Go to your library or bookstore and get a copy of Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof. It's a simple but very informative book which will answer a lot of questions for you.

Many people here, including me, keep small bins in Rubbermaid Tubs with a few holes drilled in them. You don't need to worry about attracting vermin, and the bins don't smell unless they get too wet or have too many kitchen scraps.

Good luck. It's a lot of fun.

Here is a link that might be useful: Worms Eat My Garbage

nibblin,

There won't be a smell provided that you don't put in meat, poultry, dairy, fish and other proteins and that the worms aren't overfed. Until you get the hang of it you want to start feeding them a little at the time.

I made a variation of the OSCR Jr. which I use outside. I have included a link to plans for the OSCR jr. They have a bottom container to catch the leachate. It looks neat and isn't an eyesore.

Some people recommend a single container with styrofoam peanuts in the bottom enclosed within landscaping fabric with holes in the side.

Almost all agree that we tend to make it more complicated than it needs to be. A wooden box or a plastic tub with a top with holes drilled in it for airflow will suffice. Remember it isn't the depth of the container it is the surface area that is most important.

Something you may want to do first is conduct a waste audit to see how much waste you have to compost. Just weigh your food waste over a two week period, get the average waste daily. Rule of thumb is that your bin with a healthy pound of worms and other organisms can handle a pound of food waste every two days in optimal conditions. Once you know how much food you have available you know how many worms you need and the bin size to acommodate them.

If you search previous posts you'll find a treasure of resources.

You'll enjoy it.

Charles

Here is a link that might be useful: OSCR Jr