Rotate the placement of the food scraps in the bin and, if the original food is not consumed in a few days, stop feeding until the worms catch up. Add dry bedding to soak up excess moisture and cut back on feeding. Overfeeding or too much moisture can create anaerobic conditions giving off a stinky smell.

Leaving food on top will attract flies and other pests.Ī properly maintained worm bin will smell sweet and earthy. Bury the food about halfway down in the bedding. As the worms multiply, increase the food supply. How Does it Work?īy creating a moist debris pile in a box, you are creating conditions in which worms thrive. Inside bins need a tray or additional bin underneath to capture leachate. Smaller bins can be kept in the garage or other spaces that have moderate temperatures. In cold weather, insulate the bin by covering it with an old sleeping bag, old carpet or even straw bales around the sides and top. The most common location for bins is outside in an area protected from direct heat and cold. The worms are most active when the temperature is between 55F and 75F.

Citrus (unless it is first left to mold before adding to the bin).

Red worms will eat most kitchen scraps but some of the waste will cause odor or pest problems. Do not liquefy the scraps as this will cause the bin to become too moist, creating anaerobic conditions which are toxic to the worms. Leaving the scraps to mold is another option. Cutting up large or hard pieces will increase the rate of decay. Worms do not eat the food scraps directly they consume the microbes on the decomposing food. As the worms eat the bedding and the level falls, add more bedding to keep it at the original level. If the environment becomes too dry, they will try to escape or die.

Worms breathe through their skin and need moisture to survive. It should feel as damp as a wrung out sponge. Fill the bin ¾ full of bedding and moisten. Include a handful of vermiculite or soil with the bedding to give the worms grit to aid their digestion. Combine two or three types of bedding to create air space and allow for movement of the worms. Beddingīedding can be a mix of shredded newspaper, small pieces of cardboard, coir (fiber from the outer husk of the coconut), straw and/or leaves. It needs to be covered to keep light, flies and other pests out, and have air vents and drainage holes. A container such as a 14-gallon (or larger) plastic tote or a bin made of untreated wood works well.

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