What is Vermicomposting?

Worm composting or vermicomposting uses worms to breakdown organic wastes into high quality compost. Worm composting is convenient because it does not take much in the way of resources or space. And, it can be done indoors year round. You can place your worm bin in the area that best suits you and your home, such as your basement or a closet. Or, you can keep the worm bin outdoors in your garage or on a porch. Worm bins kept outside should be moved indoors in the winter.

    GUIDES
    Worm Composting
    Six Easy Steps

How Do I Vermicompost?

Steps	Explanation
1. Pick a container	We recommend a Rubbermaid storage tub or bin like the one shown in the video below.
2. Modify it	You can either drill holes into the bin, as shown in the video, or use an exacto knife to cut holes into the bin and insert vents as shown here.
3. Add waste material	Start with a 1-inch base layer of soil. Add (following the same Do and Do NOT guidelines as for home composting) the appropriate proportion of food scraps - generally 1/2 pound of scraps per 1 pound of worms. Fill the remaining bin space with 1 inch strips of newspaper or unbleached paper. Avoid using colored print or glossy paper.
4. Spray it down	Using a spray bottle, water the bin bedding until it is thoroughly damp, but not soaked.
5. Add the worms	Add red wiggler worms (NOT regular garden earthworms) to the bin. Red wigglers are generally available by mail order or at local bait shops or worm farms.
6. Maintain to finish	Continue to feed the worms with food or organic waste scraps on a weekly basis. Add water as needed to keep the bedding damp but not soaked. You will notice an increase in the number of worms and transformation of your scraps into castings (think worm poop) over time. The compost should be ready to use in 3 to 6 months.

Need a visual? We think this video provides a great demo. If you have a better how-to video, please send us the link so that we can post it here!