My favorite bins have the holes in the bottom. The bins with the holes house the worms and bedding and nest in a larger bin with no holes (it catches any extra moisture that leaks). This is particularly nice when you're new and less adept at keeping the bin at the optimal moisture level. That said, I also have bins that do not have holes and they also work. They have holes in the lids and around the top, though, for ventilation. I have to keep a closer eye on them to make sure it doesn't get too wet.

Good luck
Mariann

I think you should build a perfectly good bin..for the worms. This would include drainage holes in the bottom and more airholes in the top of the sides for more ventilation.

I have 3 bins and none of them have holes in the bottom. One has holes around the sides, and the other 2 dont have any holes. I keep the tops off them and cover the bedding with burlap. The 2 without holes seem to work the best and have the healthiest worms, and highest populations.

wormfarmer..I am glad your bins are working well. I have to have the lids on mine, so holes drilled in the top of the sides are for ventilation. Your bins with no tops, will not have the ventilation issue and with the tops off the moisture is also addressed, as condenstaion is not an issue. Most likely you have an issue with the top of your bedding drying out. With the lids on, I find that evaporation/condensation make it very moist and I need to monitor that situation. The fact that all the produce I put in is 75-85% water, when it releases that water, during decomposition, the drainage needs some place to go...and so drainage holes make it easier for me to deal with.

Well I set up the bin last night. I drilled 10 1/2"holes in the bottom and covered the wholes with black landscape fabric. I also cut a large portion of the lid away for top ventilation. I will also cover this up with the landscape fabric once the warms feel at home. I got a large garbage bag of shredded office paper from work that I mixed with a 5 gallon bucket of composted leaves. I also tore up some newspaper by hand to add variety of texture. I also added a middle layer of compost from outside. I watered everything and only got a little bit of drainage. I also added some kitchen waste near one of the corners and covered with just shredded paper (no leaves.) I am hoping to get two pounds of worms on saturday and hope to talk the farmer in giving me the worms in casings rather than peatmoss that they usually ship in. Since I will be picking the worms up myself, weight will not be an issue and hopefully will make the worms feel a little at home. How does that sound so far?

sounds great....

Thanks queen. rich