Vermicomposting? Worm Castings? Worm Farm? Yikes. Could I do it? Would it smell? Would the worms *gasp* escape? Would the HH not throw a fit about my worm bin in the basement?
Vermicomposting is the fancy name for feeding a bunch of red wiggler worms for the sole purpose of having them do what they normally do. Eat, sleep, make babies, and create castings {the fancy word for worm poop}. Worm castings are the stuff of garden soil legends.
You will NOT believe how easy vermicomposting is! If you manage kids, dogs, and/or chickens then managing a worm bin is a breeze.
Do I have to touch the worms? 😉
Nope. They come in a bag and I could’ve just dumped them in but my two kids are known for collecting worms on a rainy day for my garden, so they played with them a bit as they spread them around the bin.
Does it smell?
No, it actually has the earthy-spring-soil smell. The key is to keep the scraps you’re feeding them under the other paper material in the bin {dampened shredded paper a handful of soil}. This will also keep fruit flies from developing.
Will the worms escape?
No – if you have created a wormy ecosystem they will stay put.
Worm Bin Supplies
- Dampened shredded paper {Soak the paper then squeeze it out well}
- A handful of soil { worms use the dirt like chickens use grit – it helps them digest their food}
- Kitchen Scraps {no meat, no dairy, no grease – just like a compost pile}
- Worms – Red Wigglers love this environment best and are very fast producers
- One dark bin with a lid {Rubbermaid containers work great for this}
- One slightly larger bin of any color to use as a drip tray {no lid needed}
- Drill
- 1/16” drill bit
- 1/8” drill bit
How to make a Worm Bin
There are a million different types of worm bins in just as many sizes, shapes and materials used. Deciding your needs will help you narrow down your choices.
I knew that I wanted to keep my worm bin in the basement because our New England weather is pretty severe on both ends {up to 95* in the summer and down to the single digits in the winter} and I didn’t want to fuss with those details. I knew I’d use a plastic or rubber container because, well, it’s just so easy to pop into Target and pick one up. And finally, I knew I would start out small and who knows maybe I’d become a worm farmer HA!
First I went to Target and chose two storage bins. The bin the worms will live in should be dark colored, not clear. Worms like to be in the dark. Second, grab another bin that fits on the bottom, this bin will serve as a “drip tray” of sorts.
Drill many holes in the bottom of the dark worm bin with the 1/16” bit. Next, use the slightly larger 1/8” bit and drill holes around the top edge of the dark bin. Because the holes are for ventilation, you can’t have too many holes.
Do not put ANY holes in the bottom ‘drip tray’ bin.
Now’s the fun part, which is a bit like making a soup – it doesn’t have to be terribly neat, just chuck it in. First, soak and squeeze out your shredded paper, toss in a handful of soil and your worms. When you add scraps make sure to put it under the bedding. Add worms.
Tips-n-Tricks:
- As soon as the worm arrive in the mail they are most likely a bit dehydrated, pour a half a cup of water right into their bag/box to help rehydrate them.
- Keep the worms under a light for the first two days to encourage the worms to explore their new home.
- To collect the castings, move all the dark, rich castings to one side and add new dampened paper/dirt/food and the worms will migrate from one side to the other.
TA-daaah, you’re done. You are now the proud owner of a worm bin!
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Carol says
Loved the tutorial! Thank you! A worm bin is really easy to do, however I flunked Worm Bin 2.0 a couple of times, because of the fruit flies. Of course, I do have my worm bin outside, as I live in the Pacific Northwest and can add my kitchen scraps year around, so maybe in the basement, the pesky little flies wouldn’t be a problem. A couple of years ago, I decided to start a worm bin again, when I learned that I could eliminate the fruit fly problem by covering the kitchen scraps with well-composted manure instead of shredded paper. Viola! It worked! I add the kitchen scraps and cover them completely with a 1 inch layer of composted manure. I still have a lot of pill bugs but so far, no fruit flies buzzing around my head when I open the bin. I figure I’m getting the benefits of the manure and the worm castings. My veggie garden loves it. P.S. If you have your bin outside, it helps the worms survive the winter months by partially burying it in the ground. Mine is a bottomless cedar box with lid, partially buried and with a wire grid under it to keep out rodents and other pests.
Mark says
Carol is right. Fruit flies can be the bane of vermicompost. I’ve been fighting them all winter around here. A simple solution is to make a canvas bag to line the tote with. Close off the bag and the flies are stuck in, or out of, the bag. When the flies get bad you can also move the tote / bag to an area to freeze it like in the snow for a short amount of time.
Remember with worm bins – when in doubt add more bedding.
rachel whetzel says
I’ve never had an issue with fruit flies in my bin! I use shredded paper to cover the new scraps. I also don’t use a lot of things fruit flies like, though… My chickens get those scraps. My worms also live in my kitchen. 🙂
Mark says
I out grew the size of my kitchen – I have three tote bins in my basement and one worm-inn – but I don’t have chickens.
Melissa Doroquez says
I love the idea of them living in the kitchen because, seriously, how easy could that be? I , too often, have really nasty veggies in my compost bin before it makes it outside to the composter. But, in the guise of putting it outside, what isthe most hospitable temperature range?
rachel whetzel says
The best temps are pretty “in the house” range. They don’t do well in heat, and they don’t do well in the cold. A well kept worm bin doesn’t smell, and you really don’t notice the bin! 🙂 Red wiggler worms thrive in temperatures between 55° and 75° Fahrenheit. (whether they are inside or out)
James says
I have found a quick and easy solution for a worm bin container. I use an old ice coolers (like the kind you us when fishing/camping) which has a drain spout in the bottom. I typically drain off any excess fluid every couple of days and also fluff the contents from time to time to help keep it aerated.
Learn the signs of distressed worms. If worms start to climb out of the bedding or start congregating in a mass of worms then something could be wrong. Make sure the temperature of the bedding and food scraps isn’t created too much heat. Worms prefer a stable environment and will be quick to alert you to something is wrong. Some foods such as watermelon will eventually start to break down and even ferment. This could create a temperature climb.
If your soil/scrap mixture starts to smell, it may be moisture related. My worms seem to be happiest in a moist soil, When I fluff the mixture from time to time, I keep on the lookout for excess water and drain if needed.
Split your colony once you have an established environment. Two is One and One is none. I also take the excess liquid from time to time and aerate it with a bit of molasses. The good bacteria will reproduce and the bad (anaerobic) die off. I then take this mixture and pour it back over the bedding and soil. The good bacteria will continue to break down food matter and allow the worms to feast easily. I have also used a bit of granulated compost starter (for gardens) to introduce beneficial bacteria into the bedding that way I know the worms have a nice bedding to live in that is also a food source.
Thanks for reading.