I've always wanted to try vermicomposting, but my wife isn't happy about my bringing WORMS! in the house -- so I'm planning to give outdoor vermicomposting a try. As I have zero practical experience with vermicomposting, I'd be glad to have feedback on my plan.

I'm planning to build a series of raised beds for a new garden next year, and the plan is to rotate the worms through each bed, giving them a year in each one. I live outside of Boston, and with wind chill factors included, our winter temps can get down to -25 degrees Fahrenheit. My hope is to overwinter the worms by insulating their bed with straw bales, top and sides, and by giving them a good heat source, namely horse manure that has aged a month (to minimize the effects of any anti-worming medications).

Does anyone have experience rotating worms through a raised bed garden? How about keeping worms alive outdoors through a New England winter?

Any specific suggestions as to what part of the season would be best for rotating the worms into the next bed -- early Spring, or late Summer or just before the first frost date?

Many thanks,

Wormseeker