Things You'll Need:
- Plastic or wooden bin with cover
- Power drill
- Cinder blocks
- Tray
- Newspaper or cardboard
- 1 lb red wiggler worms
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Step 1
Purchase a plastic or wooden bin between 8 and 12 inches deep. Allow one square foot of surface area for every pound of worms. You should have a cover to help conserve moisture and keep the worms from escaping.
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Step 2
Drill ¼ to ½ inch holes in the bottom of the container to keep oxygen flowing and allow liquids to drain.
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Step 3
Elevate the container on cinder-blocks or other supports. Place a tray under the bin to catch the liquid runoff, which can be used as plant food.
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Step 4
Place a sheet of tight mesh in the bottom of the container to keep the worms inside.
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Step 5
Tear some black and white newspaper or corrugated cardboard into strips. Place them in the bin to make "bedding" for the worms. Continue until the bin is three-quarters full. Moisten it so that it's wet but not soggy.
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Step 6
Place the worms inside the container. Give them a couple days to adjust to their new home before placing kitchen scraps inside.
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Step 7
Lay kitchen scraps on top of the bedding and cover with more paper or cardboard. This can be done about twice a week. Keep a small plastic bin under your kitchen sink to collect scraps until you're ready to throw them into the bin.
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Step 8
Harvest the worm castings after about a year by opening the cover during bright sunlight. The worms will burrow to the bottom of the bin. Scoop up the castings and use them as fertilizer in your garden. To make this process easier, begin scooping the castings toward one side of the bin and moving the bedding and scraps to the other. The worms will migrate toward the fresh material.
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Step 9
Add new bedding every 3-6 months as needed.
