Discussion Board

I started red worm composting five years ago, using old recycling bins. Two bins were used for each, to provide a double layer against winter. Holes were drilled into the inner bin for air, and bottoms for drainage. A city program provided a thousand red worms to get started, and top covers. The compost was started from wetted strips of torn newspaper. Note that newspaper tears straight in one direction, but not crosswise.

All my vegetable scraps are saved in old, covered 2 qt plastic containers, and then emptied into the bins when full, being sure to cover the scraps with the compost. With the McDougall diet, there are volumes of scraps. The red worms multiply rapidly, having a very short life span. The vegetables break down quickly, and the worms consume the scraps in tightly-packed masses of red worms. Last year, a third bin was started, using just a single large bin -- the winter cold has not been a problem. This bin had only drainage holes drilled into the bottom.

Between the three bins, all vegetable scraps are consumed rapidly by the red worms. Small leaves make good additions to the compost, particularly fallen Japanese maple leaves which are saved in a couple garbage cans for the worms and for mulch. The compost can be periodically scooped out for plant food, worms and all. See the results below:

Thanks for posting, I have long wanted to do this. I think now is the perfect time to get this project going

Neat! I think I'm a bit too squeamish to try this myself though.

You don't need to touch the worms, unless you decide to take a bunch fishing! Here's a nice pic of Grandpa and grand-daughter having good fun.

Very sweet picture, Darad. I have memories of doing the same with my grandfather, but he was usually the one baiting the hook.

Excellent! My husband just built a worm condo and we're currently on a short waiting list to get worms from a local composter. I'm looking forward to having happy worms and happy garden plants.

The best part is that the wriggles are on a starch-based plant diet. You never have to worry about their voracious eating habits, as their motto is: "EAT ALL YOU WANT, NEVER GAIN WEIGHT"

Now that is a heck of a mess of worms. They muliplied that much. All those in the second and third photo was from one scoop of dirt?

I'm embarrassed to say I have never heard of red worms and not even sure we have them in the states. Do they have to be worms you get from a source? I have been wanting to start a worm farm but wasn't sure how to go about it. It can get cold here in the winter. So I guess I have to bring them in. Right now, whenever I run into an earth worm I take him to my garden or my composter and put him in. Luckily I don't mind touching worms. Are red worms better at this than earth worms?

I was lucky, as my city had a program to provide instruction, and how to start with a bin, torn newspaper strips (wetted), a cover, and a pound of red worms. With exhorbitant police & fire benefits and pensions, libraries are reduced to just 4 days/week, and the worm composting program has ended too.

I'm not sure just any earth worm will do. As I had put many ordinary garden worms into the bin, but they seemed to simply disappear and go to worm heaven. Those red worms are real vegans, and help break down the old vegetables really quickly, they proliferate a new generation, and the cycle continues. What I showed was simply pulling back the top layer from the recent vegetable mass being consumed. Often, one finds a solid mass of worms in one location. One simply keeps adding new vegetable scraps to different corners or locations in the bins. Dig a hole, dump vegs in, cover it up. Simple and clean. And I need three to handle all the scraps from the McD diet.

You can purchase the redworms for about $24/lb, plus tax & shipping (ouch, total $37). Ideally, there is a local supplier in your vicinity.

Try Ebay, composting worms. e.g. 1/2 lb for $15

Even Amazon.com, as low as $25/lb shipped.

I know you built your own bin for them. I have one of those round composter units. They should be able to live in there shouldn't they?

The yellow bins were doubled, with 0.25" holes drilled in the inner bin for air breathing. I thought the double layer would better insulate against the cold, than single layer (though it seldom gets down to 25F in winter). The green bin is just a standard plastic bin, in which I only drilled some drain holes in the bottom. The bins are supported on wood blocks, to allow drainage via the drainage holes. The worms are thriving, and continue to be vociferous vegans. I would imagine the commercial composting bins should do the job too.