I'm moving to manhattan into my parents brownstone. I want to purchase a commercially produced, multi-tray worm bin that will take care of the kitchen waste of 6 people who home cook about 80% of meals (a lot of scraps). And rodent proof. I've no experience with worm bins other than killing them all once when we had a small one. We've had an enclosed bin compost in our community garden plot for the past 6 years.
Even though they have a yard, my dad says they can't compost b/c of rats (and rats really are a major problem there. and I am not wanting to argue this point with him anyway, its his house). So, I want to get a fully enclosed worm bin that we can keep up on a small little second-floor back deck which is currently where my dad grows lettuce and greens, and hangs out laundry to dry. I/e not a place anyone hangs out anyway. If its truly not smelly, he'd probably let me move it to the yard eventually, but he *really* does not want to attract rodents to our house.
Questions:
Advice on what bin to get? Or are they pretty comparable?
Advice on what size to get for household of 6?
Can I keep it outside in winter in NYC if its against a house wall? Is there an easy and attractive way to do some insulating? I have read and heard conflicting things about this- that the worms will just stay to the middle where things are hot, or that it will kill them. If I start composting in mid- Sept do you think by the time we're getting hard freezes there will be enough heat from bacteria? its also possible that we could move it down beneath the front (stone) stairs once the downstairs tenant moves out. That space is not heated but obviously more protected than being totally outside. Its sort of like being in a very thick-walled shed attached to the house, I guess.
THANKS! Other advice and things I haven't thought of are totally welcome! I think my dad will be somewhat resistant at first, but I just know he will LOVE IT when he has less smelly, nasty food trash to store and deal with (would make our household trash much less and much less gross), and he will be THRILLED when we get to treat his small, shady back yard with the lovely worm castings.
Even though they have a yard, my dad says they can't compost b/c of rats (and rats really are a major problem there. and I am not wanting to argue this point with him anyway, its his house). So, I want to get a fully enclosed worm bin that we can keep up on a small little second-floor back deck which is currently where my dad grows lettuce and greens, and hangs out laundry to dry. I/e not a place anyone hangs out anyway. If its truly not smelly, he'd probably let me move it to the yard eventually, but he *really* does not want to attract rodents to our house.
Questions:
Advice on what bin to get? Or are they pretty comparable?
Advice on what size to get for household of 6?
Can I keep it outside in winter in NYC if its against a house wall? Is there an easy and attractive way to do some insulating? I have read and heard conflicting things about this- that the worms will just stay to the middle where things are hot, or that it will kill them. If I start composting in mid- Sept do you think by the time we're getting hard freezes there will be enough heat from bacteria? its also possible that we could move it down beneath the front (stone) stairs once the downstairs tenant moves out. That space is not heated but obviously more protected than being totally outside. Its sort of like being in a very thick-walled shed attached to the house, I guess.
THANKS! Other advice and things I haven't thought of are totally welcome! I think my dad will be somewhat resistant at first, but I just know he will LOVE IT when he has less smelly, nasty food trash to store and deal with (would make our household trash much less and much less gross), and he will be THRILLED when we get to treat his small, shady back yard with the lovely worm castings.
