red wiggler worms
I found a pretty cool video on You Tube on worm composting in an apartment.
In it, 2 ladies go through the basics of setting up a worm bin. They use the same type of plastic worm bin that I do.
If you’re wondering how many holes and what size, see the video on my worm composting page.
An easier way to shred newspaper is to use an office paper shredder. That’s what I use. Invest in a little better one and you’ll be able to shred cereal boxes and other press board. Worms love it, love it. Egg cartons are great too. Office paper works as well.
I don’t wet down my shred/bedding because in a plastic bin, it will get moist very quickly. And, if you let the bedding a food sit even for a few days before adding worms, dryness shouldn’t be a problem.
I agree that harvesting worms using the light method is a meditative exercise, translate that to mean it takes forever! I’ve tried to get my worms to move over to one side of the bin, and that didn’t work well at all. I don’t have 2 months to wait.
Now I don’t live in an apartment and I hoard all my compost! Well, I do give a little away. And yes, it is your number 1 garden fertilizer and soil amendment. I cannot have too much of the stuff. It’s great for starting seedlings.
If you do live in an apartment, check the prices on worm castings. You might be able to make some extra money for yourself while recycling.
I totally agree with the philosophy of living by example. Change starts small, just one person at a time. As well, I have noticed that the volume of garbage that goes to the trash can since I started worm composting, has reduced quite a bit. It’s noticeably smaller.
I’m going to start asking friends for their kitchen scraps because I’m starting to run low, and I still have only 1 bin of worms.
I give the video 5 stars. It covers just about everything you need to know to start your first worm composting bin.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I have been in worm composting for a long time ,and I have discoverd that around once a month it would be a good idea to dump out the contents mix it up and put back in ben.Extra air and other foods that are still presant seem to break down faster with the extra oxygen.I normaly put in at least 4 pounds of worms in a 14 gallon rubbermaid and fill falf way when the material sinks I add more shreaded paper and what not you know food scraps.I also have a worm tower that thing is great,once you start another level not long after the worms start to migrate,worms can come and go as they please and are still happy and so am I.Worm composting has changed my life and from what I have read so has other,s. Don P.
Don, I agree it’s a good idea to turn the bin once in a while. I’ve got one bin I’m trying to harvest, and turned it over to find some undigested goop at the bottom. Tell me more about your worm tower. Is the tower in the bin? I saw pictures of this once and I didn’t know if it was for air or feeding.