I Have Worms! An Introduction to Vermiculture The idea of keeping worms may creep some people out at first. But when you consider the benefits it makes sense to try this easy way to add quality and hardiness to your gardening pursuits. You can purchase composting worms, or "Red Wigglers" online, at your local feed store or other local gardening venues. I obtained my first batch from a neighbor whose burgeoning patch of worms needed thinning out. She plopped a handful of the wriggly guys into an old yogurt container, and I carried them to their new home. You don't want to keep your worms in a warm car for too long! At my local farmer's market there is a woman who sells bags of "castings." This is the nutrient-rich excrement of worms that can be stirred into your garden to enrich the soil. By keeping your own worms you always have castings on hand, and you can make "compost tea" to help your plants grow and protect them naturally from pests. Instructions for making your own worm bin are in the video above. Place your bin in a well-ventilated area such as a laundry room, garage, balcony, under the kitchen sink, or outside in the shade. Place the bin on top of blocks or bricks or upside down plastic containers to allow for drainage. You can use the lid of the second bin as a tray to catch any moisture that may drain from the bin. This "worm tea" is a great liquid fertilizer that can be used right away on your indoor or outdoor plants.
What Worms Eat Feed the red wigglers every two to three weeks, depending on how fast they're going through what you give them. Don't overwhelm them with too much food. I once gave my worms too much cantaloupe and it actually smothered them! So keep an eye on how quickly they devour their food. Feed them slowly at first. As the worms multiply, you can add more food. Gently bury the food in a different section of the bin each week, under the cardboard or newspaper. It's also a good idea to occasionally add crushed eggshells for calcium. Keep your worms damp but not saturated with pooling water.
Worms are vegetarians. They like green stuff and absolutely no meat and no dairy. That means no bones, no grease, and no anything with grease. On the other hand, almost anything else that would normally go down the garbage disposal can go into your worm bin. Don't be surprised if some foods are eaten faster than others. Worms have preferences just like we do.
Worms LOVE:
Breads & grains
Cereal
Coffee grounds & filters
Tea bags
Vegetables
Some fruit, (not citrus)
Rice & Pasta
Worms HATE:
Dairy products
Fats
Meats
Oils
Spicy food
I also avoid giving them onions, and in the heat of summer I don't add much fruit because it attracts flies.
Worms like the brown stuff:
Newspaper
Office paper
Leaves
Cardboard
TP rolls
WHEN THE WORM BIN IS FULL: When the first bin is full and there are no recognizable food scraps left, it is time to split the bin so you can begin the harvest of worms. You can keep a second bin, or gift it to a friend!