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MamaHun’s got an amazing vermiculture box at her house. The amazing part is that it works. Food and paper goes in, compost comes out. It’s like clockwork, really really gross clockwork.

After watching Mama and her man-friend Walt have so much success with their wormy cuisine, I decided to make my own bin. The whole thing cost me $15 and a couple of plastic tubs. It seems to be working, so here are instructions for you to make your own.

(fyi those are not my hands)

Materials:

• A plastic bin, big size (15-20 gallons?). I used this one, which appears to have been stolen (not by me) from a supermarket. It should be opaque, not clear.
• A second plastic bin or tub that the first one fits into. This one doesn’t need a lid.
• Hand drill with 1/4″ and 1/16″ bits
• Lots of scrap paper or newspaper
• Red worms (NOT nightcrawlers etc)

1. Assess your needs.

This bin works great for me, because I live by myself and eat a fair amount of vegetables. I got a half-pound of worms, and they don’t seem to be running out of food. If you have a bigger household, use a bigger container. A good rule of thumb is to have 1 square foot of space and 1/2 pound of worms for each pound of food waste you produce in a week. Worms are expensive: I paid $15 for my half pound.

2. Collect scraps.

various disgusting things I didn't eat. You're welcome.

You can’t get a worm bin going until you have something to feed them, so start keeping scraps before you get the worms. You can feed them any organic matter, though they prefer things that rot nicely. Avoid meat and animal products. One word: MAGGOTS. ewwwwwwwww

Here’s a helpful table from Washington State University:

3. Prepare the bins.

If your main bin (the one with a lid) is new or covered in toxic goo, wash it. Then drill 8 to 10 1/4″ holes in the bottom, and several 1/16″ holes every couple of inches along the sides. The small holes are for air, and the big ones are for drainage EWWWWWWWW

I drilled these holes too close to the bottom, but hey at least they’re really small. You should drill yours only at the top of the bin.

Now set your main bin inside the second bin. They should fit snugly with a gap at the bottom. That’s where the “compost tea” (euphemism for worm pee) will collect. Compost tea is GREAT fertilizer.

4. Prepare the bedding.

Worm bedding replicates fallen leaves on the forest floor. It’s where they live while they eat your garbage, though they eventually consume the bedding too. Use scrap paper and newspaper, but avoid glossy magazines, stickers, plastic etc.

Shred the paper, soak in water and wring out. Then line the bottom of the bin with it, a couple of inches deep. Toss in a handful of dirt; the grit helps worms digest.

I used some actual dead leaves from the yard, just for fun. If you have leaves and no paper, make it work.

5. Add food.

Tuck your scraps into the bedding. This helps to contain the rotten smell, and makes it more worm-friendly.

6. Worm time!

only slightly grossed out, see?

Go and get your worms. Toss ‘em in the bin and watch ‘em SQUIRM.

Now cover the bin and keep it in a cool (55-75° F), dark, ventilated spot. Try to only mess with it twice a week to turn the contents, add scraps and check on your babies.

Add more bedding as necessary, make sure it drains, and watch for worms trying to escape. If they’re running away, they need help. The bin’s contents should be moist but not sopping wet; well-ventilated; with a good balance of food and bedding.

If you’ve got it right, on the other hand, you’ll have a population explosion. Whoopeeeeeeeewwwwwwwww

What happens next? I’m not sure yet, but as soon as I have some compost to harvest I’ll tell you all about it. In the meantime, try these pages:
Washington State University, Whatcom Extension: Cheap and Easy Worm Bin!
Garden Simply: How to Make a Worm Bin