Here’s a letter I wrote to someone who was interested in getting started with vermicomposting<\/span>. I thought I did a pretty good job, so I thought I’d post it.<\/p>\n Vermicomposting<\/span>, if you don’t know, is composting with worms. It’s sort of like traditional back yard composting, but it’s different in that it’s done on a much smaller scale and the primary composter<\/span> are red worms, not time and sunlight. Vermicomposting<\/span> is ideal for apartment dwellers and those with limited space. Mostly we compost kitchen waste because we don’t have yard waste like grass clippings or fall leaves.<\/p>\n Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n You’ll probably want to read a book to get started. I read “Worms Eat My Garbage” which you can probably find at the local library, or you can pick it up for cheap online. However, there are other books out there that are probably just as good.<\/p>\n Another great resource is the Worm Bin Board, a Yahoo! group. You can join the group easily, you just need a Yahoo! account. Here’s the link: Here’s another forum that’s pretty good but it doesn’t have as robust of email options: Lastly, this is a very helpful page so you’ll want to bookmark it: Bin Construction<\/strong><\/p>\n Next, you’ll need to design and create your worm bin. The simplest method is to purchase a single rubbermaid<\/span> bin (with no holes for drainage) and use it alone. I wouldn’t recommend this because if you like worming, you’re going to want something a little bit better in a fairly short amount of time.<\/p>\n The next step up is a simple rubbermaid<\/span> with a few holes for drainage and a catch bin beneath. The more complex version of this is to use two nested rubbermaid<\/span> bins with a rubbermaid<\/span> catch bin underneath. That’s what I have. Here’s a description I posted recently to the Worm Bin Board:<\/p>\n “Basically, I have two bins, a finishing bin and a working bin. They nest because they are the exact same rubbermaid<\/span> model. Each of these two bins has a ton of small holes drilled in the bottom and just along the bottom of the sides. The bins are exactly alike – the “finishing bin” is the one on the bottom and the “working bin” is the one on the top. These bins both have large holes that are along the top edges of the sides for ventilation. I also have a third Rubbermaid bin, again the exact same model, that serves as the catch bin. Inside it, I have drilled much larger holes high up on the sides for ventilation. The bottom is solid because this is where leachate<\/span> gathers. I used to drop the stacked bins right into this bin, but I found that there wasn’t enough space for air to circulate, so I put two plastic flower containers upside down in the bottom of the catch bin and now the finishing\/working bins rest on them. They just happened to be the right height for what I wanted -you could use anything.”<\/p>\n Here is a more complex version of the Rubbermaid bin, it’s called the OSCR<\/span> Jr: http:\/\/www.klickitatcounty.org\/solidwaste\/ContentROne.asp?fContentIdSelected=483736526&fCategoryIdSelected<\/span>=965105457<\/a>
http:\/\/groups.yahoo.com\/group\/the_worm_bin\/<\/a>
You can begin with lurking just to start learning bits and pieces, and ask questions whenever you want. I suggest subscribing to the Digest email so that you can stay in touch but don’t get swamped with email. There are many, many archived posts on this bin and chances are, most questions you want to ask have already been asked and answered.<\/p>\n
http:\/\/forums.gardenweb.com\/forums\/verm\/<\/a><\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.happydranch.com\/invertebrates.html<\/a><\/p>\n
This is what I modeled my bin after, but I didn’t put in a spigot or make the fancy top.<\/p>\n