worm composting bins

[springvalley]

Hey all, I've been wondering if there are any suggestions for a small worm composting bin that I can keep in the kitchen. I hate doing a bucket under the counter to hold the little stuff as it gets quite stinky. I'd rather just scoop the egg shells or coffee grounds or veggie stems or apple core right into a worm composting bin. I know there are free-standing bins out there but I want something smaller that I can put under the sink perhaps? I'd like something that won't get stinky! Or do worms stink, too?
Catherine

[omnicat]

I've had a couple worm bins, both home made, and I've never noticed an odor.

Of course I avoid dairy and meat, but most fruit & veggie stuff I can put in there. I usually tuck it under the bedding medium (slightly damp shredded newspaper with a sprinkling of dirt is what I start out with).

As long as the bin has drainage and air holes around the sides/top, smell shouldn't be an issue.

You can convert virtually ANY plastic container into a worm bin by simply drilling drainage in the bottom and setting it on a catch tray or plant saucer (depending on the shape), and more air holes on the top third of the sides.

The wider the bin, the easier to harvest the compost. My method was to skootch ALL the stuff into one half of the container when it was "ready", and put fresh bedding in the cleared side, and tuck some fresh "food" in (fruit waste of any kind is their favorite). Lay a piece of aluminum foil over the new bedding - the worms will all naturally prefer the darker side (even without the lure of the fruit), and within a day or so, they're all in the fresh bedding side. Then just remove the finished compost, add more fresh bedding to that side, and you're good to go.

[Forerunner]

My favorite worm bin is a large plastic water cooler that came in the scrap.
Eliminate odor by adding a bit of dry sawdust from time to time.

[Caitedid]

We use Rubbermaid totes as bins, with two nested together. Drill holes in the top one and then it fits quite securely in to the bottom one to catch any liquidy stuff.

[Shrek]

I keep my indoor bin farm of modified totes and plastic truck toolboxes in the attached greenhouse on the back of my house and keep a 3 quart blender for scraps in the kitchen.

When the blender is filled, I add enough water to slurry the scraps and add it as feed to one of my bins.

[gaparrott]

I ran across this the other day on youtube. Homemade and in the house.

http://www.youtube.com/user/BalconyGrow#p/u/6/uC7mH7Bksns
Good luck
George

[samm]

ive been thinking about doing the worm thing, and i have been thinking about using 2 of the lick tubs from the cows.....they are large, and have lids, and are pretty durable...also i already have them....using one on the bottom, and putting several cans or somthing like that in the bottom for the top one to sit on and be able to drain, and drilling holes in the top one and setting it down inside of the bottom one for the worms to live in...im still working on it in my head,,,,,but i think its a do-able thing...

samm

[blooba]

sounds like you need more worms, more carbon, or aeration and drainage.

Carbon will take care of the stink although you may create a compost instead. Which will cook the worms. You don't want the bin to heat up too much.

If your worms cannot keep up with your scraps they will rot instead of being eaten.
Hence more worms(possibly a bigger container).

Do you have a double bin system like this? It will provide drainage and aeration.

[nc_mtn]

Can you "feed" worms chicken's manure? I've got some "sawdust" (started out as pellets) that was in with the chicks. Will they do good off of this? I've been wanting to start a bin also....

[Shrek]

A fish aquarium aerator pump with the air line routed through a soda bottle water baffle vibration reducer is an effective worm bin oxygenator.

I buy the dual tank aerator pumps and hang the soda bottles from strings so they dont dance across the floor as the water in them dampens the vibrations of the pump while keeping the bins aerated and not fiddling the worms out of the bins.

The baffle bottles also help keep the bins moistened between waterings.

[Forerunner]

Originally Posted by nc_mtn

Can you "feed" worms chicken's manure? I've got some "sawdust" (started out as pellets) that was in with the chicks. Will they do good off of this? I've been wanting to start a bin also....

If there is no strong ammonia odor in your manure and bedding, I'd say it would be safe enough for worms. You might throw a little dirt over the top to give them a buffer zone if they do need it.