Worm Composting Bins: DIY Guide to Building Your Own Vermicompost System

Worm composting reduces landfill pollution, provides rich soil. Ideal for apartments/condos with limited space. Commercial bins available but DIY is cheaper/easier.

Worm Composting Bins for Home and Garden

Vermicomposting = worm composting bins. Many purchase types, but DIY works. Use natural earthworms with earthworm boxes (no bottom, worms burrow up into organics). Old wooden boxes with drilled holes work. Purpose: contain kitchen scraps, prevent animals, allow worm access.

Types of Worm Bins

 

Bottomless bins = one vermicomposting system for earthworm boxes. Also: plastic containers, wooden boxes, bamboo. Avoid metal—leaches into soil, increases minerals.

Basic: single layer. Multi-level: worms move up when done, allowing casting harvest. Fancy: spigot at bottom for compost tea (steeped moisture with vitamins/minerals).

Make Your Own Worm Bins

1. Container: drill twenty ¼-inch holes in bottom.
2. Second container underneath with gap for worm migration. Drill bottom holes + edge holes on both for ventilation.
3. Line both with soaked-then-squeezed shredded paper bedding.
4. Add dirt layer + big handful red worms (skip if building earthworm boxes).
5. Moist cardboard on top, lid with ventilation holes.
6. Place in cool (not cold) location indoors/out. Keep moderately damp, not soggy.

Feeding Worm Composting Bins

Feed scraps slowly until consumption rate known. 1 lb worms = ½ lb food/day. Worms multiply—gradually handle more scraps.

Avoid dairy, meat, fatty items, animal waste. Bury food in bedding to reduce fruit flies. Moisten paper frequently but lightly.

When bedding used up, add more until bin full of castings. Put second bin on top with moist bedding/food. Worms migrate up through holes, process repeats.