Here, compost expert Judy Elliot joins host John Cretti to show how to make a worm bin for processing kitchen waste. Elliot discusses several types of construction techniques and shares suggestions on choosing worms and appropriate kinds of kitchen waste for beneficial results.
Materials
- 10- to 14-gallon container with lid
- one additional lid
- four blocks of wood
- watering can
- kitchen scraps
- one-half pound of Red Wiggler worms
- trowel
- chef's knife
- cutting board
- old leaves
- newspaper
Steps
- Drill about 24 half-inch holes in the bottom of the container for aeration.
- Lay one lid upside down on a flat surface and place the four wooden blocks in the corners of the lid.
- Set the container on top of the wooden blocks.
- Line the container with shredded newspapers and leaves, mixed together to provide bedding.
- Add kitchen waste, cut into one-inch pieces, burying it just under the surface of the bedding.
- Sprinkle just enough water over the top of the material to slightly moisten the layer.
- Secure the second lid in place on the top of the container.
Background Information and Tips
- Red Wiggler worms are ideal since they don't require a lot of space or soil, and they thrive in normal household temperatures.
- Worms may be fed most types of kitchen waste, with the exception of meat, fat, cheese and bones. Coffee grounds, brown coffee filters and eggshells are also acceptable scraps to include in the compost mix.
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