What is worm composting?

Worm composting is using worms to recycle food scraps and other organic material into a ​valuable soil amendment called vermicompost, or worm compost. Worms eat food scraps, ​which become compost as they pass through the worm's body. Compost exits the worm ​through its tail end. This compost can then be used to grow plants. To understand why ​vermicompost is good for plants, remember that the worms are eating nutrient-rich fruit and ​vegetable scraps, and turning them into nutrient-rich compost.

Setting up a worm bin

Setting up a worm bin is easy. All you need is a box, moist newspaper strips, and worms. To ​figure out how to set up a worm bin, first consider what worms need to live. If your bin provides ​what worms need, then it will be successful. Worms need moisture, air, food, darkness, and ​warm (but not hot) temperatures. Bedding, made of newspaper strips or leaves, will hold ​moisture and contain air spaces essential to worms.

Containers

When choosing a container in which to compost with worms, you should keep in mind the ​amount of food scraps you wish to compost, and where the bin will be located. The box should ​be shallow rather than deep, as red wigglers are surface-dwellers and prefer to live in the top 6 ​inches of the soil.

No matter what material you choose, make sure to rinse out the container before using. For ​wooden bins, line the bottom with plastic (e.g. from a plastic bag or old shower curtain). Cover ​the bin with a loose fitting lid. This lid should allow air into the bin.

Using worm compost

You can use your compost immediately, or you can store it and use it during the gardening ​season, or whenever. The compost can be directly mixed with your potting soil or garden soil as ​a soil amendment, which helps make nutrients available to plants. Or, the compost can be used ​as a top dressing for your indoor or outdoor plants.

You can also make "compost tea" with your compost. Simply add 1-2" of compost to your water ​can or rain barrel.

Allow compost and water to "steep" for a day, mixing occasionally. Then water plants as you ​normally would. The resulting "tea" helps make nutrients already in the soil available to plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a worm farm? A worm farm is a container or system that uses worms to break down organic waste and ​turn it into nutrient-rich compost.
   
2. How does a worm farm work? Worms consume organic waste, such as fruit and vegetable scraps, and turn it ​into vermicompost. The vermicompost can then be used as a natural fertilizer for plants.
   
3. What type of worms are used in worm farms? The most common type of worms used in worm farms are red ​worms (Eisenia fetida).
   
4. What should I feed my worms? You can feed your worms a variety of organic waste, such as fruit and vegetable ​scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves, and eggshells.
   
5. How often should I feed my worms? You should feed your worms about once a week. Overfeeding can lead to a ​buildup of excess waste and cause unpleasant odors.
   
6. How do I maintain my worm farm? You should keep your worm farm in a cool, dark, and moist place. You should ​also regularly check the moisture levels and