Earthworm Composting
- 1). Calculate the size of your earthworm compost bin. Allow approximately 1 square foot of surface area per 1 lb. food waste that you plan to put in the bin each week, says Mary Appelhof, author of "Worms Eat My Garbage." For 1 lb. weekly food waste you need a 1-foot-by-1-foot bin; for 2 to 3 lb. weekly food waste, you should use a container that measures approximately 18 inches by 18 inches. Select a wooden or plastic bin that measures 10 to 12 inches tall.
- 2). Set up your earthworm composting bin. Drill 10 to 12 evenly spaced, ¼-inch drainage holes across the bottom of the bin. Shred up old newspaper and sprinkle it across the bottom of the bin, filling the container half full with the bedding material. Mist the newspaper with water to moisten it as you add it to the compost bin.
- 3). Get your worms. Minimize potential composting problems by going with a worm species proven to consume waste rapidly in contained composting systems. You can fine red wiggler worms at a fish bait store, garden supply center or online compost worm farms. As a rule, purchase 500 to 1000 worms (1/2 to 1 lb. of worms) to consume up to 3 lb. food waste each week. Set the worms on top of the moist bedding, and cover the bin with a dark plastic bag or tarpaulin.
- 4). Feed your compost worms once or twice each week. Peel back the bedding in one corner of the bin to create a crater in the bedding. Fill the hole with mild food scraps, like fruit peelings, old vegetables, coffee grounds and crushed eggshells. Mound 2 to 3 inches of shredded newspaper back on top of the food and leave the worms to consume it.
- 5). Store your bin in an out-of-the-way indoor location that maintains a regular temperature between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the bedding wet and feed the worms on a weekly basis until 8 to 12 weeks have gone by, and the bedding begins to look like chunks of dirt. Dump the contents of the bin out on a large plastic sheet in direct sunlight and leave it alone for two to three hours while you prepare a new set of bedding for your compost worms. Harvest the finished worm compost from the top of the heap with a trowel or small shovel, then scoop the worms from the bottom of the heap into their new bedding and start the entire earthworm composting process over.
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