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This will be the last article in my series on using plastic storage totes for worm composting. If you haven’t yet, go back and read Part 1 for an introduction to worm composting. Part 2 will teach you the benefits. In Part 3, I briefly introduce you to several different worm composting systems which use plastic bins for gardening. In this last section, I will teach you how to set up the most basic type of system—which is perfect for a home garden and even a good choice for a commercial worm farm.

How to Make Your Own Worm Composter

1. Start by purchasing a large plastic tote. Aim for one which is around 10 gallons. The bin does not need to be fancy. Just get the same standard type of bin you would get for storage around the house. If you were to use a wooden bin, you’d have to line it with a plastic bag, so using a plastic bin saves you the trouble! Consider boring a few holes through it to provide drainage and airflow.

2. Your next step is to add bedding for the worms. Old newspaper strips work great. Make sure to only use black and white newsprint, never colored newspaper! You need about 50 sheets worth.

3. Add enough water to the bedding to get it moist but not wet. Make sure it is fluffy. Do not allow it to become compacted or it will smother your worms. It should fill about three-quarters of the bin.

4. Sprinkle in 2-4 cups of soil.

5. Now you are ready to add your worms to their new habitat! Use red wigglers or European nightcrawlers. Weigh them so you know how many you have.

6. Add in scraps of food. Cut everything up into small pieces. Use old fruit and veggie scraps, but no meat, dairy, bone or oil products. Make sure you give the worms about three times their weight in food each week.

7. Add a sheet of dry newspaper to the top of the bin to keep fruit flies out and maintain the moisture level inside the habitat.

8. You should add a cover, but make sure it is ajar if you did not drill holes into your bin. Worms need to breathe!

9. Feed your worms once a week. Fluff their bedding, and spray water as needed. This should only take about ten minutes.

And that is really all there is to it. After about three months, you should have enough compost to harvest it for use in your garden. To do this, you need to section off part of the tote. Add fresh food and bedding to one (clean) part, and the worms will migrate over. In the other part, you can harvest their waste. Do not allow worms to re-ingest their own waste! Take good care of your worms and they will live a long time and breed, constantly replenishing the habitat and providing you with an ongoing source of nutrient-rich compost for your garden!