Vermiculture is the fancy word for worm excretion which is worm compost. Here’s how to do your own worm composting.

Get a Container

You will need a container at least 8 to 12 inches deep. Wood is better as it absorbs moisture and insulates the worms. A rectangular plastic container is often used, but the compost tends to be soggy.

Aerate the bottom

Drill holes at least 2 inches apart all along the container bottom. Plastic containers may need more holes. Raise the bin off the ground with bricks. This provides air flow to the worms and prevents the materials from rotting. Keep a tray underneath the bin to catch excess moisture that can then be used for liquid fertilizer. If your compost comes out too wet, simply drill more holes.

Line with Newspaper

Shred newspaper into one inch wide strips. Dampen the paper strips with water in a spray bottle until damp. Add about a cup of sand for the worms’ digestive tract.

Collect Kitchen Scraps

About a week before you purchase your worms, start collecting kitchen scraps to feed the worms. The kitchen scraps you save are just like for home composting.Do not use animal proteins like meat, bones, cheese, milk, or oil products like salad dressing or mayonnaise. All raw vegetable and fruit leftovers, coffee grounds, used tea bags, eggs shells are good.

Buy Worms

Red worms or red wigglers are best in a compost bin because they thrive off of organic material like rotting vegetables. You will need two pounds of worms for one day each of food waste, this is around 2,000 worms.

Cover Container

Worms like it dark and moist, so cover with a wooden board when outside. This will also keep away predators. Inside, heavy plastic will do.

Collect Worm Castings

It takes about 4 to 6 weeks to notice the bedding is darker and 2 to 3 months there will be little left to the original bedding. To collect all of the castings or compost at once, empty the bin on a tarp or old shower curtain into piles. Shine a light so the worms go to the bottom. Scoop the castings off the top until only worms are left. Start your bins over with some of the castings in your new bedding.