FAQ

1) How many worms do I need to start my bin?
Red worms eat ½ their body weight per day so 1 lb of worms will consume ½ pound of food per day.  The size of your bin dictates how many worms you need to start.  One pound of worms needs 1 sq ft of growing space and most retail bins are approximately 1 ft x 2 ft.  You always want to start with ½ the capacity of the bin so in most cases starting with 1 pound is correct.  They will breed into 2 pounds in 3-4 months then will stop breeding due to space limitations.  For a larger bin, say 2 ft x 4 ft, you would start with 4 pounds and they will breed to 8 pounds in 3-4 months.

2) How do I feed the worms?
Using the guidelines above, feed your worms approximately ½ pound of food per day in the beginning.  Be careful not to overfeed as this will result in poor air circulation in the bin potentially creating anaerobic conditions that could harm your worms.  Water weight counts in food scraps.  When you add to the bin, bury the food down about 1-2 inches to discourage fruit flies.

3) What do worms eat?
Worms eat any kind of decaying organic matter.  It is important to note that worms like a C: N (browns to greens) ratio of about 10:1.  If you bin is too wet it may be due to not enough carbon based food. Have fun and try some experiments.  We’ve had our worms eat blue jeans, tee shirts and silk ties!  As long as it came from the earth they will eventually consume it.

4) Why are red worms (eisenia foetida) better than other worms for composting?
Red worms eat half their body weight per day.  Nightcrawlers and indigenous earthworms consume one quarter of their body weight per day.  There are approximately 800-1200 red worms per pound whereas there are about 100 nightcrawlers per pound.

5) How do worms reproduce?
Worms are hermaphroditic or rather each worm has male and female reproductive organs.  This does not mean they can reproduce alone; the mating process must occur.  The prominent band located a little way down from the head is called the clitellum.   Two worms will intertwine and mate in this area.  Mucus is secreted and both sperm and egg are encapsulated for each worm.  This mucus tube is moved back up over the head and slipped off, sealing both ends.  This is known as a cocoon and could contain 6-12 worms.  These cocoons are about the size of a pinhead and are light green when laid and turning darker brown after hatching.

6) Why when I open the lid, the worms are on the walls and inside lid?
There are many reasons why worms “run”, the following are some of the most common.  Too much moisture in the bedding will cause condensation in the bin resulting in a mini rain storm.  The water drops dripping back into the bin simulate rain and cause them to crawl up.  They can also sense low atmospheric pressure and crawl up.  Adding dry bedding will help with excess moisture.  If the bedding becomes too packed then no air can circulate causing the bin to sour and worms to run or die.  Some people put their bin in a garage or laundry room, the vibration of a washer, dryer or furnace would cause them to run.  Certain foods have high sulfur content such as onions, garlic and broccoli.  Too many of these foods will cause the worms to run.  High acid content foods such as citrus will cause problems as well.  Fermenting food could release gas or alcohol that could kill the worms.

7) Are those small white worms baby red worms?
No, these are most likely the enchytraeid worm.  They are harmless to the red worm and usually show up in acidic conditions.  Sprinkling some oyster shell lime over the top of the bin should bring the pH up and control their population.

8) How do worms breathe?
Worms get their oxygen from the moisture present in their bedding and food.  Their skin absorbs the water supplying oxygen to the vital organs.

9) Why does my bin smell?
Most likely from overfeeding or feeding the wrong thing such as cheese or meat products to the bin.  Remove excess waste and make sure air vent holes are not plugged.

10) What are these other bugs in my bin?
Over time many other bugs/insects will visit or move into your bin.  This is normal and part of the ecosystem.  Some of the most common are sow bugs, enchytraeid worms, millipedes and centipedes.  Centipedes WILL eat your worms and must be removed.  The others are harmless and will add to the composting process.