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Want to use worms to eat your kitchen waste? It's easy and fun with a worm bin. Here's how to get started.
Don't just take worms from your outdoor compost pile and put them in a bin. Some, like nightcrawlers, will not survive long in captivity. Instead, order worms from a reputable worm dealer. Eisenia fetida and E. andrei are the best composting worms.
Order a worm bin or build your own from a plastic tub with a tight-fitting lid. Be sure to include holes for air and drainage, and put a fine mesh screen in the bottom to keep the worms from escaping.
Feed them a low-fat, vegan diet: They eat fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, rice, pasta, and bread, but they can't tolerate meat, dairy, or oil.
Cover the food with a layer of shredded newspaper or cardboard, which discourages flies and provides another food source for the worms.
Add crushed eggshells to prevent acidity. The worms will not eat the shells, but you can add them to your garden along with the castings.
Keep the bin as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Add wet or dry newspaper to change the humidity in the bin.
Place your bin in a sheltered spot, away from sun and rain. Worms prefer a moderate climate 60°F is ideal. A small worm bin will even fit in your garage or cellar.
Be patient! It can take up to six months or a year before you collect castings from your bin for the first time. The worms need time to get acclimated and start reproducing enough to fill the bin.
