How To Start A Worn Bin Out Of An Old Storage Bin
Gather a 5 gallon storage bin (I recommend rescuing one from a landfill). Next, drill some holes in the bottom + on the sides of your bin. Worms breathe through their skin & leachate (a liquid caused by decomposition will drop out of the bottom, so plan for this.
Then, gather some moist (very moist!) bedding // carbon components. Leaves contain microbial networks that will keep worms happy and healthy. But, brown bags will work (Trader Joe’s bags have a compostable label & I’ve composted hundreds!), cardboard boxes from anywhere, a small amount of bark or wood chips will do!
Add the worms to the bin + put in a cool place in summer + a warmer spot in winter. I compost outside, so I seek sun spots. In summer, I seek shady spots. I would start with a minimum of 250 & add castings as well as worms to inoculate your bin with microbial networks!
Start with small bits of good like coffee grounds and then you can add bigger bits of food once the worms look happy.
Add a handful of soil, compost or if you can get your hands on some, worm castings. Microbial networks will get the bin moving & will give the worms something to snack on as they get acclimated to their new home.
You’ll know they’re happy when you see them moving about, worm eggs & even castings! This may take a few days up to a week. Add a small amount at first, see how long it takes them to eat that food, then add more as your wormies multiply.
Eggs look like little yellow dumpling that have a small tip at the top. It takes a couple of months for them to hatch, so if composting in your garden, be sure to look for predators like centipedes & remove them.
You’ll notice castings & you can remove them as you see them. It will take different amounts of time, depending on how many worms you start with, how much you feed them & how well their environment suits them. So keep it moist! Keep them fed & don’t forget that castings are so good for our soil health, in turn, our gut health. Hang in there + press on!!
Here are some benefits I’ve experienced from having a worm bin — https://thewildbungalow.com/the-blo/2024/4/29/what-are-the-benefits-of-worm-castings
Here’s what I feed my worms — https://thewildbungalow.com/the-blo/2024/5/21/whatdowormseat-my-red-wiggler-composting-worms-eisenia-fetida
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WORM FARMS FOR FAMILIES WHO WANT TO REDUCE WASTE, REGENERATE THEIR BACKYARD LANDSCAPES & ESTABLISH WILDLIFE HABITATS.
