Vermicomposting Basics
Everything you need to know to get started with worm composting.
What Is Vermicomposting?
Vermicomposting uses worms (typically red wigglers, or <em>Eisenia fetida</em>) to convert organic waste into rich, fertile soil.
How Is It Different from Hot Composting?
Hot composting (also known as the Indole method) is done outdoors and is best when you layer materials and mix regularly. Once hot compost cools, worms, insects, bacteria, and fungi all work to decompose waste — but new hot compost piles are too hot for worms. Vermicompost piles can be outdoors too, but what makes them special is the ability to keep composting indoors when the weather gets cold and outdoor piles freeze.
Why Vermicomposting?
Compost indoors
Indoor composting is the best way to continue composting over winter in northern climates.
Waste reduction
Your garbage cans and sink disposal are convenient but wasteful ways to dispose of kitchen scraps. Vermicomposting helps you reduce your contribution to the waste stream.
Produce your own fertilizer and compost tea
Worm compost and worm tea are great soil amendments for seedlings, transplants, houseplants, and gardens. Best of all, these are free from your worm bin.
Who Should Be Vermicomposting?
Anyone can and everyone should. Once the bin is up and running it is really easy.
Where Should I Vermicompost?
You can vermicompost anywhere that you have space. The basement, cellar, or under the sink are great spots. You can also have your worm bin outside or in the garage, but you must keep the bin from freezing in the winter and getting too hot in the summer. You can even bring a worm bin to work to vermicompost your waste from the work week!
What Do I Need to Get Started?
Worms
I recommend red wiggler worms (Eisenia fetida). They are afraid of light, tolerate a high proportion of food in soil, eat a lot of food, and eat a wide variety of food.
Bin
Worms like a dark, moist (like a wet sponge), and quiet area free from vibrations. I recommend an 18–20 gallon bin. Too small and the worms have nowhere to flee from food like citrus; too big and the bin can be very heavy when full.
Bedding
Any shredded organic material works: shredded newspaper is great, as is cardboard, peat, and coconut coir, or other organic waste materials you have on hand.
Food scraps
Same as your outdoor compost pile. No meat, no oils, no dairy, no bones, and no metal items (e.g., staples from tea bags).
What Do Worms Eat?
Feed them
- Vegetable scraps
- Fruit cores, rinds, and peels
- Paper and cardboard
- Breads and cereals
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Tea leaves and tea bags
- Egg shells
Do not feed them
- Meat, fish, and bones
- Dairy products
- Grease and vegetable oil
- Pet waste
- Salt
- Dirt from outside
- Plastic
Worms have no mouth, so they don't eat the food — they eat the rot on the food. Our food doesn't smell bad; the rot is what smells. As long as you don't overfeed your worms, you won't have a bad smell.
Collect food scraps in a small container with a tight-fitting lid. Do not feed them more than 1/2 the weight of worms per week (e.g., 1 lb. worms = 1/2 lb. food per week). Worms will not try to escape from your bin unless the environment becomes unsuitable for them — usually too wet.
Introduction to Vermicomposting Video
Click on the image below to watch this 15-minute primer on vermicomposting basics, including how to make your own worm bin, brew worm tea, and answers to helpful FAQs.
Take It Further with Vermicompost Tea
Once your bin is producing castings, you can brew vermicompost tea — a liquid fertilizer that supercharges your garden. Learn how to make it and apply it for best results.
Learn About Vermicompost Tea
Ready to get started?
Order your worms and get everything you need to set up your first bin.