Worm Poop | How to Make a Worm Compost Bin

Over Memorial Day weekend, our family and I went to Lake Tahoe. During our visit to the KidZone Museum, we learned how to make a worm compost bin (which my dad likes to call worm poop). Composting - via a worm bin - is an easy and great way to reduce food waste in landfills, close the loop, and return nutrient rich soil back to the earth.

The advantage of the system outlined below is that it can be done indoors and outdoors and allows those with little or no yard to compost as well. The easiest way to make a worm compost bin is to use plastic storage totes, so here goes!

Materials:

• One 10 gallon plastic tote (dark colored) - I like the Rubbermaid Roughneck Storage bins as they are durable, inexpensive and easy to find at local stores.
  
• Drill with 1/4 inch bit
  
• Newspaper strips (strips should be between 1/2 to 1 inch wide) or shredded paper (no glossy or coated paper)
  
• At least 1 pound of red worms - Two places to buy these red worms are Smith & Hawken ($29.00 for 1 lb) or Sonoma Valley Worm Farm ($49.50 for 2 lbs - includes shipping). Another way to get red worms are from a friend who already has a worm bin and lots of worms!!!
  
• Several pounds of dirt/soil (which the worms typically come with)
  
• Water

Putting it all together:

1. Drill holes - Around the upper half of the tote, drill 20 to 30 evenly spaced holes for ventilation. Some composters drill holes at the bottom of the tote, but this is not necessary if your compost bin is kept relatively dry.
   
2. Prepare bedding - Soak the newspaper or shredded paper in water and squeeze out any excess water. Add this paper to the bottom of your tote. Cover the bottom of your tote with 3 to 4 inches of moist paper (fluffed up).
3. Add dirt and worms - A redworm can consume up to its weight in food each day!
4. Add a layer of paper on top - This helps control moisture (which is bad for worm bins as it breeds odors and mold) as well as keeps fruit flys away.
   
5. Find a good home - Place the worm bin in a cool, shaded area. Worms like it between 50 and 80 degrees. Good places include the: garage, patio, under the sink, and laundry room.
   

Keeping your worms happy:

• Gently bury food scraps in the dirt, very close to the wet paper at the bottom. Worms like to live towards the bottom of the tote and placing food under the soil helps keep the pesky critters away.
  
• Feed your worms slowly at first. Transport and a new environment will create stress for the worms. Don't worry, they won't starve. Worms will tell you if they are hungry as they will follow the food, but if there is no food, they'll start appearing towards the top of the bin (top dry layer of paper) as they search for food.
  
• Remember to keep the bin free of "soup," which is the liquid that may pool at the bottom of the tote if you have too much moisture in the bin. Just dump the water out, add more paper or simply drill a few holes in the bottom of the tote. I don't like drilling holes in the bottom of the tote, so I do my best to maintain moisture levels by being aware of the liquid content of the materials I place into the bin.
• Once you have lots of dirt and worms, share the love! Help a friend create a compost bin and share your worms.
  

Dining preferences:

What do worms like to eat? An all vegetarian diet! You'll also find over time that your worms will have their preferences:

• Worms love: fruit, vegetables, coffee grounds and filter paper, tea bags, bread and grains.
  
• Worms hate: oils, fats, dairy, meat, feces.
  

Troubleshooting:

• My worms are dying or trying to escape! Probable cause is that the bin is too wet, too dry or the bedding is used up. Just add more bedding or moisten bedding.
• The bin is smelly! Probable cause is that there is not enough air, too much food, or the bin is too wet. Simply drill more holes, don't feed the worms for a week or add more bedding.
• Fruit flys! Probable cause is exposed food. Just bury the food in the bedding and away with the flys.