Worm Composting Basics
Worm composting, also known as vermicomposting, is a great year-round way to compost in your own home, apartment, classroom or office!
Red wiggler worms are the most common type of worm used in small scale composting bins. These worms thrive in leaf litter and organic materials at the soil surface by eating approximately half their weight in food per week. Even if you start your worm population with just a few worms, the red wigglers reproduce quickly, so you will be able to watch the population grow and add more food scraps at a time.
Researching is very important to find accurate information on the frequency of feeding red wiggler worms as well as the required conditions for their bedding. The temperature, Ph and moisture levels are crucial for a happy and healthy experience with worm composting.
Red wiggler worms can be picked-up locally from the Ecology North office at 5016 Franklin Avenue or call (867) 873-6019. Another option is to order them online.
How to Start Worm Composting
- Do your research! Gather information on quantity and frequency of feeding your worms as well as the requirements for the bedding, such as temperature, Ph and moisture levels.
- Find a container with a lid! A container, such as a plastic Rubbermaid bin, will do great as a composting bin.
- Put holes in the container for air! Punch holes in the lid and sides to allow lots of air flow.
- Make the container comfortable! Bedding for the red wiggler worms can be made of a mixture of shredded newspaper, fallen leaves and/or potting soil. Reference your researched information to ensure to provide the recommended Ph and moisture levels for your worms.
- Collect food for your worms! They enjoy things like coffee grounds, tea bags, fruit and vegetable peels, egg shells, grains and breads. Never feed your worms things like meat, dairy products, fish, bones, and/or oily food.
- Add red wiggler worms! Gently place the the worms on the bedding and they will dig down to a comfortable area.
- Spread and bury the food! Bury collected food in different locations under the bedding to avoid unwanted odours and attracting flies.
- Let the worms get cozy! It will take your worms a few weeks to acclimate to a new bin and begin processing the food and bedding.
- Be patient! Worms will need 2 to 3 months to produce a noticeable amount of beginning stage compost. Well processed compost will be ready for harvest at the 3 to 4 month point.
- Very first harvest of compost! You have two ways to collect the compost. You can gently pick the worms out then remove the compost. Another option is to avoid putting food into the container for a while and then bury some food in one corner. All worms will go to the food in the corner and you can safely harvest the compost that is worm-free.