Worm composting is a popular method of composting due to its flexibility. Worm bins can be made from plastic, wood, or other discarded containers.
After the worms arrive and the bin is set up, it's best to go easy on the feeding of red wiggler worms for the first couple of months. The material in the bin will start to compost, and the worms will eat the bacteria and fungi that break down the food material.
Starting a Worm Bin with Worm Tea
If you happen to have some worm tea, soak some paper or cardboard in the tea and add it to the bin. Worm tea is biologically active with the bacteria that cause composting. The tea will help start the composting process and give the worms something to eat.
Adding moist cornmeal or moist oatmeal is another way to get a worm bin started quickly. Cornmeal or oatmeal will mold quickly and start the bin. Add a very fine layer on top of shredded paper and moisten with a spray bottle.
How to Feed Composting Worms
Keep the layer of food for the worms to about one inch throughout the whole bin and cover with a generous layer of shredded paper. The paper should be at least 2-3 inches deep. The paper will help keep worms down in the food and will absorb excess moisture. If water starts to pool in the bin, add more paper.
Check the worm bin after a few days or a week. The worms will most likely be concentrated in the food layer. Give them time to eat before adding more food. When the goopy layer is gone and replaced with brown castings, add more food. Be sure to add plenty of shredded paper or other bedding with every feeding.
Continue to add food, an inch at time, until the worm bin starts to pick up momentum. After the first couple of months the worm population should expand noticeably. Worm castings should be enough to pick some out with the fingers. Perhaps the food is disappearing more quickly. Now the amount of food can be increased with each feeding.
How to Keep Food for Composting Worms
In the beginning, there will most likely be a surplus of food for the worm bin. To store this food, freezing is a great option. Freezing kitchen scraps causes them to break down a little bit upon thawing. This helps the worms.
Another way to help the worms and speed up the composting process is to pre-compost the worm food. Simply collect potential worm food in some type of container until the bin is ready for it. It will start to decompose on its own, thus requiring less time before the worms can use it.
In the beginning, it's better to err on the side of underfeeding than overfeeding. A bin with too much food can easily become overly wet or may heat up. Both of these conditions can kill off worms. Do them a favor by not over feeding.
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