Composting is an excellent way to reduce your impact on the environment.You might not have access to outdoor space for a traditional compost heap.Vermicompost allows for an indoor composting operation with minimal space considerations.You will create a worm bin where you will throw your food scraps for the worms to eat and create rich soil.
Step 1: The worm bin can be placed in a spot in the house.
The best places for worm bins have a consistent temperature.It's a good idea to avoid placing it near an appliance.You might want to keep the worm bins out of the main living areas of your home.The ideal temperature for the worm bin is 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.The worm bin can be put in a closet, laundry room, or other storage room.If you have a large kitchen, keep it in the kitchen so that you can easily throw food in it.
Step 2: Adapt a storage container or purchase a worm bin.
premade vermicompost containers are used for worm bins.Many gardening and organic supply stores sell them.Purchase a 20 gallon storage container from the store if you don't buy a worm bin.Light won't get in if it's opaque.The bedding, food scraps, and worms are in this container.It regulates the amount of light in the blocks.If you buy a container, make sure it has a lid.You have to cover it with black plastic if you want to.
Step 3: The bin has holes for air flow.
If you buy a premade bin, it may already have air holes.To cut 12 inch holes in the bottom, sides, and lid of a storage container, use a power drill.There are 20 holes in the bin.There should be at least three holes on each side of the bin.If you want to cover the holes with wire screen or mesh, you can.
Step 4: Put the bin on the blocks.
Two cinderblocks, two chunks of 4 x 4 in.There is something that will keep the bin off the ground.You can put the plastic in the part of the house where you want the worm bin.Put the blocks on the plastic.
Step 5: You can buy worms at a garden store.
Red wigglers are the best worms for vermicomposting.Composting worms and African earthworms are good options.You can find worm sellers online.Call the garden stores to see if they sell worms.If you don't, research online.Many companies and individuals order worms from them.One pound of worms usually sells for around 1000 worms.1000 worms is enough to start a worm bin.
Step 6: Paper or cardboard should be shredded for bedding.
Newspaper and cardboard are good for the worms.The newspaper should be torn into 1 inch wide strips.Cut the cardboard into strips.The bin is 20.3 cm high.Paper from a phone book works well.Glossy paper should not be used with ink other than that used for newsprint.It may be harmful to the worms.You can use torn up strips of toilet paper or paper towel rolls.The width of the strips should be 1 inch.
Step 7: The bedding should be soaked with water.
It is important for the bedding to be wet before you add the worms.Run water over the bedding after shredding it.All of the bedding needs to be completely wet.It's a good idea to shred the bedding and then put it in a container of water.It is better for it to be wet than dry.You should not wet the bedding until you are ready to build your worm bin.It may need to be wet again.
Step 8: The bedding should be thrown into the bin.
Spread the water evenly across the bottom of the bin.The bedding should fill the bottom of the bin so that there is enough room for the worms to live.As you spread it around, fluff it up.
Step 9: There is a scoop of dirt on top of the bedding.
Adding some soil will make worms feel more at home in your vermicompost bin.Purchase some regular potting soil from the garden store or get a shovelful of debris-free soil outside.Spread it across the bedding.Adding soil helps the worms digest the food better.If the soil is wet, add it to the bin by soaking it in water.
Step 10: Food scraps should be placed on top of the soil.
Spread food scraps across the soil by saving about one pound.Fruits and vegetables are some of the best sources of food scraps to use.Coffee grounds, tea bags, and eggshells work well.It is important to not add meat or bones to any type of dairy product.It's a good idea to avoid bread and excessive amounts of fruit.You should research what is good for vermicompost before putting it in the bin.Check before you add something if you aren't sure.
Step 11: Wait three days and then close the lid.
Worms eat food that has already broken down.Before you add the worms, it is helpful to let the food break down in the worm bin.Don't wait more than two weeks to add the worms, three days is a minimum.If you are worried about the smell, put the bin outside.The worms help keep the smell down when they are in the bin.
Step 12: The worms should be placed in the bedding.
Put a hole in the middle of the bedding by opening the worm bin.Rather than across the top, pour the worms into this hole.The worms will feel at home in this way.If they feel cramped, make two holes in the bedding and put half of the worms in each hole.
Step 13: Each 1000 worms needs about 12 pound of food per day.
Sometimes vermicomposting is not an exact science.1000 worms can compost a pound per day.Add more worms to the bin if you know your family will create more waste.Save the food scraps and add them later so that you can get a total of four pounds of food for the whole week.You will eventually have more than 1000 worms because they reproduce in the worm bin.You can't count the worms easily because the rate of reproduction is inconsistent.
Step 14: After six months, harvest your vermicompost.
You can check the bin weekly to see how much bedding is left.It is harvest time when the bedding has been converted to compost.Add new wet bedding after pushing it all to one side.The worms should be left in the bin.This is not an exact figure.The compost may be ready after two or three months.If you want to take it all out at once, harvest the compost a little bit at a time.