Worm Bin Recipe:
1 Rubber or plastic tub with lid
1 electric drill
Some bedding for the worms (cardboard, hay, mulch, leaves, woodchips, shredded newspaper, etc.)
2 jars of (thankful) bait worms
1 spray bottle
1. Drill holes 1 in. apart around the top edge of the tub (about 2 inches from edge).
2. Drill holes about 1 in. apart around the perimiter of the lid.
3. Drill holes on the bottom of the tub at the corners (for drainage)
4. Fill 1/4-1/3 of tub with the bedding.
5. Put some compostable items* in the corners (push under the filler).
6. Dump the jars of worms ontop and watch them happily wriggle into their new home.
7. Keep the bin moist by spraying water on top of the bedding daily.
8. Add more bedding once a month or as needed.
After a few months you can collect the compost: scoop some of the mixture onto a piece of newspaper. Hold a lamp or light over the compost while you slowly collect layers of compost. Wait a while giving the worms time to burrow into the center of the mound. Eventually you will end up with a pile of compost next to a pile of worms. Return the worms to the bin and give the compost to your garden.
You can keep your bin indoors. If you choose to leave it outside, keep it out of the sun and bring it indoors during cold seasons.
If you have a problem with wandering worms (sometimes they will crawl up and out of the bin when they are adjusting to the new environment) take off the lid and leave a lamp over the bin at night. Worms are shy critters and like to stay out of the spotlight.
Suggested items that make happy compost and cheerful worms:
Coffee Grounds
Unbleached filters
Tea bags (remove any staples)
egg shells
discarded vegetable matter
rotten food can be composted as long as it is cut into small pieces
Never put in meat, oils or fats.
Happy Worm-binning!
-Kate
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