I like to keep a good 3" layer of shredded paper on top of the new food. The will eat the paper and I think need it for bedding. I spread the food out on the surface of the feeding area, and consider how I feed to be "top" feeding. There are those who do "pocket" feeding, and maybe that is the difference you are talking about.

I always bury it so it does not attract flies. Also the worms are "under" so how would they access food on "top?" I don't hesitate to gently lift and turn the material in the bin if I'm curious about what's going on. Others here know much more than I, but that's what I do.

hi vicky, I top feed and it works fine, the worms are happy to come to the surface and eat and I find it easy to just pop the food on top and it also lets me see how much they are eating and if they need more. my bin does have a lid though so it is dark in there.

I nuke or freeze my scraps and just lay them on top of the bedding. This lets me see, without digging, what kind of activity I have in the scraps, how much material is left, and a general idea of the population and age of worms. They don't seem to mind a peek every now and then. And sometimes, when they are really feeling good, they wave at me. Course, thats usually after I've given 'em a cornmeal treat :)

bruce

I also top feed. The worms seem to eat from the bottom of the scrapes so they really don't have to completely come to the surface. I cover the food with a couple of sections of newspaper just to keep things covered up. I also have a cover on my wood bin.
Happy Gardening.................Tom

The son and I checked the food the other day and although I bury we seen a few maggots in there (these are white, fly maggots). The bin does have a top and the food is about 6 inchs down. If I put newspaper on top will that help keep out the flies. I really haven't seen flies in there at all but of course I'm not out there watching every minute.

Vicky~

Top feeding will attract flies very fast. We recommend always burying your food scraps. Let the worms do their job down under.

Here is a link that might be useful: Worm World

vicky, I would be trying to figure out how the flies are getting in. the flies over here are terrible (just ask anyone who's been to oz in our summer ;) ) and ive never had flies or maggots in my bin, but they have no way of getting in. if theyre a problem, you may just need to cover any ventilation holes with some fly screen mesh to keep them out.