Find a local supplier and go pick them up.
Composting worms are available at:
http://www.findworms.com/
http://www.cityfarmer.org/wormsupl79.html
http://vermicomposters.ning.com/forum/topics/worm-suppliers
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting/vermiculture/resource.html

You MIGHT get the same type of worm at a bait shop. A couple dozen is not very many to start with if you are composting. It will take about 2 years for a dozen worms to become a pound of worms that you would normally buy to start a bin. And the price per pound is much higher at a bait shop.

I've told my story here before, so you others bear with me. One thing I did was look at the label on the worms. I was at Walmart and saw who produced and sold the worms. Their website told me they were Europeans. I bought the pack for like $2,50 for 32 worms by physical count. A few weeks later I stopped by a bait store that sold red wigglers. I got 55 in the pack.

A year later, with alot of patience (well maybe not at first) I now have a couple flow thru bins and one tub. I have no idea how many actual worms or the poundage. The last time I harvested I had a ball bigger than I could hold together in two hands in each bin.

You might be able to get red composting worms for free if you know someone who has a horse manure pile and they let you dig around for worms.

I have found lots of composting worms in my backyard compost bin. Not sure they are EFs. I put them in my FT where the worms are a mix to start with anyway.

Think maybe bait worms [reds] try harder because they have been saved from the hook?

My sister went the WalMart bait route to start with and then another customer told her about a man in that neighborhood with a "worms for sale" sign ...and she got more that way.

I got the start for my 4'x 12' in-ground worm pit from a pick-up truck load of horse manure. I don't know how many are in there today - less than 1 year later -- but the surface under the carpet cover is almost solid worms.

I got my worms for free off Freecycle....not sure if you have that where you live, but just search on the name of your city and Freecycle to find out.

borderbarb: what do you do with so many worms? Sell them or dig another pit?
Where do you get the food to feed them from? Or do they mainly get manure (their favourite food)?

otis11 ... As Rosannadanna would say NO HARD QUESTIONS!

The answer to what am I going to do with them is I DON'T KNOW. I created a new pit under the avocado tree and created two large plastic planter/bins [in shade of trees] .... so am reaching of point of having to do SOMETHING. I've given hundreds away to church and family who are interested.[but as you probably know, most folks think vermiculture is just plain weird] If I were more ambitious I might consider selling at farmers market or online. But that sounds too much like WORK! [I'm 73 years old and heavily into TAKING LIFE EASY!]

I started feeding horse manure ... but that supply has dried up .... now I make HOMEMADE MANURE [a la Bentley on RWC] ... which is paper mixed with kitchen scraps until a nice ripe sludge. The worms love it. Also make the occasional pumpkin 'burrito' and water mellon rinds.

Just had a brainwave ... might see if some youngsters from church would want to handle sales for me ... they can keep the $$.... Well, your question gave me something to chew on.

I bought from tripple g worm farm. Free shipping and nice worms. they even add some bedding after weiging.

Hey I would buy worms from you guys too. I wonder if you could send them to Garden webbers and they pay shipping?

Karen

borderbarb:
"Just had a brainwave ... might see if some youngsters from church would want to handle sales for me ... they can keep the $$...."
How about bartering with those youngsters. They bring their kitchen scraps in exchange for worms and VC??? A VERY good deal I'd say!

Hey, Karen

That's a good idea.. Can we purchase them from you guys with an abundance?? I'd pay shipping on them?? Let me know.. TEA3@hotmail.com

Oh, and your not too far from me.. I am in Kewanee, IL which is a little over 2hrs from Chicago!!
Thanks!

My couple dozen from my outdoor compost pile did take about 2 years to become what I estimate to be a pound of worms. It was a great two years.