Worm Factory, which proved to be devastating during an unexpected heatwave. Sadly, we came home one day and nearly all of the worms had died. (The ones in the Worm Factory were okay.) We quickly moved the bins indoors and separated the live worms from the dead, but the VermiHut was never the same after that.
We'd like to retest the VermiHut using the Worm Factory's instructions for bedding assembly and feeding. It would be interesting to see how crucial that is compared to the design of the bin itself. Perhaps it wouldn't be a problem for a more experienced vermicomposter, or in a location that doesn't get heat waves, but for the novice in summer, our experience with the VermiHut was disappointing.
*Our Ratings:
Strong Recommend
Recommend
Weak Recommend
Don't Recommend
Related: Worm Factory vs. VermiHut Composters: Part 1
Apartment Therapy Media makes every effort to test and review products fairly and transparently. The views expressed in this review are the personal views of the reviewer and this particular product review was not sponsored or paid for in any way by the manufacturer or an agent working on their behalf. However, the manufacturer or retailer did give us the product for testing and review purposes.
(Images: Emily Ho)
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If the idea is to keep temperatures down for worm comfort, wouldn't a lighter color bin be beneficial?
As the keeper of a worm bin (different model) for about 3 years, I suspect the different results were caused by the airflow, which also affects temperature. In the bottom picture, the area in the VermiHut where the worms would be feeding looks to be more distant from the air. And adding food in a layer along the bottom cuts off more air to the tray than adding a taller amount of food in a corner.
Whatever you use, and whatever the instructions, it can't hurt to open the bin, give it a quick stir, and push some food aside to open up an airhole in the working bin to the leachate tray, about once a week.
I call myself a worm farm collector. I have the worm factory, gusanito and vermihut. The hard-ware design for the worm factory, gusanito and vermihut are essentially the same. The ways to prepare the bedding and feed the worms play important part in air-flow and temperature. This is just a matter of experience.
The new version (the expensive version) of the worm factory may have better air-flow. However, it is not worthy to pay double-price for the little additional air-flow. Just think about it. If you are going to pay double price, you could just pay two units of vermihut or gusanito. The same amount of worms can enjoy lot more air flow for the same amount of worms, and process more food waste. It is just my humble opinion.
I just started trying to see if I could raise worms a few months ago. I started with a five tray Vermihut and two pounds of worms. I am an avid fisherman and have been using the worms but they are multiplying faster than I can use them which made me so happy I bought another five tray Vermihut. I dont like to see litter when I go fishing and I got tired of paying a ridiculous price for half dead worms and trying to fight the skeeters diggin them and I have to say I think the Vermihut system works great. I havent had any problems out of mine yet and they are so easy to maintain. I feed the worms once a week and drain the water like twice a week and they seem to be happy worms. I didnt want to spend a lot of money not knowing if it was going to be worth it but now I have two systems and I am afraid if the worms keep going like they are I might need help using some of them to go fishin. The main thing is the Vermihut is cheap made from recycled material and I think it performs better than I thought it would when I first got it. I would have no problem recommending this product to anyone its worth the investment.
Will there be a Part 3 for this Worm Factory test lab? I'm curious to know what you'll do to keep the worms to survive the winter living in each unit.
Is anyone aware of a worm composting tray unit that sits directly on the ground so that the worms can bury deeper underground in the winter to protect themselves against freezing? Can you take either of these units off their legs and the leachate tea collection tray so the worms can travel between the ground and the food above?
I so want to buy one of these and incorporate it into my patio design and not have to bring the unit indoors for the winter since my apt is less than 400 sf.
Hi,
My name is Tom and I am the co-owner of the website Green Compost Bins . We sell Compost Bins, Tumblers, and worm composters. After composting and organic gardening for a number of years, I thought "Hey, why don't I turn something I love into my career." Our company has grown rapidly and we are now one of the to online retailers of composting supplies. We sell everything from compost supplies, worms, and provide a ton of educational articles for those that are new to composting. If you're new to composting check out our "Composting 101" articles, because we have a ton of beginner and advanced material.
Came to this post via a round-up.
Can we have another update?
@pharcydeabc,
Proper Article Comments 101 - talk about the blog article, Tom. Not just post an ad for yourself (worthy though it may be). Everyone doing what you did = useless forum.
Please and thank you.
Where was this comparison done and what were the high temps that caused a problem? I am at 5,800' in the California Sierra (Truckee) and our heat wave was like 85 but it got a little warmer up here on the 2nd floor. Just curious if we would want to avoid the VermiHut for the same reason.
Has there been a comparison in the winter months and how did that go? We have sub freezing lows for most of the winter but between the ambient heat indoors next to heated apartments and the option to bring the composter inside we might decide to risk the winter.