How to Breed Composting Worms

Overview

While many people around the world are trying to prevent global warming, compost enthusiasts are trying to promote global worming through vermiculture. Vermiculture is the process of using earthworms to quickly break down organic garbage such as kitchen scraps. The beginning "worm farmer" can start with just a few earthworms, and breed more during the process of creating compost.

Step 1

Drill holes throughout the bottom of your plastic tubs with your ½-inch drill bit.

Step 2

Drill holes around the tubs at the topmost level of the bedding for air circulation.

Step 3

Place the lid of the container topside down on the surface where your vermiculture bin will rest. The lid will act as a drip tray to catch soil, water or wastes.

Step 4

Place the four pieces of PVC pipe on the lid so that the open ends face up. These will be the legs of the bin.

Step 5

Place one of the bins on the PVC pipe legs.

Step 6

Fill the bin three-fourths full with shredded bedding materials.

Step 7

Water the bedding at a ratio of 3 parts water to 1 part of bedding.

Step 8

Place worms in the bedding.

Step 9

Bury food scraps in the bedding each day. The worms will multiply in this environment as they feed.

Step 10

Continue to add shredded bedding as the worms consume their bedding and replace it with worm castings (compost). The bedding and compost will compact as the worms feed.

Step 11

When the compost reaches three-fourths of the size of the bed, place the second bin on top of the first bin and fill it with bedding. The worms will move through the holes in the bottom of the bin and into the new bedding.

Step 12

Harvest the worms as they migrate by digging through the new bedding and pulling the worms out of the bedding by hand.

Step 13

Pull the bottom tub out of the stack, and sift the compost to catch any remaining worms. Harvest these, or return them to the remaining bin. Place the compost in your garden.