Keep Your Worms Wiggling in Vermicomposting

What fun we had during Charlotte Nature Museum’s Earth Day Celebration! The vermicompost bins were a huge hit and many of you left with worms and bins ready to start composting at home.

Here are a few tips to help for a successful bin:

- Use old newspapers, paper bags, computer paper for bedding do not use glossy, coated paper or magazines

- Remember to keep the bedding moist using a spray bottle to keep it wet (it should remain as wet as a moist sponge)

- You can add a little soil and eggshells to the bin to provide grit for the worms, (two handfuls should be enough)

- Feed your worms any non-meat food products including vegetables, fruits, egg shells, tea bags, coffee grounds and shredded garden waste

- Do not add too many citrus fruits (as this will make the bin too acidic)

- Do not add meat scraps, bones, fish, greasy or oily foods, fat, tobacco or pet or human waste

- Hide food scraps in different areas of the bin when feeding and be sure to cover completely with the bedding

- One pound of worms will eat about 3.5 pounds of food scraps in a week (do not overfeed)

- Keep the worm bin in an area where the average temperature is between 55 – 77 degrees F (away from cold temps and direct sunlight)

After approximately six weeks, you will start to see worm castings (poop) mixed in with the decaying organic matter, which is the good stuff you are going to harvest for your garden. In three or four months, there will be enough to harvest. Include the whole family and simply empty the contents onto a tarp and remove the worms to start a new bin and repeat the cycle all over again.

Already started vermicomposting? Tell us about it? Share with others and blog about your experience.
(Also feel free to call us if you have questions: 704.372.6261 x605)