How to Compost Shredded Paper With Worms

Worms require temperate, moist living conditions.

When people think of composting, they generally think of bins or compost piles where they can collect eggshells, old fruit and coffee grounds. These items break down into rich organic matter, which provides a hearty and nutritious boost to flowers and vegetables. What many people don't realize, though, is the value of adding other biodegradable items, like paper and cardboard, to increase the nitrogen content in the compost. If you want to produce truly nutritious compost, it's a good idea to add worms as well, to process the organic matter. Build your own worm bin with soil and shredded paper to compost for your garden.

Things You'll Need

• 20- to 30-gallon bin
• Shredded paper (10 to 15 gallons)
• Garden soil (10 to 15 gallons)
• 1 lb. red worms
• Food scraps

Instructions

1. Fill a 20- to 30-gallon wood or plastic bin with a combination of half shredded paper and half garden soil. Use a shallow bin if you can, as earthworms tend to work better in shallow soil. The paper in your mixture holds moisture and makes ideal bedding for earthworms, while the garden soil provides grit to aid in digestion. Don't use colored paper, as the dye may harm the worms.

2. Pour 5 gallons of water into the bedding to moisten it. The bedding should always be as moist as a well-wrung sponge for the worms to breathe efficiently, so add water at least once a week. Always add enough water to moisten the bedding, but not so much that it is waterlogged. Soupy bedding will drown your worms.

3. Add 1 lb. of red worms to the bedding. Gather worms in your garden or buy them at a bait or pet shop, and fold them into the bedding. They will burrow in and make themselves at home.

4. Put the worm bin in a dry, safe place where temperatures stay at 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Earthworms stop working in temperatures less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit and die if their bedding freezes. If you're keeping the worm bin outside, keep a lid on it to protect the worms from birds.

5. Fold kitchen scraps like bread and vegetables into the worm bedding every couple of days, and shredded paper as often as you have it. Empty the bedding and use it for compost every three months or so, and start over again. Replenish the worm population as necessary to maintain your efficient composting.

References

• Washington State University: Composting with Redworms
• Composting101.com: How to Compost
• University of Illinois Extension: Composting for the Homeowner: Building Your Compost Pile