The main thing I have noticed with mine is that it dries pretty quick, but if you put a piece of cardboard on top it seems to retain more moisture.

Mind you, my bin is my first ever bin(only a couple months)and I do not know from first hand experience what other bins are supposed to look like etc.

Ian.E

I use compost, horse manure, hay, straw, cypress duff or cardboard. It just depends on availability.

My favorite to use is rice straw, which costs about $7 at the local feed store. No seeds and a bale lasts quite awhile.

I like about 6-8" of bedding mulched on top to keep the bin cool, damp and dark. Pull back the mulch and top feed. A lid may be required to keep out critters.

Good luck! Pete

HORSEMANURE!!!!!

There is no other better bedding/foodstock than it. With an ample supply of horsemanure (make sure it's not fresh because of worm meds)....let it lay around a couple of weeks before introducing it into the bin.

A person could produce excellent results with nothing but horsemanure. They love to live in it, eat it, it is very good at not compacting, doesn't smell bad unless too "green", and will make you a real hero with your worms.

When you're a real hero with your worms, they tend to want to please you by reproducing like they're sex maniacs or something.

If you can't find a supply of horsemanure, buy a horse.

Chuckiebtoo.

OK Chuckiebtoo, you gave up my secret. We got a horse a few years back, and my worm population EXPLODED!!!

I use fresh horse manure with no problems, but I know when de-wormer meds are used and let that manure rest a bit. If I get the manure in the worm bed within 24 hours, I do not have to add any water. I have a 12'x17' carpet-covered bed full of very happy worms that love their horse- hockey fresh and steamin'! I add no bedding, just pure fresh manure. The manure turns black and becomes unrecognizable in about 10 days. The carpet eliminates flies, and there is no smell.