Composting In Small Spaces: Using Worms for Vermicomposting

If you live in an apartment and practice container gardening on your porch, or if you have major space restraints, with little or no lawn on which to set up a traditional compost bin or heap (or if you are just adventurous, and like worms a great deal) consider setting up a vermicomposting bin.

Vermicomposting kits are available for sale—they often contain everything you will need, including the tub or structure to house the worms, bedding, and the worms themselves. Another option is to create your own worm composting system, using materials readily available at your local hardware store. At its most basic, you will need a tub or storage bin that is wider than it is deep, bedding such as newspapers or shredded cardboard, and of course waste material, which you will be supplying from kitchen trimmings or piles of raked leaves in the autumn.

Worm composting systems can function indoors; whether indoors or out, you may want to set up a tray to go underneath your bin, so that you can drill holes in the bin to let the air in, and any excess water out. Most compost systems need to be kept fairly moist in order to function properly; your vermicomposting system may need even more moisture than a traditional compost heap requires. Another good habit to get into is to set a covered bowl, plastic tub, or small bin in an accessible place, so that food scraps can begin to decompose somewhat before you add them to the vermicomposting bin.

Make sure you purchase the proper variety of worms when you get started, and that you have an appropriate number of worms for the size of the container. Red worms (also known as red wigglers), not common earthworms, are the variety most often used in worm composting systems. Although red worms don’t mind living in close quarters, make sure you calculate how many worms per square foot your system will hold, so that you do not overcrowd them and risk having problems develop.

If you want to purchase a pre-made vermicomposting system, you should be able to get everything for about $100—perhaps less. Systems come in several different shapes and sizes, so make sure you get a system that will work in the space available in or around your home. There are even worm composting systems that can be suspended on supports, so that they are not limited to being kept in a corner, on the ground, or in the basement—these suspended systems are worth looking into, as well.

Whether you buy a vermicomposting system or make one on your own, be sure to consider how the vermicompost will be removed once it is ready. Having a convenient way to remove the compost is very important, since it means you will be able to make use of the rich organic matter, and add it to your beds or containers as soon as it is ready—it is your reward, after all, for taking the time to set up and monitor the composting system.