Composting worm bin

Hello, (Newbie) I wanted to share and ask for advice to break the ice and keep myself focused.  I was looking for a way to compost while we live in a subdivision with an HOA and a few feet from our neighbors. I found a video about trash can worm bins and I went to work. All in all it came out ok and I think it’s working however it’s been probably 4 weeks now and I am starting to wonder if it is working? Have I killed the worms on accident? Was there something I could have done better?

It’s two trash cans, 25 gal I believe. (From bottom to top). The bottom one has a lid shaped to sit underneath the second can. It has holes drilled to allow liquid gold to flow through it. The second can has large holes in it and I put a woven sack on top so nothing large falls through. Then I put a bag of manure, next I added some dried corn stalks from a nearby field and placed those on top of the manure. Next for worms we had a couple of cans of fishing bait leftover so I put those in containing probably about ~20 ish worms altogether. Now I just throw our green scraps, coffee grounds etc on top. I water it every few days.

I have used the worm tea a few times in the garden now and just kind of waiting. I am wondering though if I should be checking on the worms, not giving them so much coffee grounds, maybe not putting orange and banana peels? Any one with experience have some tips or does everything sound like it’s ok? Thank you!

Welcome to the forum.

One year I was excited about making a worm bin out of an ice chest.  Dear hubby said no worms.

I also really like the composting in a trash can method without worms.

Here is a thread that might answer any question you or others might have:

https://permies.com/t/89316/Vermicomposting#732560

Chris,

Your design will work - eventually.  20 worms will take a while to make a difference.  In that time you will need to make sure you don't overfeed and create an Ammonia cloud - not dead worms, they just disappear.
Also, are you sure they were red worms and not earth worms or nightcrawlers.  Red worms will reward you eventually, earth worms or night crawlers, not so much.  
If we assume that you are feeding ok and they were red worms, the main issue is space.  It takes 2 to tango and the dance floor is huge for 20 worms.  They'll get there, it will just take longer.
I will start a small bin - 1/2 gallon with 20 worms so they can get to know each other.  Then when they have multiplied sufficiently, I'll start a bigger bin with them.
The other thing to watch out for is heat.  If your black worm bin is in the sun much at all it will cook your worms.
Good luck.

Keith Odell wrote:Chris,

Your design will work - eventually.  20 worms will take a while to make a difference.  In that time you will need to make sure you don't overfeed and create an Ammonia cloud - not dead worms, they just disappear.
Also, are you sure they were red worms and not earth worms or nightcrawlers.  Red worms will reward you eventually, earth worms or night crawlers, not so much.  
If we assume that you are feeding ok and they were red worms, the main issue is space.  It takes 2 to tango and the dance floor is huge for 20 worms.  They'll get there, it will just take longer.
I will start a small bin - 1/2 gallon with 20 worms so they can get to know each other.  Then when they have multiplied sufficiently, I'll start a bigger bin with them.
The other thing to watch out for is heat.  If your black worm bin is in the sun much at all it will cook your worms.
Good luck.

The bin is on the shaded side of the house. I didn’t think of that though honestly. They were originally fishing bait, I’m guessing night crawlers as that jumps out in memory. I didn’t know how many to start with. It sounds like I could double what I have and not cause any harm.

We have 8 people in our family so we generate a lot of scraps. My goal is to stop throwing all the scraps in the trash and start using it to fertilize our garden beds. Thank you Keith!

I have Red Wigglers and European Nightcrawlers
I like the Nightcrawlers better.

The Nightcrawlers are big enough for fishing, they are ok without refrigeration and you still get your Castings.

Hillbilly Dave

Hi Chris and a belated welcome to Permies!

I had a similar set up here - not in design, but in size probably ( my design thread here). I thought it hadn't worked at all, but when I emptied it after a few months the worms had been multiplying fine, but obviously couldn't cope with the amount of food I was giving them. Also the result was rather anaerobic due  (I think) to a lack of drier carbon rich material.
I'm going to try again but
1) Not expect it to cope with all my kitchen scraps and
2) add some clean sawdust/wood shavings to aid in aeration.

Good luck with your pet worms!

Nancy Reading wrote:Hi Chris and a belated welcome to Permies!

I had a similar set up here - not in design, but in size probably ( my design thread here). I thought it hadn't worked at all, but when I emptied it after a few months the worms had been multiplying fine, but obviously couldn't cope with the amount of food I was giving them. Also the result was rather anaerobic due  (I think) to a lack of drier carbon rich material.
I'm going to try again but
1) Not expect it to cope with all my kitchen scraps and
2) add some clean sawdust/wood shavings to aid in aeration.

Good luck with your pet worms!

Thank you Nancy. That does look similar except yours has wheels. I’m only slightly jealous.

I think we have a similar problem in that it’s just too much for the worms to chew through so I’ve been throwing a lot out till they catch up.

Is it safe for my garden to use the liquid that comes out for fertilizer? Or should I be trying to gather the more solid stuff at the bottom?

Thank you for sharing!

Chris,

I think you should modify at least 1 of your trash cans similar to Nancy's set-up.  I make bins like that in 11-gallon, 23-gallon and 55-gallon sizes.  The air flow coming from the harvest hole on the lower side thru the compost increases the microbe/fungi/wee beastie reproduction which speeds up the production.  I would use garden stakes, all-thread or conduit to support a false floor of cardboard/newspaper above the harvest hole.  You would need a drill or something to make holes for the stakes and a jig saw, or utility knife to cut the harvest hole.   Then either buy a pound of worms or go to a horse farm to get some manure (almost certain to have red worms).  You set it up that way and they will be eating everything you can throw at them by the end of summer.  It's what they are made to do.