How to Feed Worms in a Vermicompost Bin

Vermicomposting uses worms to help speed up the decaying process of plant materials, so you can use the compost more quickly in your garden. Special types of waste are required to feed and keep the worms healthy, so you need to make sure you aren't accidentally feeding the worms in your vermicompost bin improper foods.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small bucket
• Plant material
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Whole grain products

1. Divide your worm bin into four equal sections. You will need to feed worms in a rotation of these sections, instead of dispersing the material all through the bin at once so they can break it down in cycles.

2. Brush a top layer of compost to the side with your hand. Don't use anything harder than your hand, as hard objects could hurt or kill the worms in the bin.

3. Burrow a hole into the compost with your hand, scooping excess compost into a small bucket.

4. Pour kitchen wastes, such as vegetables, fruit rinds and cores, coffee and tea grounds and whole grain breads and cereals, into the opening you burrowed into the section of the compost.

5. Return the bucket of compost you scooped out to the bin, pouring it over top of the organic material you just added. Layer a two-inch bedding of decomposing leaves on top of it.

6. Reapply the black, plastic sheeting over the top of your bin.

7. Feed worms once a week with the scraps from your kitchen. Rotate to the next section the following week, so that over the course of approximately a month, you will return to the first section you fed and start the process over again.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not feed worms salty or oily foods, as this could kill them.
• Do not add grass clippings to your vermicompost bin because they will generate unwanted heat, killing the worms in the bin.
• Do not feed worms things like bones, meats or dairy products, as they items are more difficult for the worms to break down, and could encourage rotting and smell. Rotting food will attract unwanted pests and vermin.

References

• Vermicompost.net
• LaVerme's Worms
• Care2

[Magentaslb]

on 11/8/2009 Really great informative article...you make it sounds so easy too. 5*s