I wouldn't recommend using worm composters if you are really considering making compost, as they are more useful as a means of making worm castings. I use one bought from my city's composting workshop, and it came with 1/2 lb of worms, probably not enough to get it started. I have it behind my desk at work, and it is very tidy and odorless and co-workers love throwing in their apple rinds & coffee grounds. My worms outside in my make-shift composter seem to produce more.

I made a worm composter from a RubberMaid container from a pictoral I found on the Internet. I kept it in a bedroom and it was quite odor free as long as I didn't put citrus rinds inside. It had an earthy smell when the lid was removed. I took perhaps 20 or so worms from my garden and put them in the worm bin with damp shredded paper as initial nesting material and I fed them plant material scraps from the kitchen. In a matter of a few months I had thousands of worms. I kept the worm farm going for two-three years before finally releasing all the worms into a newly created garden.

The bottom of the worm bin has drainage holes and some liquid does drip out but the worms don't crawl out of the holes for some reason. I used four tin cans with the ends cut out as legs for the bin and beneath the cans I had another RubberMaid lid to catch the drips. I would hose off the lid every month or so.

{{gwi:519759}}

I meant to add that the GW also has the Vermicomposting forum below

Here is a link that might be useful: Vermicomposting Forum

I have worm composted in all types of containers including the ones from the compost demos. The one I like best I read about on the vermicomposting forum. I got 2 plastic garbage cans,cut the bottom off. Drilled 1/4" holes in the can. I put the top of the can as my bottom. I put plastic underneath and something to keep moles and rats out. I fill it with different bedding all the time, add worms (200 per can to start) Put a plastic garbage bag over the top and the lid on top of that. When it comes time to harvest, because the wide part is on the bottom, it pulls off very easily. You do need to keep this in the shade, particularly when it is hot. Freezing doesn't seem to bother them, they move deeper into the pile.

Penny

I have two rubbermaid worm bins going, drilled holes in the sides and bottom (like Mikey's photo above). They are really best at recycling your kitchen scraps. Separating the worms from the castings and composted material is not all that easy. I usually end up doing some top dressing and including a few worms with it.

My worms survived the week or so of frost we had this winter, and I keep them around the north side of the house so they stay cool enough in the summer. We get in the hundreds, but only for spells, than back into the 80-90's during the summer. The process of decomposition and multiplication of worms goes much faster in the warmer weather.

It is fun to do. You can get a pound of worms for about $25 on the internet, or go to a fishing store and buy some containers of red worms.

The best book to get, if you are really interested, is Worms Eat my Garbage by Mary Appelhof.

I like Penney's idea of the garbage can, but I wonder why she puts plastic under.

Have fun!

Thank you all for your feedback!

A couple more questions - I'm out of town for 10-12 days every summer. My DH will NOT feed the worms when I'm gone. Can they go that long without being fed?

Also, we have a real cockroach problem here - the great big black ones. Mostly, the hoards are outside with the occasional visitor in the house when the heat sets in. Any problem with roaches invading a worm composter?

I think your worms will be fine for 10-12 days. I left my bin 3 weeks this past summer. Just feed 'em up a little extra before you go. You can save up extra kitchen scraps to use then, freezer works well for this. But don't put in TOO much or the bin will start to smell. I always bury my scraps so as to control flies and fruit flies.

I've never had trouble with cockroaches (raccoons, opossums, skunks--yes). I just keep the lid on the rubbermaid with a brick on it.

Does your poor DH just think you've gone over the edge? LOL! You might find that sometimes it's better not to share your "hobby." Some people just don't understand. Post any questions over on the Vermicomposting Forum. People are very helpful there, and they understand.

Well, I think I'm ready to jump into this thing...

yes my husband does think I have over the edge. I can't complain at all - he came with me to the NorCal Pottery Outlet a couple os weekends ago and helped me haul 6 huge pots into the back yard. He just thinks my interest in the worm thing is beyond comprehension.

BettyN

I put plastic underneath because of rats and moles who will come up underneath. Also when I start separating the worms from the poop, it makes it easier. To separate, I use potato sacks with the holes in them; fill them full of new bedding and their favorite foods. I bury them in the old stuff and they move in so that I can dump worms, new compost bedding and food right into the new bed. It takes a couple of weeks because I always have alot and I'm not in a hurry. After I get the worms out I dry the stuff and sift it abit and put it in an intact garbage can to use as I need it.

Penny

Penny, that's just so clever! Separating is the tricky part of this business. Seems like I always lose quite a few worms in the process.