Creating a compost heap in the backyard is one way to reduce kitchen and yard waste. However, for people who don’t have the yard space for a compost heap, don’t want to invest in an expensive composter or make their own, or simply want a faster way to compost, there are easy and cheap ways to compost with red worms.
This simple and cost-effective do-it-yourself vermicomposter can be kept under the kitchen sink, in a basement, garage or in the backyard. This environmentally-friendly practice can purify a household’s organic waste in no time and produces valuable worm castings for use in the home garden.
Materials Needed for a Worm Bin
In order to make this simple and effective worm bin, collect the following:
- 3 8-gallon dark plastic storage bins
- Drill with ¼ inch and 1/16 inch bits
- About 1 pound of redworms (approximately 500-1,000 worms). Worms can be purchased online or from a local farm.
- Newspaper
- Cardboard
Steps to Creating an Easy Vermicomposter
- Drill approximately 20 evenly spaced, ¼ inch holes in the bottom of two of the storage bins. The holes provide drainage and allow the worms access to the upper container when the castings are ready to be harvested.
- Drill 1/16 inch ventilation holes along the top edge of each of the three containers, just under the rim. Holes should be about 1 to 1.5 inches apart. Also, drill about 30 1/16 inch holes in the top of one of the lids.
- Shred newspaper into 1 inch strips for bedding for the worms. Moisten the strips and squeeze them out so that they are damp, but not soggy. Cover the bottom of one of the containers with holes in the bottom with the newspaper and fluff it up. Some leaves or leaf litter can also be added, along with a handful or dirt or sand. This “grit” helps the worms to digest their food. Place this container inside the container that has no holes in the bottom.
- Add the worms. A pound of worms can consume about ½ pound of food waste per day. If the household produces more food waste than this, more worms may be needed, but they do multiply quickly on their own.
- Cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside the bin on top of the bedding. Moisten the cardboard and place it over the bedding (worms love cardboard, and it will keep the fruit fly population in check). Then seal the container with the lid with the holes in it.
- Place the bin outside in the shade, under the kitchen sink, or in a garage, laundry room or basement. Feed the worms slowly and bury the food in a different section of container each week, under the cardboard.
- When the container becomes full and food scraps can no longer be seen in the bedding, place new bedding in the second container with holes in the bottom and place it inside the container with the bedding and worms in it (right on top of the old bedding). Put new food scraps in this bin, and the worms will begin to migrate up through the holes into the top bin, leaving virtually worm-free vermicompost in the first container. Pick out any leftover worms before using the compost, or let them go into the garden.
The “worm tea” that collects in the very bottom container is great for the garden, too.
What to Feed Red Worms
Generally worms need a vegetarian diet. Feed them vegetable and fruit scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds and filters, cereal, and breads or grains. Do not put dairy products, fats, meats, oils or feces in the worm bin.
The nice thing about vermicomposting versus a compost heap is that breads can be broken down by the worms, but often wreak havoc in a compost heap.
Troubleshooting the Vermicomposter
If worms are dying or trying to escape, the bedding may be too wet, too dry, or there may not be enough of it. Adjust the bedding conditions as needed, or harvest the bin if the bedding is used up.
If the bin stinks, it needs more ventilation, is too wet, or is receiving more food scraps than the worms can handle. Diagnose the problem, then drill more ventilation holes, add more bedding, or stop feeding the worms for a couple of weeks.
If fruit flies are a problem it is likely because food is exposed. Bury all food scraps completely in the bedding to rectify the problem.
Vermicomposting is an effective way to reduce a family’s environmental footprint as well as create useful soil amendments for the garden. In addition, children often enjoy having the worms as “pets”. For anyone wanting to give worm bin composting a try, this simple, inexpensive solution can’t be beat.
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