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It is extremely easy to setup and start a Worm bin for your garden, Compost from the worm bin is the best organic compost you can get.

Container

You can use any plastic container that is not clear or transperent (worms hate sunlight, that is why you have to get a container that will not let light in) a cheap and easy container will be sterilite containers you can fine a local shops and hardware stores.

If you are crafty or handy you can build yours out of wood. Make sure the worm bins have air holes in the bottom and  the worm bin should be raised off the ground to allow the excess liquid to come out.

A tray should also be placed under the worm bin to catch any excess liquid.

When liquid is dripping out of the bottom, it indicates the worm bin is too wet. Simply pull back bin contents and add dry bedding on the bottom to absorb any excess liquid.

You can use the liquid from the worm bin to water your plants (dilute 1 part worm liquid to 8 part water)

Worm Bedding

• Dry Bedding Material

  You can use one or more of these dry bedding ingredients

  • Brown leaves/straw
  • Shredded paper or newspaper (avoid glossy paper)
  • Peat Moss
  • Egg cartons /cardboard boxes and trays
• 2 Tablespoons – crushed eggshells or agricultural lime

• 1 or 2 cups of ordinary garden soil (optional)

How to Prepare Bedding

1. Fill worm bin with dry bedding material. (leaves, peat moss, shredded paper and cardboard, etc.)

2. Add water (regular tap water or rain water at room temperature) add a cup at a time and mix contents until you get a wet sponge consistency
3. Add ordinary garden soil (optional)
4. add crushed eggshells/limestone (Eggshells counter the acidity in food scraps)
5. add coffee grounds or tea bags if you have any

6. Add your worms on top, if there is sunlight they will move in to the bedding.

Feeding the Worms

Worms do not like to be disturbed, so it is best to feed the worms less times, preferably   once a week, once every 2 weeks or once a month.

Do not add or put more food than they can eat with in that period of time. place the food in a different location each time. Cover food with bedding or cardboard because  Fruit flies and other insects are attracted to exposed food.

Note: Do not over feed the worms!

Worm Food

Food items to feed the worms

Coffee grounds, Plant cuttings, Egg cartons/coffee trays Fruit/vegetable peels, Tea bags

Crushed eggshells, Brown paper towels, Cooked pasta & rice, grains, Breads, cereals

grass clippings, Beans, Leaves, cow manure rabbit manure

horse manure, Sawdust from untreated wood)

Note: Do not add meat products, dairy products,  Human waste, pet waste.

Worm bin location

Store worm bin in cool and dark place. Preferable temperature for Worms  are  5° C – 30° C (40° – 90° F) temperature, ideal temperature (60° – 75°F) or 15° C – 25° C

How to Harvest Worm Compost

Handfuls – The simplest way is to digging down to the bottom of the worm compost bin and grabbing a handful of worm compost (vermicompost). You can either add it to your potting container or garden with the worms included or take out the worms and then add it to your garden.

 Side to Side Migration Method – Wait until all your bedding has been processed into 

vermicompost. Then, pull it all to one side of your worm compost bin leaving the other side open.

Fill the open side with fresh worm bin bedding and food only on that side.

Over the next couple of weeks most of your worms will migrate to the new side and you can pull finished worm compost from the other side.