Moutta | Urbalive 2 Trays Green, Complete Kit I Wormery Design I Starter Substrate I Hemp mat + Shovel I Interior, Balcony and Garden

I fell in love with the design of this worm composter and the price on Amazon is much lower then other gardening sites. I ended up purchasing 2 as the option to buy an extra tray in green was unavailable. I purchased 250 worms/1/4 lbs which I divided up between the bins. The manufacturer probably recommends starting with a greater density of worms,but I already spent enough on the bins. The worms have been very happy in their new home so they will likely get right to work making new worms baby cocoons. I have them side by side in my laundry room so I'll remember to check on them regularly. Edit: 9 weeks in and the two bins are full of healthy active worms. Apparently it takes approximately 60 days for the population of worms to double. I think I'm doing better than that with these bins!Edit: The price - already a bargain compared to other sites on 10/1/24 has dropped another 20 percent. I purchased two more sets just for the parts. It's very well constructed and comes with great accessories.There are a few negatives (not enough to deduct a star). 1) I had to ask my husband to drill the screws in for the legs as I wouldn't be able to do this by hand. 2) The manufacturing company sells a similarly styled planter with taller wooden legs - I would have liked the option of purchasing the taller legs for the worm composter. 3) The hemp mat it comes with is something the worms will digest however it is not available to purchase as a replacement in the US. Any other hemp mat I've tried to source is not wide enough. Understandably I could use two narrow sections and overlap them, but I'd like to be able to buy the accessories that are available elsewhere. I ended up reserving the the hemp mats using one as a template to cut out shapes from paper grocery bags. I dampened the cut out bags and used a few layers both at the base of the tray below the added coir and food and also also a few layers on top of the of the fill. I check the moisture level in the bin daily and if I think things are getting a bit dried out I sprinkle a bit of water right on top of the paper bag layer and let it absorb to moisten and humidify the environment.Edit: The name to search to replace the original wide hemp mats is "Worm Blanket". The worms eat the blanket and they nest in it so they get very funky and break down. If you plan to replenish the blanket, make a paper template so you can trim up a replacement to fit snug inside. I'm doing very well, however, just using paper grocery bags dampened to top off the coir bedding. I keep adding paper layers as they break down.Apparently what is important when establishing a bin is not to overfeed the bin. I started with a bit of ground eggshells, some coffee grounds along with the paper filter, shredded strawberry leaves from my garden and a small bit of chopped up banana peel. No odor or fruit flies at this point and everything seems to be going well.Edit: I started adding a dusting of homemade "worm chow" 1x or 2x a week and spritz with water. There are a lot of "recipes" out there. I use a mix of cornmeal, ground eggshell, kelp and azomite which I had on hand. Not necessary, but the worms seem to like it. Also I spray water mixed with a tsp of Blackstrap Molasses I keep in a sprayer by the bin. Worms like sweet - but don't overdo it.Edit: Worms love melon and if you add the seeds they will likely sprout and look alarming at first. Just clip the sprouts down and let the clippings drop in the bin for the worms to enjoy. Without clipping the sprouts would likely die in any event from lack of light.The video on the manufacturer's website is a bit confusing re: the fabric layer. It seems to suggest the fabric layer that comes with the kit can either be used in the base layer (below the compost layer) to keep the worms from falling into the base where the liquid collects OR it can be placed the top of the compost to keep out/in fruit flies.

Do you need this? No. Can you set up a worm farm for vermicomposting for a lot less money? Yes. The MOST important thing in vermicomposting is worm/bin health.However, if you care about a) ease of daily use, b) well thought out design, c) quality control, and d) have two hunnerd bux to throw down -- this one is the best. We have used the top four worm bins/bags on the market, and this one wins.***THE GOOD***1) COMPACT SIZE: It has the smallest footprint of the three similar competitor bins. Allow for 24" tall by 14" wide. To save space or when guests are over, it fits easily under the dining table or snugly under a sofa end table.2) QUALITY OF PRODUCTION: This bin and the competitors' designs appear to be very similar; they are not. From the box it arrives in to the customer service line, this is a professional company with a professional image/presentation. Appreciated.i) Plastics: This Urbalive bin has thicker plastic sides (less warping/waving) which means the bins, when stacked, align perfectly (and don't skitter off/sideways) and the lid sets down snugly and securely (and doesn't fall off if looked at crossly). Air holes are really well thought out and will minimize excess moisture.ii) Wood: The wooden handle is solid and secure (and the extra weight helps keep the lid secure). The wooden legs are a perfect height to keep it overall low profile. We DON'T love the screwing in part (see "The Bad" below), and we added felt floor protectors to the bottom.iii) Details: The handle cutouts are thoughtfully reflected in the coir blanket as well as a fantastic wire-rimmed screen (to keep worms from falling through to the bottom). No one else provides this screen for their bins and it is GENIUS. Already thinking about how to recreate it when it tears or wears out.iv) Extras: Granted it was a fair bit o' coin, but still nice to receive all the extras: coir blanket, extra block o' coir, spade, measuring cup, and the form-fitted screen.3) UR SO PUURTY! Smooth contoured edges with a slight MCM vibe to the design. Does this matter? Yes, if you live in a small space and need to incorporate it into your interior design (assuming you don't keep it outside). The cream color is lovely and 'clean' looking. Although, in retro, we think the grey would require less wiping down.***THE BAD***The Legs: Ugh. It would have been SO easy to simply make the wood legs pressure fit (shove em' in with a bit of downward pressure) without any hardware required. It is a cheap and relatively easy process with plastic molding. THESE legs cannot be tightly secured (and there is a small amount of wiggle that remains) because it is only one screw, at an angle, in each leg). This is one of only two disappointments, but both are minor (and head-scratchers, because, well, they would have been so easy to fix prior to production).Measuring Cup: Hard plastic, in transit from Europe(?) with no protection, banging around against other hard objects. It was cracked on arrival. Honestly, don't need it, but it was a really really nice touch. And like the bin, very well designed (like most European objects) to fit perfectly in the hand. Oh well.OVERALL: We really love this thing. Our worms are happy and healthy, and the bin looks good in a small space. However, what matters is worm and bin HEALTH -- the rest is just lipstick :-)