I have had a compost bin for years. It sits outside and composts our garbage for us. For it to compost faster, I have to spin it to mix it all up weekly. As it gets full, it gets really heavy. Moving heavy objects and laziness do not mix well, so as a result the bin just sits there. It sits outside and composts our garbage for us. Slowly. It is also roughly 20 feet away in the yard behind the garage. In the summer, this distance is insignificant. In the winter with feet of snow on the ground, this feels like a marathon. Said distance mixed with said laziness results in an angry wife because the compost has been sitting inside for a week. She doesn't understand that I am just getting the decomposition process started before dumping it in the bin. Yeah, that's it.
Then, the other night while I was doing some surfing in bed, I came across a video on organicgardening.com about a DIY worm composting bin. Up to this point, I had done a little research on worm composting (known as vermicomposting), but had been turned off by the high price of entry. You have to buy these expensive bins, fill them with expensive bedding, and buy expensive red worms, because ordinary free worms just won't work. Then, the heavens opened, and hundreds of dollars became dozens of dollars. Suddenly, I was intrigued. In typical Kenny fashion, I had to go out the next day and make my own. The process is incredibly simple, and even those with very little skill with tools (aka me) can do it. Here's how:
1. Get a plastic bin. I used a 10 gallon bin because we don't have a lot of room for it. Use whatever suits your space, but make sure the location you choose for your composter stays between freezing and 75°
2. Using a 1/4" drill bit, drill holes in the bottom, sides, and lid. You want 25-30 holes in the bottom and lid, and 2 rows of holes in the sides. The holes in the bottom allow water to escape, and the sides and lid allow ventilation. I've also seen some bins that don't use holes in the bottom, but use a drain hole and hose in the bottom, but that's too complicated for me to worry about for my first time. When I make another of these (provided my worm population grows), I will consider that.
3. Next, you will create bedding for the worms. Get some newspaper and tear it into strips. Get the paper wet, and wring it out. It should be soaked through, but not dripping. Start piling it into the bin. When you have a decent layer, throw some leaves in, and then make another layer of paper, then another layer of leaves. After everything is done, put your bin where you want it. You'll want to put a tray of some kind under it to collect the water runoff. I used a lid from another plastic bin that has mysteriously disappeared over the years. Put some blocks or bricks under the bin on top of the tray. This water is supposed to be really good for your plants.
4. Get your worms. As I said before, regular worms don't work well. This is because ordinary worms dig deep in the soil and eat microbes and fungi in the soil. Red wrigglers, the worms typically used in composting, like to be near the surface and eat decomposing materials there. You can buy these online, or supposedly at any bait shop. I used the not so well known bait shop known as "Meijer." Online, I found 1000 worms (which I've learned equates to roughly 1 lb) for around $30 including shipping. As this is an experiment and I'm frugal, I decided to go to Meijer and get the red worms from their refrigerator in the sporting goods section. I have no idea if they will work, but I got 2 containers with 30 worms each for $3.29 each. This is a much more acceptable price for me to pay to start off my experiment.
5. Feed your worms. This is the fun part! I had a banana peel, some junk mail, and some scrap paper that I added. You should also add some garden soil (not potting mix or anything fancy) because the worms hold bits of grit and tiny rocks in their gullet to aid with digestion. After everything is in there, make sure you keep it moist. I used my watering can with some rainwater that I had saved from last year that I've been watering my plants with and sprinkled the top for a few seconds daily. Put the lid on, and let them go to work!
I have had this bin for over 24 hours now and not found any worms outside of it. I have read that this sometimes happens. I have however found worms crawling up the side of the bin, but have read that this is just them exploring their environment. When the time comes to harvest the castings (aka poop aka fertilizer) you are just supposed to push it all to one side and feed the other side of the bin. The worms will migrate to the food, and you will have worm free castings. I have yet to experience this, so I will leave that information for a future update (hopefully).
But Why?
Worm castings are fantastic for fertilizer. It's also a way to get rid of some small scale trash.
But Why?
Worm castings are fantastic for fertilizer. It's also a way to get rid of some small scale trash.
Cost
Plastic tote - $4.99 (I had to buy one specifically for this because the only ones I had were too big)
Worms - $6.58
Total - $11.57
