Build A Composter

Worm Composter

Step 1: Gather Supplies

  • 2 10 gallon plastic bins or containers with lids (can also use wood barrels or a pre-made composter)
  • 1 lb of red worms or about 1,000 worms (can be bought on-line or locally)
  • 2 plastic trays or liners for the bins to sit in
  • Drill or other tools (example: ice pick, knitting needle or soldering iron) to make holes into containers
  • Organic matter such as peat moss, dried grass clippings, hay, or shredded newspaper
  • Water

Step 2: Drill Holes Into Containers

A worm bin needs to have drainage holes on the bottom and air holes above the level of the bedding.

  • Drill at least 6 draining holes into the bottom about 1/8 inch to a 1/4 inch wide.
  • Drill 1/4 inch holes around the top of the container and in the lid for air.  Recommended distance between holes is about every 2 inches.  Depending on the container you could have between 14 to 20 holes.

Step 3: Build the Bedding for the Worms

  • Fill the bin to right below the air holes with a mixture of damp biodegradable bedding and several handfuls of dirt or sand.  The dirt or sand help the worms digest the materials.
  • Bedding Materials  - All should be slightly dampened; for best results mix bedding materials.  Dampness should be like a wet wrung-out sponge.
    • Peat moss
    • Newspaper in small pieces or shreds
    • Dried grass clippings
    • Hay
    • Shredded leaves (not Oak or other acidic leaves)
    • Saw dust

Step 4: Add the Worms

  • Place worms on top of damp bedding mixture.  Worms will crawl to the bottom as they do not like light.

Note: For 1/2 pound of waste per day you will need approximately 1,000 worms.

Step 5: Feed the Worms

  • Bury the food scraps (see below for what food they like) about 1/2 inch deep.  Mark the spot with an indentation.  Next time you bury food, move it to another spot to rotate the process.  Consider making a grid for your compost pile and bury food in a rotational or 4 quarter basis.

Step 6: Maintain Worm Compost

  • Feed worms daily or weekly.
  • Keep bedding moist.  If it becomes dry, sprinkle or spray with water.

Note:  If smell or fruit flies become a problem, reduce the amount of waste buried until the worms compost what you have put in.  Ensure you are burying only good foods.

Step 7: Harvest Worm Compost

The worm material is ready to harvest when it is like crumbly chocolate cake.

Ways to Harvest

Low Effort

  • Move compost over to one side of the container.  Put new bedding and food waste on the other side.  The worms will gradually move over to the new bedding and you can easily harvest the compost left.

Medium Effort

  • Dump contents of bin onto a plastic sheet.  Shine a 100 watt bulb or sunshine onto compost.  The worms will bury themselves into the compost.  Scoop off compost until you only have worms left.
  • Create a new bedding and food scraps.  Add worms to start the process over.

Foods to Feed Worms

Aim for your compost to have a 30:1 ratio of carbon to nitrogen.

Good Food To Feed Worms

  • Coffee or tea grounds
  • Crushed eggshells
  • Dryer lint
  • Fruits & vegetables
  • Beverages or dishwater to moisten

Foods to Avoid

  • Meat, fat, grease, oils, and bone
  • Milk, cheese, yogurt
  • Fish scraps
  • Acidic leaves like Oak

For more information see related article:

Try a New Game -- Feed Worms the Veggies You Don't Like


Tags: Build a Composter | Compost | Garbage Scraps | Worms