How to Set Up a Worm Farm

You won't need acreage for a worm farm. A basement works great!

If you're living green these days like so many others, you might want to consider setting up a worm farm. Red worms, specifically red wigglers, can eat your table scraps and leave castings (worm poop) in their place. Worms turn what they eat into some of the richest fertilizer.

Worm composting or worm farming is called vermiculture. You may want to consider worm farming as a business. You can sell worm castings as fertilizer to individuals and to garden centers.

Things You'll Need

• Large plastic tubs for worm bins
• Shredded newspaper
• Old cotton sheet
• Peat moss, good but optional
• Food scraps
• Red worms, also known as red wigglers
• A cool, dark home for your worms

Instructions

1. Gather your supplies. See the Things You'll Need section.

   Start small building your worm farm to see if you enjoy vermiculture. One or two large plastic tubs is a good beginning.

   Punch about 10 holes in the bottom of each plastic tub with an ice pick from the inside so any flaring will be on the outside/bottom of the tub. The holes are for drainage when you "water" the worms.

2. Worms like temperatures between around 55 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Too cold and your worms will freeze. Too hot and they dry up and die. This is extremely important. Consider the temperature year round when deciding where to store your worm bins. A basement that has a steady temperature is ideal.

   Place the lid to your plastic tub upside down on a stable surface. The lid will act as a tray for your worm bin. Place the bin (or tub) on the lid.

3. Layer shredded newspaper and peat moss in the bottom of the worm bin. Soak the newspaper ahead of time so it will be nice and easy for the worms to "chew." Put the soaking wet shredded newspaper in the tub along with some peat moss, which is an excellent starter for your red wigglers.

   Next, add three or four pockets of organic material (see Step 4) burying the food or manure evenly throughout your bin.

4. Worms eat organic matter (food scraps, wood shavings, newspaper, manure, cardboard). To be specific, feed your worms the following:

   Food Scraps - Add most produce (potato peels, rinds, vegetables, fruits), coffee grounds, bread, crushed egg shells, etc., but do NOT feed your worms meat or bones or onions. Be sure to chop or process all food scraps into small (about 1-inch) pieces so it's easier for the worms to eat and so it won't sit stagnant for a long time.
   Wood Shavings - Use fine wood shavings from wood-working projects. Use only raw wood, not wood treated with any varnish or paint.
   Manure - Harvest rabbit, horse, and the like in small quantities to add to your worm bins, but do NOT feed worms cat or dog manure.
   Newspaper - Use shredded newsprint but not slick magazine pages.
   Cardboard - Add thin cardboard like cereal boxes, etc., but first tear into strips and soak in water.
   Grass clippings/leaves - For large scale vermiculture, use your lawn clippings in your worm bins. Add small amounts if you're only using a few worm bins.

5. Once you have your worm bin ready, add your worms. Order red wigglers online from a reputable dealer. They will be sent early in the week so they'll reach you before the weekend and won't have to sit in a postal warehouse. Have the worm bins ready when your worms arrive.

   Follow any directions that come with your red wigglers, such as storing them in the refrigerator for a few hours. Gently open the package and place a handful (they feel good, not slimy!) of worms on top of the prepared worm bin.

6. Next, place a piece of old cotton sheet on top of the worm bin. Be sure to cover the entire top. Using a watering can, gently water the cotton fabric, saturating if so the worms will stay moist.

   Keeping red wigglers wet is very important. A dry worm bin is a bad worm bin. Depending on the humidity level in your area of the country, you may have to water your worm bin daily.

7. With a dark, wet home, your worms will dig into the organic matter and start eating it. Be sure the tray is under the worm bin. When you water the bin, be sure to water enough that a bit of water runs out the holes in the bottom.

Tips & Warnings

• Worms love a cool, dark home.

• Vermiculture is a fun, easy hobby or part-time business.

• Too cold or too hot is not a good home for red wigglers.

Resources

• Worms Eat My Garbage: How to Set Up and Maintain a Worm Composting System
• How to Care for a Worm Farm