How to Build a Worm Bin
Worms are fascinating creatures that are helpful, interesting and easy to keep. Caring for them makes a great project for kids, and building a worm bin is an easy project. Used by eco-conscious homeowners to recycle kitchen scraps and garden waste, worms can be kept in the house, garage or yard. They recycle plant matter, paper and cardboard, and turn just about anything into high-quality fertilizer for your houseplants and garden. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Large plastic bin, with lid, at least 10 qts.
- Drill with ¾-inch and ¼-inch bits
- Single-edged razor blade or box knife
- Adhesive
- 24 pieces fiberglass screen, 2 by 2 inches
- Newspaper, black and white only
- Soil
- Bucket
- Large tray or second bin
Instructions
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1
Make 12 air holes in the lid of the bin, using the ¾-inch drill bit. On the underside of the lid, use the razor blade to rough up the area around each hole. This will help the adhesive stick to the lid.
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2
Draw a line of adhesive in the roughed-up area around each hole. Use adhesive that will stick to plastic. Press one piece of screen over each hole. Ensure it makes good contact with the adhesive all the way around the hole. Let the lid dry overnight.
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3
Drill 12 drainage holes in the bottom of the bin. Use the ¼-inch drill bit for these. Drilling is easiest if the bin is upside-down on a firm surface. Reach inside the bin and repeat the process of scraping around each hole, applying adhesive and covering the hole with a piece of screen. Let the bin dry overnight.
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4
Tear the newspaper into long strips about an inch wide. Place the strips in a bucket of water to soak, but don't allow them to get too wet. Test by lifting out a handful and squeezing them. If you get just a few drops of water, they're ready to add to the bin.
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5
Place enough wet strips in the worm bin to fill it nearly to the top. They should be dumped in loosely. You don't need to squeeze them all first, and don't pack them in. Put a handful of soil on top of the bedding so that your worms will have some grit. Set the worm bin on a tray or inside of a second bin to catch any liquid that leaks out the bottom. Your bin is now ready for you to add worms.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't use a clear bin for your worms. They do best in total darkness. When you're ready to add the worms, get red wigglers from a bait supplier or other source. They adapt well to living in confinement. This bin should hold about 1 lb. of worms.
Be careful when using the razor blade and drill, as these could cause injury if not handled with caution.
References
- Photo Credit Steve Baccon/Digital Vision/Getty Images
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Comments
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Virginia Allain
Jul 21, 2008
Wow, there's a lot of info here. I like the idea of raising my own worms and would love to have more in my garden.
