How To Build A Worm Compost Bin Worm Farm That Works!

[@debmartindale6991]

For worm bedding we shred all paper (not shiny and no env. windows) combined 50/50 with shredded leaves, mix well, soak, and put into bin. FREE!

[@royhoco5748]

I used to raise worms for the compost but now I put the worms directly into the garden and eliminated another farm chore. The worms are happy in the garden and I am happy to have them in the garden. I also harvest nightcrawlers from around my greenhouses and specific locations around my farm and add the to the garden, usually 50 - 100 worms twice a week.

[@lisaelliott1149]

This is the first video of making a worm bin that actually details all the materials, steps, and the why for everything necessary. Thank you so much. I'm going to give one a try soon.

[@davidsouthworth7434]

I agree. It was a very detailed video and very informative one. Very good.

[@mikekristin7201]

I'm at the very beginning of starting and out of my house nursery and stumbling across this in such a perfectly succinct and welcoming manner is exactly what I needed today. Here's to helping me make tens of dollars this spring selling plants lol

[@beebob1279]

Better than those styrofoam ones they sell for the fishing worms. Just not big enough. I'm still concerned about the cold weather. I guess it goes in the basement.

[@ganeng3373]

_

[@TheEddagosp]

You can also invest in a paper shredder (~$30-$40) and use the paper shreds for the bedding. Useful if you work from home and have a bunch of paper waste. Also a good way to recycle spam mail into something useful. :)

[@barbaradace7952]

Just avoid shredding COLORED papers or shiny coated papers, as they can contain chemicals toxic to the worms. I keep a separate bin of plain black-and-white paper to shred for my worms...also, if you eat a lot of eggs, rip up the pressed-paper egg cartons and they make good bedding. Also grind up the egg shells fine (use a blender), and put them in the bin from time to time: not only does that enrich the soil, but worms need grit in their gullets to help digest their food and this provides it for them

[@grammym1643]

I asked my dentist and they provide me with bags of shredded paper! They love saving the money to dispose of it and my worms love it!

[@Dreamydazefarm]

Definitely can use paper or leaves 🍁 also

[@beebob1279]

I see those bins all over the place anymore. 8 bucks at Costco. I use them for long term food storage and didn't think about worm bins. My worm bins don't survive winter because it's just too cold here and the soil freezes. I saw that you use a heat pad for your bin during the cold months. Nice idea. I guess the basement would be about right for them. It's dark, sometimes moist, and cool.

[@chewyfingers1288]

You may want a small light over top of it to keep them from coming out. I’ve heard stories of night crawlers left in the dark end up covering the walls

[@towlasniemy]

I love how detailed you are in all the steps. Your videos would be great for kids and young gardeners, too.

[@valeriemckay7064]

The very best thing I have found to mix with the coir is torn up raw cardboard like egg cartons or formed cardboard (raw) that is used to protect electronics and other stuff in their boxes. I hate using regular cardboard as some people do, the worms don't eat it, it has glue in it and it takes forever to break down but not with the other kind, it is great! Also mix in some dried out manure (they are also called manure worms so ...), chop and mix it all up and start adding decomposing food scraps cause worms eat the organisms, not the food and no onions, peppers, fats, citrus, salty stuff, etc. Works really well so hard not to do well and true, keep it in a cool place and keep moist for sure.

[@sandrapetty2609]

Love your back yard, though I would not call it a yard. I've been binge watching your videos and enjoying them very much. Your approach to gardening is very practical. It's easy to see that you love what you're doing. You talked some about plant markers in one of your videos and years ago someone mentioned using the cheap metal blinds you might find at a second hand shop for just pennies. You write on them and as I found out, no amount of weather fades the writing on them. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, which is quite priceless.

[@Rhonda858]

I love the idea of using thrifted or old metal blinds and cutting them up as plant markers....that is a awesome idea because I just bought a few packs of plant markers and they where made out of plastic and came in packs of 10 and they cost me $5.99 a pack! Which to me is ridiculous especially since they are made of plastic and eventually the writing on them will fade. ( even though i use a black permanent sharpie)

[@kimberlygardner8392]

I asked you for a video like this, sorry I didn't see this video in your playlist. I found it thank you.

[@greatsewing6061]

Learning a lot from your videos. Much of this stuff knew from reading, but seeing a worm bin created live is much more rewarding. I believe much needed education one day will be through the web. Thanks so much for posting.

[@rbrack54]

I saw a guy make a worm bin from a self wicking planter. Helped to keep the bin most and the worms never crawled down into the water. Also you can extract worm tea out of the one drain hole in the bin . I am turning my back yard into mostly wicking buckets as I live where rain is almost nonexistent. 👍

[@burrelllee9762]

I used grass clippings in my worm compost bin but I sun-dried it first and added it in small clumps. What I found was the worms seemed to lay their eggs near the grass clumps. I found this when harvesting the compost and found the grass clumps had an abundance of baby worms in and around the grass. The labels on the fruit are food grade and can be eaten by humans or the worms, but the tape on the boxes I would never allow in the compost bin because of the chemicals that can leach into surrounding areas poisoning the worms or compost itself.

[@karatheriault6715]

I have fallen in looove with your channel and all the affordable garden projects/hacks you share. Thank you for all you do!!!

[@taiwotawonyo1122]

Kindly list the ingredients

[@lillyg88]

@@taiwotawonyo1122 hit the “more” button and scroll down. He lists everything you need for the project.

[@tomtrask_YT]

I bought a few of those black plastic tubs at Costco last year for about 7 bucks each (I use them for strawberry beds, too - they're pretty handy)

[@Rhonda858]

I am in Houston Texas and I Have 5 bins going now after 6 years of vermicomposting but here recently I've had a infestation of mites! I have dried out my bins and left the tops off to dry them out, I've reduced feeding them to only 1 a week and I bury all the food and I do not add water to the bins very often since they are already pretty moist. I have stopped feeding the worms any fruits and started only adding vegetables to try to reduce the mites. I have attempted eradicating the mites by bating them out, drying the bins out, used garden lime powder, adding diatomaceous earth to the tops of the bins, tried spraying them down with neem oil extract mixed with water and insecticidal soap ( I heard that it would effectively kill the mites but wouldn't harm the worms as long as I sprayed it only on the surface of the bins) but let me tell you that NOTHING I have tried has helped! I have heard from other videos not to worry about the mites and just allow them to live with the worms but they have gotten so overly populated it seems that they are competing with the worms for food! Every time I feed the worms when I go back a few days later and check on the food scraps they are always covered with thousands of mites ( so I take the scraps out and go clean them in a big bucket of soapy water to kill the mites that fall off and then I rinse the food off with clean water and go return the food to the bins and re-bury it below the surface but every time I go back the mites are always the ones I see eating the food very rarely do I see a worm near the food. I'm almost to the point of giving up! But I have so many worms I wouldn't know what to do with them and I actually enjoy vermicomposting before the mites over took the bins.. I even had an issue last summer with black soldier flies getting into my bins but I was able to control them with DE and removing the larvae every time I found them which grossed me out but it wasn't as bad as these dang mites they seem to be invincible to anything that I'm trying to get rid of them! Any suggestions on how I can gain control of my bins and win the battle of the mites before I throw in the towel and give up?

[@kinibayvip]

A worm bin is something I still do not have set up yet, your video just motivated me to do so ! it's long over due. Thank you for the detailed instructions! :-) Best regards, Rob

[@Cobbmtngirl]

You can do all of it for next to no $. My worm farm is in a previously discarded industrial sink. A bathtub works great too. It is set up like yours on blocks. The bedding I use is a mix of shredded cardboard, paper & leaves. Spent straw or hay works too. I occasionally add the choir but only occasionally. No $ spent & I have a happy established colony of worms. I’ve been giving them away for friends to start their own vermicompost bins because I have so many worms.

[@Cobbmtngirl]

I take that back. I did buy shade cloth to line the sink with & prevent worms from going down the drain. Yes, red wigglers are the best. They are more tolerant of extreme temps. Mine was covered in snow last year for about 2 weeks with no apparent ill effect.

[@cooknwoman]

Thank you Dan! I love how you went through all the steps thoroughly and said where to buy from, you explained everything- I have no questions- for a woman, that's amazing haha 😂 I'm going to Home Depot soon. Thanks so much!! God bless you, your family & your food forest!!

[@timetime6937]

My local Costco has those bins for $10. So excited to do this.

[@creativewoodworker4300]

I have been doing different kinds of worm bins for years and this is a nice design. I actually used a barrel cut out a hole to sit a plastic tub in the side of it put it on blocks and just put a cut off jug under the drip hole in the end of the barrel.Works great but I like your’s and I will try it.

[@cherylkygirl7181]

I suggest that the fruit to be cut up. No whole apples, etc. Makes it easier for worms to gain access.

[@paulineellis2369]

Thank you! You are a great teacher and I now feel like I can do it.

[@michellegibson4144]

I can't wait to get going on my first "wormery" this all looks easy enough. 👍

[@donnaflores50]

I like using cardboard because its free and the worms love it! I have read that they like the glue and it facilitates them to multiply.

[@kellymizell7619]

Super job and many thanks for the very thorough list of materials needed!

[@robertrenfrow9296]

I like to worm farm my garden. Everytime an empty folgers container is full of kitchen food scraps bury it 18 in deep directly into the garden. Do this every 5 ft. It's great for the plants and worms will be in the thousands. The more worms means the more castings. It's a win win win.

[@nomadismileseeker6611]

It is nice to see some recent, informative material on KZbin.

[@fionacesari1457]

Hi from the uk 🇬🇧 yet another very informative video thank you for sharing x

[@MountainGardenGirl]

Hi Again, We found resin drainage grates at our local habitat store for .25 each. Bought about 35 and used them as lifters...where you used your bricks inside first tote. Bricks may be made of material not good for food...but you mentioned that. We use them to make our own self watering bins as well. But really anything that lifts and made of resin is a safe choice.

[@marypatten9655]

Thank you. Have always wanted to make a worm bed. So now will give this a try. God bless

[@frankdaywalt9281]

Thank you sir , gonna apply this here for our garden and raised beds here in Colorado. God bless y'all

[@shirleyk623]

That's a nice set up but not nearly large enough for my garden. If you replace your washing machine keep the tub and use that. I have acquired several over the years. They work wonderfully. I cover the top of the bin with cardboard and a piece of plywood to keep them from getting too wet from the rain.☺🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛

[@timyates807]

I was hoping you had a how to video after watching your tub harvest . Awesome, well thanks again for sharing your knowledge and tips . I cant wait to do this ,Great video once again . take care

[@jackiegates2565]

New to your channel, But I love how well you explain things! Can someone tell me how long it takes from when you build this to where you’ll actually get the warm casings? And how often do you add food to it?

[@ElDiegoMCO]

I live in Florida, I've just put some soil, leaves and small branches in a large garbage bin and now it's full of earth worms. Roaches too. All good for composting.

[@QKitchenandBeyond]

Thank you for sharing this. I vermicompost inside all of my growing containers both inside and outside.

[@tammytamz3046]

Just stopping by to binge some of your videos :)) ✌️♥️

[@Heathersabey]

New to your channel. I have had a hard time finding a step by step that was this helpful. Thank you!!

[@BillyColbertUSA]

Nice the right way to build a worm bin. My first attempts failed.

[@Testchannel-gd9cv]

Thank you for this, subscribed. No worm will ever leave such a happy place.

[@tgif1207]

I do use coir but also shredded paper from shredder. Great vids!

[@sammiedog4]

Awesome great presentation new subscribers. I am passing the word on you. Greatest on tube

[@atrenthillman]

Thanks Dan.

[@SantoshK.Mangalore]

Thanks Dan and videographer for making this informative video. I viewed it a second time in ⏩ mode to burn it in my memory. Mangalore, SW of India on the Arabian Sea coast.🙏

[@billyeast6819]

I place the foam tray washed, that comes with meat products into the bin and the castings were all lined up on the tray.

[@raquels7148]

Thank you for explaining what the second bin is for and how to set it up. This is the first video to do so and I was feeling confused/frustrated on how to set up my bins.

[@royconner3929]

Best EVER tutorial

[@bweaver760]

Best gardening videos! Thanks!

[@tamararoberts9307]

I've not seen this method before. A bit more elaborate than mine but it inspires me to up my game . Thank you for this video

[@dannyboling4627]

my grandfather who lived in west Tennessee ,had a wormbed..it was surrounded by tile directly in the ground..we put table scraps in and newspaper and he covered it with cardboard...the worms came up through the ground he would fork up the biggest worms I've ever seen...we fished with them and he used the materials in the garden...the downside keeping the mice and rats and snakes out of it...the system here looks much safer and just as easy to do.

[@susanrumble6366]

How often do you check your work bed? And how often do you put veggie scraps in? I've really want to set one up. I've learned a lot from your channel, thank you in advance.👏💓

[@mintybee5003]

Thank you Dan. What a fantastic video. And so informative. Thank you.

[@teresaruthjones1717]

You showed us how to do it but what is it for? For those who don't know? How do you use it? what does it do and how does it benefit the garden and exactly what part do you use?

[@maryerb6062]

Thanks a million for publishing this. I need to watch it a few times yet😀

[@TheBurlioz]

Thanks for sharing this! I was just thinking to go back to your videos about the worm bin :)

[@jasonvickery7768]

I'm in Texas, and 100 degree days are typical in July and August. I've had the idea of using a large white cooler (the kind with a drain hole in one end of course) to house my vermicomposting setup. Do you think that would help insulate against the harsh temperatures? The bin would also be in the shade, but I know the air temp would be an issue to keeping them in a plastic tote even in the shade. I love your channel Dan, and I've been recommending it to everyone I talk to about permaculture!

[@robtdougherty]

YES i believe so. i have always thought about this, just waiting for one of my ice chests to "need replacing" if you know what i mean. i lost a lot of worms 2 summers ago keeping my worm bin in the gargage in so cal. we had a bad week of 117 - 119 temps. I think an ice chest would have helped.

[@barbaradace7952]

We get triple digits here, too, so I made an indoor worm composting tower with free 5 gallon buckets obtained from restaurants; they usually have plenty to get rid of. Instructions are online; I covered the airholes with window screen scraps (to prevent fruit fly infestations), and sewed a cover for it so it doesn't look like a tower of buckets in my kitchen ;-) Once the worms get going, it's pretty odor-free-just take it outside before you harvest the leachate, because *that* stinks! Other possibility is to bury the ice chest mostly underground, which will regulate the temperature for you...just put a screen-covered PVC pipe down to the bottom so you have a way to get the leachate out.

[@focusabove2960]

@@barbaradace7952 you said you made a video, is it under your name on yt?

[@denisenix90]

Great idea! My next concern is fire ants getting into the bin. I'm in north east Texas near tyler area.

[@nancythane4104]

Maybe use something on the exterior cement blocks like Neem oil or somesuch as a deterrent against any ants?

[@hannahjones8992]

Smashing video, very clear and nice watching, Thank you👍 God Bless🙏🏻💖💖

[@user-bi6eg1lo7v]

Thank you very much for this informative video. I'm going to build two of these. Much appreciation from BC Canada. :)

[@edwardschneider2716]

Super video on this subject. We'll done sir.

[@sebytro]

This has got to be the best worm bin video on KZbin! I'll go tomorrow to Hornbach, get my boxes and spigot and build this setup so I can transfer my worms to it. Thank you very much!

[@Arcturian1111]

Great job. Looks easy enough to make.

[@caroldurand6803]

Brilliant! Gonna try this

[@augeniasestokaite4674]

This was wonderful and well described-thanks a billion!!

[@mq9413]

Awesome, glad I came about your video.🇨🇦

[@FtLivingRoomHomestead]

I just found your chanel and this vid. Totally looking forward to making this bin.

[@fotyfar]

Thank u for all ur useful vids, bless ur life and the work of ur hands 🙏🙏🙏

[@suecronmiller5828]

Thank you for keeping us in tune with worms, didn't know they laid eggs👍

[@illanaisme]

Great! I just watched the bathtub video, def going to do this one!

[@txikitule]

This is great and straightforward. I have the exact same bins where I have some minor, accidental cracks or nail holes on the bottom. Now I know what to do with them, make some more holes and use them to my advantage! THANKS!

[@viviennelong9974]

Excellent video for a newbie!

[@Midiman54]

Awesome video you explained the whole process that I’ve never seen before. Kudos ✌️☮️🌲

[@ethics1017]

I have a big pile of bark out by my sawmill. After 2 years just sitting there I found it chocked full of Alabama jumpers. Mostly black cherry bark.

[@paydelady]

great video, very informative. oh and i want your shoes. so neat you are, i saw you take the shaving and put them in your pocket, instead if just brushing them on the ground 😆

[@waitaputamamutu9783]

Thankyou 4yur knowledge bless you 🇳🇿 👍💜

[@tamishreves9891]

going to get the supplies today!!! no holes on the sides or the top!?!

[@jism1991]

awesome video. Wondering why not use the leachate on edible plants and use on ornamental plants only?

[@charleencnossen9930]

Excellent video. I’m doing this!!!

[@cantwealljustgetalong2195]

Thank you. I learned so much.

[@trashdog88]

I love your demonstrations. Thank you so much 🥰

[@prudencezappa8598]

Brilliant thanks for your directions...

[@dawsie]

😹😹I love my Step bit best investment I ever made I bought 3 different sizes worth every penny I paid for them😸 I use cardboard as worms seem to love it. With lemons, onions and any kind of citrus is to place into a blender with a few slices of bread and cup of water, the worms will go through it without a problem 😹😹 Nice setup I have been eyeing off my old fridge that died a few months back which we are hoping to remove from the spare room once we can declutter around it😹😹😹 I doo like the use of the black boxes I could get the ones that will straddle the fridge edges this way I can slide the boxes along to get to the worm tea. I have use worm tea watered down 1 cup to 20 litres of water and they have done well. I’m not sure why you would not be using it on your veggies⁉️⁉️ I have found that one cup of worm casting has helped my pots so much that I have not needed to repot plants as often.

[@geoffkeen5234]

Gaff Tape! …holds the universe together!

[@kenkido2776]

Super cool. Gonna do it. Thank you.

[@yafois988]

This is a great idea using the two bins like this including the spigot drain. I'll make it with lower drain outlet like you suggested. thx

[@dianelanderson5504]

What a cool idea! I live in ETX so we have hot humid weather during spring summer, and colder temps in winter. Would it be advisable to keep outside all year long? It rains a lot as well. Do you do a compost pile in addition to the worm casting bin? You are a brilliant gardener.

[@rogerb7489]

Thanks Amigo , for the clever assistance 👍😎🌈

[@cro2510]

My grandma was very recycling. She had a cracked tall laundry basket, which was tied at the broken corner. Would layer vine trimmings or wood chips, with food waste. Usings several layers of newspaper for the sides to keep it all in. Once it was about a foot high, she would mover her worms to their new place. There were usually 4 at different stages. The other 2, quarter whiskey barrel and a taped up plastic tote. Late fall, she would move her worms to kiddie bath, to over winter in the bathroom closet. Hopefully this is helpful.

[@melaniemiller4567]

Great vid from Big Dan the Plant Man lol tks!

[@debh6693]

Excellent video. I like your style :)

[@Maxhazel]

So where does the liquid come from? That coconut stuff was just damp? Do you have to keep adding water to the top bin?

[@GrowingGreener]

HI - Thanks for the information. You made a bin out of a bathtub. Do you like the bathtub or the plastic bin more and why? I have a large plastic cattle trough I want to use but I thought I would make it more like the bathtub setup. Thanks

[@catherineayers8184]

How can I draw more earth worms to my garden? Have very few at this house? Thanks Catherine

[@patrapper7367]

I am in zone 6A so I've had temperatures down to 10ﾟ at night I wonder if even in the garage that's unheeded and it hits about 20ﾟ how this will affect things what other options are there

[@TinaShinn]

New sub here! I love your channel and information! I grow my own organic food to improve my health and I love making what I love doing, easier ♥️ I don’t know much about raising worms, but I know their great benefits, I can’t wait to try what I learned from you!

[@palecompass3598]

So, don't use the liquid on edible plants? How about the castings? How do you identify and use that? Thanks so much for your help!

[@helenbrown6429]

Great questions that i have as well...

[@samredbird4225]

Leachate has a high level of heavy metal concentrate and is just not good. It is very different than worm tea, which is worm castings soaked in water.

[@me-hp7vh]

To get the casings there are a few different videos here on yt. You have to do trial and error at first but when you can identify that castings are ready feed only in one area of the bin to coax worms to that location and take out your black gold, worms don't like light so spread them out in a lit spot on a plastic tarp not in the hot sun, they dig down, you skim the top off! that's your gold. When your down to your leftover mass of worms or I call them hamburger just scoop them up and put them back in their bins. I've seen the soil put through a homemade screen, on a small scale I've used a secondhand screen colander.. you'll learn what process works for you. I hope this helps a little. You can also slow down on feedings then they aren't acting like rabbits or just take the little golden "balls" eggs out of your separated product to put back in the bin..

[@me-hp7vh]

@@emihayashi7725 love it!! I've been aware of the time I spend on tasks around the house and such, so thanks for suggesting the smaller mounds I can see the advantage. Do you do anything with the castings after collecting, just bag up? I've got white tiny bugs in my tower right now I guess sitting outside might get most killed...

[@emihayashi7725]

@@me-hp7vh Grabbed handfulls of the castings into a cardboard shoebox with lid when time did not permit scattering/digging into raised veggie garden. Often mounded castings onto a frisbee (they were free back then) and trowel mixed black gold into garden soil. I didn't know about toxins, assumed safe if wigglers were alive in it...

[@jamiereynolds3407]

Wow that’s the easiest one I’ve seen! I can do do that

[@robertsmith2199]

How would this hold up through a NY winter in an unheated garage? It definitely gets below freezing in there. No wind passthrough, though.

[@Dont370]

Horse manure is good bedding too

[@jeannecohen4132]

I've heard not. Horses are given deworming medicine that may have traces in manure. Could kill your worms. Don't know if it's true....

[@ms.es.fabulousfirsties4055]

I started a bib 2 weeks ago. I covereith paoer sheets and then puton the kid, which has holes in thebtop, which i put screen over holes for ventilation. When i put on the lid they crawl to the top. When i keeo it off they stay in the bedding. What do you think is going on?

[@faithhenderson1446]

Thanks for sharing.

[@fengchen6210]

Your videos are gold! Thank you so much! 🙏

[@BywaysnoHighways]

Newbie here and glad I found you. Yes I subscribed & hit that like button! I do listen.. I'm resistant to using two large containers with on only being for 'juice'. I like the thought of a smaller container under to catch it. So I wonder... I do that often.. Then I ask.. Is there a reason like maybe being sealed better? Should I be concerned about intrusions of other critters? Second thought is why not drill breather holes along the upper edge to allow air and secure the lid? Very curious about this part.. Great video! I've watched several and learning! 😎