Vicki, my rubbermaid tub sets in my laundry room. Doesn't take up much space and no one has even guessed it is full of worms.
I'm in Michigan and I wouldn't leave mine outside in the winter. Even if they are insulated enough to keep them alive, they wouldn't be active in the cold.
I'm new to this to, so maybe I'm wrong, and someone else will speak up that has more know how!!

It is my understanding too that a worm bin slows down considerably when it gets cold - both in the processing of waste and the production of the next generation of worms.

I do not know this from experience. I live in Minnesota and anything left in my unheated garage would turn into a wormcicle. Carmellia

If you're really serious about wormin', you can easily make space for a bin inside during the winter. If you think, or know, that worms are icky to you, build one for the summer outside and suppress the unease. When cold weather comes there, separate the worms and castings and start a new bin indoors. A large, short bin that would fit under your bed? A kids bed?

Chuckiebtoo

In short, if properly insulated they would both survive and do well in a garage. The problem is actually properly insulating them. As mentioned above when the temps drop activity slows down.

I have posted in quite a few threads about keeping bins outside so you may want to do a search for them but ill highlight what i think are the most important points.

For an outside bin you want a LARGE bin. The larger the bin the more stable the environment and the more capable it is to stand up to temp spikes and drops. Also with a large bin it gives alot of places for the worms to escape to. I personally use a 21 cu.ft. fridge laid on its back.

Insulating is not just for the cold but for the heat as well. In an oustide bin the heat affects it just as much as the cold does. You can wrap the bin with the foil covered foam pads as one means of a rigid insualtion that is fairly cheap. Straw bales also do a pretty good job, however they take up a lot of room.

It needs to be pest resistant. Worms are a great source of protein and pets and pests will feast on them if available.

There are alot of places to put them inside. Especially if you are, or know, a wood worker. There is very little smell associated with a worm bin and they can be made into coffee tables, end tables, and benches. You can also find these items in thrift stores and with little work make them into something that will work out great.

Bryan

Vickie, my Rubbermaid tote sits unnoticed under a parlor table in our small house. It handles our kitchen scraps for two except during the height of summer harvest, when the regular compost bin gets some of the scraps along with grass clippings and garden waste.

Four kids? One or more of them will want to have them live in their room, once they experience worming. Gishy, squishy, real cool kid stuff. :)

Trust me...

Thanks for all the great info. I guess I have decided to stick with regular composting for now. This worm stuff really intrigues me though and I hope someday to get into it. Just got to get my hubby to go along with one more of my idiosyncrasies.