As I mentioned a few days ago, there are many benefits to composting. It’s also extremely easy to build your own compost bin. There are different iterations - some people use worms to help compost, some don’t… What I will share with you is a quick “how to” on building a compost bin…using worms. (We keep ours outdoors.)
CAVEAT: This may not the “right” way to build one, but hey, it worked for us for the last 2+ years. You can probably find better instructions online.
Here’s what we did.
Step 1: Buy a plastic container - with a lid. We bought a Rubbermaid container (approximately 20 gallons) at our local Target.
Step 2: Punch holes in the bin. We punched some on the bottom, on the sides, and on the lid to allow for aeration & drainage.
Step 3: Line the bottom with moistened newspaper.
Step 4: Place the bin on bricks or wooden blocks for air circulation.
Step 5: Add soil - we bought ours at a local nursery. (Hey, this is apartment living - unfortunately we couldn’t take any soil from the yard… since we don’t have one.) Don’t fill the bin up all the way - maybe fill up to about 6-8 inches from the top.
Step 6: Add worms. We bought maybe 100 (??) “wigglers” at a nearby tackle shop. Make sure the worms are buried into the soil.
Step 7: Start composting! When doing so, you will want to bury your waste. This will help discourage fruit flies from having a field day.
Make sure you keep the lid on the bin - this will provide a nice dark and moist environment, which worms thrive in. This will also help unwanted pests like squirrels and birds from digging through your bins and making a mess.
Happy composting!
Thanks for the great information! I wish I had a yard so I could build a compost bin.
Will the worms escape? Would I need to replenish the worms once in a while?
Some people keep their compost bins indoors. My coworker has one under her kitchen sink.
The worms seem to reproduce… we haven’t had to replenish once. And, the lid keeps them from escaping.