How To Start A Worm Bin With Any Container! | Vermicompost Worm Farm

[@Vermicompost]

Below are some of the items I use for vermicomposting & my channel's videos. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you if you use these links. Thank you for supporting this channel! Worm Bins I use: Vermihut 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin amzn.to/3Xs1eGe Urban Worm Bag V2 amzn.to/3XE9QsT 20 Gallon Fabric Grow Pots amzn.to/3EBYhdr 3 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck tote amzn.to/3eKDLhO Other Worm Bins: Worm Factory 360 3-Tray Version amzn.to/3AHnjqK Worm Factory 360 5-Tray Version amzn.to/3tYfWY4 Bus bins amzn.to/3fd8AvP Equipment I use: 12 Sheet Cross Cut Micro Shredder (I use it to shred cardboard) amzn.to/3xYZKYu Magic Bullet Small Blender (to pulverize egg shells) amzn.to/3gwEzb4 or amzn.to/42SQ4w9 (with extra coffee bean & nut blade) Indoor Outdoor Wireless Thermometer for worm bin amzn.to/3wIdXbO Additional thermometer sensors 433 MHz amzn.to/41juD7v Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz Additional thermometer sensors 915MHz amzn.to/3WTFgua Please make sure Thermometer & sensor are the same MHz Food Dehydrator amzn.to/3O5Uj2H Mosquito Dunks 6 pack amzn.to/3Oe4Sl0 granular amzn.to/42KDtM0 or 20 pack amzn.to/42Br4Kf Kitchen scale to weigh worms & food: amzn.to/3HnOQjg Blue gloves amzn.to/3XsBg5n Spray bottles to mist bedding amzn.to/3Fq23rN Digital handheld Thermometer amzn.to/3EWfC2j Compost Tea Bags amzn.to/3fCb5o1 Solar powered light amzn.to/3nOucAq Reusable Keurig Coffee K-cups amzn.to/3FNXvt6 Other useful equipment for worm farming: 5 stackable sifter with different sized mesh: amzn.to/3S2k184 Cameras & camera equipment I use: GoPro HERO11 amzn.to/3jkRpLa Flexible Tripod amzn.to/3CGTjcF Insta360 GO 2 camera amzn.to/3oxCc80 Insta360 One X2 camera amzn.to/3nqV6hp iPhone 13 Max Pro amzn.to/3nq52aU Canon EOS Rebel T8i amzn.to/3HcBuX6 4 Ocean bracelets I wear Multiple colors to chose from bracelets amzn.to/3HMbHEx Books on worms & worm farming Worms Eat My Garbage amzn.to/3L4FXN2 Where to buy worms: www.TheGardenAndWormLady.com

[@hyzerfish6596]

I regret not watching your videos before I started. Solid info! I’ve replaced my bubble wrap with one that has bigger bubbles and it’s so much easier to pick off the slackers.

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you!! That is a good idea, I need to get my hands on some!! Thanks so much for dropping by to watch!!🪱🪱🪱

[@chrisdeangelis4616]

I had holes in my bubble wrap where I cut it and a bunch crawled inside. Had to surgically extract them 😂

[@Vermicompost]

😂They are curious little creatures that like to gather in little alcoves!!

[@thenodiggardener]

And because you've been such good Wormies staying in your new home... Road Trip! whoo! lol

[@Vermicompost]

😂🤣😂 And the best things is they don't ask are we there yet!! It is gonna be so fun taking them on multiple adventures!! Thanks for dropping by to watch!!🪱🪱🪱

[@joedraskinis5675]

Want to commend you on the good advice you give us worm farmers! I especially enjoy your Vermihut series where I learned a lot myself even after doing it for almost 4years. In addition I have an Urban Worm bag also. BUT I am most proud of my four 17 gallon totes with 15 gallon grow bags inside. I keep damp cardboard on the bottom of the bin that the bags rest on.

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you so much for the kind words!! I really appreciate you passing on the good feedback! I just got my son & his wife a VermiHut (yes, they wanted a worm bin😂), they should get many many years of enjoyment and worm castings from it!! I'm so glad you are enjoying my VermiHut series! I'm really liking my Urban Worm Bag and I'm interested to see if it can keep up the pace through our short winter here in Florida. That is a great set up with those totes and grow bags...best of both worlds, I would think, with a bin that drains but is contained and won't dry out too easily...Sounds like I need to convince my wife I need another worm bin setup!! Thanks for telling us about them and thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@joesoutdoorplaces]

Great video for anyone wanting to start a worm bin.

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you Joe! It's always fun to start up or restart a new worm bin...and this one is going on a wild adventure next!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@LifeonHeltonCreekFarm]

What a fantastic video! I'm binging on several! I've been putting this off for long enough. It does get cold here in Tennessee and I'm not real sure if inside is where I wanna grow my worms so I'm trying to figure all that out! You explain things very well and I appreciate that! I hope to add "worm farmer" to my list very soon!! Best of luck to you!

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you for the kind words!! I think you are gonna really like having worm bins on the farm!! Aged manure is fantastic for worms and you could probably source your compost worms from any compost or manure piles you might have!! You are right....you've been putting it on long enough😂 I can't wait to hear that you have started or even see a video of it on your channel!! Thanks so much for stopping by to watch!!🪱🪱🪱

[@LifeonHeltonCreekFarm]

wow! I really appreciate the encouragement!! I'm cutting holes in my boxes TOMORROW!! I did not know the worms would like the aged manure!! Another thing in the PRO column! But I may need more boxes!!! ha!! Thanks again! @@Vermicompost

[@Vermicompost]

😀👍

[@BeckyValkyrie]

Fellow Tennesseean here! I keep my tiny bin under the kitchen sink. They seem happy under there. Scraps go straight from the kitchen to the cabinet where they live. 😉

[@LifeonHeltonCreekFarm]

@@BeckyValkyrie oh wow! That's good infomation! Thanks for sharing!

[@NanasWorms]

Oh Patrick, Patrick, Patrick. Does Autumn know you started another worm bin?? I see you caught the worm going rogue up the side! He was making a run for it. ~ Sandra

[@Vermicompost]

She begrudgingly allowed it...and this is the one we are traveling with now! While I was editing the video I kept thinking come on you've got to get that one making a run for it! Thanks for watching and for the good laugh Sandra!!🪱🪱🪱

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Good morning, Patrick, from Windermere Florida 9b 🍁🪱🍁 Another wormbin...looks like a tough Little Wally ❤ We can compare worm 🪱 notes! ❤Peggy❤

[@Vermicompost]

I hope you are having a wonderful trip Peggy!! This is definitely a Wally look alike! They should meet sometime...since this is going to be my traveling worm bin shortly!! Thanks so much for stopping by to watch!!🪱🪱🪱

[@A-V]

Nice informative overview 👍🏻 6th iteration of the tiny worm bin now underway... yay!

[@Vermicompost]

Thanks AV! This 6th iteration should be the best so far as I take it on the road!! I appreciate you taking the time to watch as you've taught so many people in the world how to worm farm!!🪱🪱🪱

[@wormsandgardens]

A note of thanks for your Vermicompost channel. I recently did a workshop for a gardener's group and spoke about Vermiculture. Your information and experiments has been helpful as I expand my colony of worms and have a diverse set of bins. I live in zone 9B on the Space Coast and you are also located in a similar zone, I find your information useful since we can relate with similar weather conditions. I shared with the group your channel link is well worth watching to help them get started with their worm composting. Many thanks!

[@Vermicompost]

Oh wow!! Thanks so much for the kind words and for sharing our channel link!! I'm so glad our videos have been so helpful!! My Tiny Worm Bin was started at a vermicomposting workshop through our County Extension Office here in Hillsborough county...So let me just say from someone who has been in the audience, thanks for putting on workshops!! Yes, we are basically the same, just one has beautiful sunrises and the other beautiful sunsets over the water!! The humidity & moisture control is really where we differ with so many of our Northern worm farming friends whether inside or outside. Of course the micro environments within our yards or inside our house can change things up...The key for me has been to keep my Outdoor Worm Bin in the shade and in direct contact with the ground to help moderate temperature swings...I have more trouble with my Urban Worm Bag as it sits in a western facing setting on my back porch lanai with, at best partial shade, in the afternoon. My VermiHut & Tiny Worm Bin tend to be drier in the summer with the AC on all the time and more moist in the winter when we aren't running heat or AC inside! But it's fun to try to see how we can get our bins to peak efficiency throughout the year! Thanks again for taking the time to let us know how useful our videos have been and of course thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@wormsandgardens]

@@Vermicompost Funny coincidence, the workshop I led was at the Brevard Extention and several people that attended said it motivated them to restart their bins or consider doing one. Thanks for your insights. Let's keep Worming it UP!

[@Vermicompost]

@@wormsandgardens Awesome!!

[@jimraelee]

sure hope my 4 tray 360 worm bin is enough... we fill our coffee can size compost / kitchen cuttings can 1 - 1.5x a week. Thanks for your vid.

[@Vermicompost]

Once it is a few months to 6 months old it will go through food scraps much faster than the first few months as it is building it's microbiome. If your 360 isn't doing it for you, you can also start a new different worm bin and use some of the worms from the 360 to get started. As your worms reproduce exponentially they will be able to consume a lot more food, but be easy on them at first!! The number one problem with new worm bins is overfeeding! I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@hardhunter3584]

Great video! Learn by doing. I'm not quite ready for second bin yet, maybe next year. But thanks for all the good information you put in your videos.

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Worm bins reproduce almost as fast as the worms 😂...my wife is the only thing holding me back from having more than 4!! Thanks for taking the time to watch & comment!!🪱🪱🪱

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

Fantastic Brother !! Perfect presentation. Really shows how much you've Learned by Doing 🤜🤛 Awesomeness 👍👍👍

[@Vermicompost]

Thanks J&C!! We appreciate the great feedback!! It’s always a good time to start a worm bin and learn by doing!! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch!!🪱🪱🪱

[@TheDumplingMan]

Great video for beginners Patrick! It's been a joy to watch the video although I (re)started several bins myself. Good road trip to you, Autumn and the grandworms. :D

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you!! I appreciate the great feedback from an expert! This should be a fun round of vermicomposting along with some travel!! Thanks so much for the well wishes & thanks for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@musikanismo5492]

Amazing, beautiful sharing My friend

[@Vermicompost]

Thanks so much for stopping by to watch my friend!!🪱🪱🪱

[@-ChrisD]

Great job on this one. Thorough and instructive, well done!

[@Vermicompost]

Thanks Chris! I appreciate the positive feedback!! It should be a fun ride with this as we turn it into a traveling worm bin in the next video in the series!🪱🪱🪱

[@-ChrisD]

@@Vermicompost Sounds great 👍🏻

[@texaspatty4697]

Clear and accurate. What a great into video!

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you Patty!! I really appreciate the good feedback! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@ames0818]

Wow! Very well explained! Thank you! 😊

[@Vermicompost]

I'm so glad you liked it!! Thanks so much for letting us know and of course thanks for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@AJsGreenTopics]

Great video Patrick. 😎

[@Vermicompost]

Thanks AJ!! I appreciate that a lot coming from an expert worm farmer!!🪱🪱🪱

[@garfunkel]

Great video once again!

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you!! I appreciate your long time support!! Thanks for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@GardenMyselfHappy]

Hi, I'm a new subscriber and starting to set up a bucket style wormery. I've found your advice really helpful and in a small bin too. Thanks for sharing Merry Christmas, Jane

[@Vermicompost]

Hello Jane, thanks so much for subscribing! I'm so glad you've found our videos helpful!! Your bucket style wormery will be fantastic! Merry Christmas and thanks so much for watching!!

[@annsalty5615]

I think if everyone watched your videos more people would be worm composting! Very excellent instructions and thorough. 👍🪱🪱🪱🪱

[@Vermicompost]

That would be awesome if everyone fed their food scraps & paper/cardboard rubbish to compost worms!! We'd all have healthy thriving gardens and less trash!! Thanks so much for the kind words Ann!! We really appreciate your support!!🪱🪱🪱

[@annsalty5615]

@@Vermicompost These kind of videos like yours , that are helpful instead of trying to sell a product, they will reach people who will stay with it because of the beneficial results! 👍👍👍

[@Vermicompost]

😀 Thank you!!

[@nk-dw2hm]

I loaded way too much bedding/compost into my bin for starting out with just 150 worms. It'll take a long time to get through it

[@Vermicompost]

If you feel like you added too much you can take some out and really look through it to make sure there are not worms or cocoons in it. If you decide to leave it all in, just hold off on adding anymore for a while as you feed. Just remember to feed for the number of worms you have not the volume of bedding! Once you feel you are back in balance be sure to keep adding bedding with each feeding. Another alternative is to add more worms!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@pa.fishpreacher6166]

should the coffee grounds be dry? I sprayed some old coffee that was not used with some water. Will that cause it to heat up? i know coffee is a nitrogen source ( I add it to my compost piles all the time. I didn't leave my lid off and probably fed to much based on your video. thanks for sharing the knowledge

[@Vermicompost]

It is ok if the coffee grounds are wet, but they may clump up and be harder for the worms to get to. I try to spread my coffee grounds lightly so they are easy for the worms to get and eat before they heat up the bin. I'm so glad this video has been helpful...I found overfeeding to be the hardest habit for me to break!! I just wanted to give the too much love in the form of food scraps!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@justagirlsd3000]

Thanks for the tutorial! Are you a Swifty?

[@Vermicompost]

My pleasure!! I do like her music but I haven't been to any of her concerts like my sons' girlfriends who are probably borderline Swifty's!! The bracelets I wear are "4 Ocean" bracelets my family and I got on a beach vacation & are a constant reminder of the good times we had! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@kendallsue259]

Why do some people say to not add food scraps with your worms until 1-2 weeks after introducing them in the bin?

[@Vermicompost]

I think some give that advice because the worms are getting adjusted to the bin and they really don't eat all that much at first. They are probably trying to help people prevent overfeeding, but as you can see from this video they will start to eat food right away...it's just best to feed very little so you can determine how much they can consume. If a worm bin is overfed it can go anaerobic, ferment, produce toxic gases for the worms and make them try to flee. I think a few strawberries like I show in here is the best way to get started! I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and ask a great question!!🪱🪱🪱

[@BasementBen]

Is a Light-Source required long term? Electricity cost, or maybe the worms remain Happy inside

[@Vermicompost]

Not at all! After about 2 to 3 days the worms should realize where they belong in the damp moist bedding and they will stop exploring their surroundings and settle down. If you have a lid that traps moisture and condenses moisture on the inside walls of the bin, you may see some worm crawl up the sides when it is dark. But as soon as they hit the dry air they will retreat back down. Many folks run worm bins without lids and just some newspaper and plastic over the top surface and the worms never escape because it is too dry on the walls. I hope this helps!! Thanks for asking a great question I'm sure many other folks have as well!! And of course thanks for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@BasementBen]

@@Vermicompost Very helpfull, this information never seems discussed on youtube Comments, thanks!

[@Vermicompost]

My pleasure!

[@aaddca]

did you buy a roll of mesh screen or can you buy them cut that size? having trouble finding some...thanks!

[@Vermicompost]

I have found them as patches for mesh screens on amazon amzn.to/3UewMP1 They have rolls of small width mesh screen repair tape as well amzn.to/4aLZxKb I actually made this bin in a county extension office class will all the material provided. Each county in the U.S. has a county extension office linked up with a local University...they may offer a class in vermicomposting like mine did! I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@aaddca]

@@Vermicompost thank you so much! And I love the content 💚

[@Vermicompost]

Thank you so much!!

[@michielvanoverschelde4312]

Can u use hay instead of shredded cardboard?

[@Vermicompost]

Hay is actually more of a food scrap source versus a bedding due to it's high nitrogen content...I wouldn't feed too much of it at once since it might also heat up the bin. But, on the other hand, straw is a fairly decent bedding when mixed in with a little bit of other bedding like shredded paper or cardboard. Straw just doesn't retain water very well like cardboard but it does provide good aeration which is why it is best used in combination. Cardboard breaks down super easy and the worms are able to eat it faster than most other bedding which I why I love to use it (and I have an never ending supply.) I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@RhondaKaras]

How did you shred your cardboard?

[@Vermicompost]

I have a 12 sheet cross cut micro shredder that I use to shred corrugated cardboard like amazon boxes. Here is a demonstration of it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIO7iKeEiZ6DidE and here is a link to it: amzn.to/3xYZKYu If you want to get cardboard pieces that small you need a shredder that does both 12 sheets cross cut and says MICRO so that it gets the pieces small and not in longer strips. I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching Rhonda!!🪱🪱🪱

[@nickthegardener.1120]

Did you count the worms Patrick?😂 👍❤️🤠🪱💩

[@Vermicompost]

😂 As a matter of fact I did!! But like you said, I'm gonna weight them instead next time!! Thanks for all your support Nick!!🪱🪱🪱

[@mrsrajininathan1990]

Sir, you didn't made holes in the bottom of the bin.

[@Vermicompost]

This is my one worm bin that does not drain. I just make sure it does not get too moist by checking it every time I feed. I add more bedding if it is too moist and mist it with a spray bottle if it is too dry. It is super easy to maintain, but worm bins that drain like my VermiHut & Urban Worm bag take away all the guess work with moisture!! Thanks so much for stopping by to watch!!🪱🪱🪱

[@mrsrajininathan1990]

@@Vermicompost super, I will try this technique once.

[@rudolfdjajasaputra8110]

I don't use lid on my African Night Crawler worm bin and using soil+old compost as bedding, and several days after I cover the top of the pile with plastic sheet (without paper underneath) , I found some dead worms above and around the plastic sheet.. The same treatment I did on the Red Wriggler worm bin, but everything is okay there.. Can you please enlighten me what did I do wrong with the ANC bin?

[@Vermicompost]

I'm so sorry your ANC's are having some issues. I don't currently have ANC's but here are some things that could help out. First, unless there was a big die off, a few worms getting lost above the plastic isn't too unusual. ANC's do have a much higher temperature range than red wigglers since they are tropical worms, so if the bin got too cold, lower than 65 ℉ or so, the worms may have been trying to get to warmer areas. ANC's are also know for consuming a lot of bedding. If there wasn't too much shredded cardboard, paper or leaves they may have been looking for more bedding to consume and just got dried out as they were on the hunt for it. It doesn't sound like your bin is overfed or dried out or too moist so those are my best guesses. I think if you give the bin a good amount of damp bedding and maybe a few pieces of lettuce or other food scraps, the worms will be super happy...as long as the bin is kept warm! I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and ask questions!🪱🪱🪱

[@rudolfdjajasaputra8110]

@@Vermicompost I can say it's a big die off, in total more than 50% were dead.. I live in Indonesia, so I don't think the temperature will be too cold, I was worried that by covering with plastic sheet, it makes then bin too hot?.. But then again compare it to the Red Wriggler bin with then same treatment, everything was okay there (as I was informed that ANC should be able to tolerate higher temperature than Red Wriggler).. So maybe the lack of brown is the case (as you suggested)? .. I can only salvage around 10 live worm (out of 100gr) 😭

[@Vermicompost]

There is a chance it got too hot if the red wiggler bin was in the shade and the ANC bin had some direct sun light. They also could have been lacking oxygen if the plastic was pretty tight around the edges and the red wiggler plastic was not, But I think the most likely issue is lack of food due to lack or browns and maybe they were searching for it and got lost on and around the plastic, or the particular compost that was put in with them had some kind of fermentation, ammonia smells or other noxious fumes they couldn't handle. I think you can try to restart your bin with the remaining worms in a new cleaned out bin with lots of damp bedding and just a little bit of food. Maybe also put newspaper down first them the plastic leaving some gaps around the sides for good airflow. I'm so sorry you had a die off like that.

[@cf7627]

Are mites a normal thing to see in your worm bin?

[@Vermicompost]

Absolutely! mites help your worms shred food & bedding and are an important part of the worm bin ecosystem! The type of mites in your worm bins only feed on dead or decaying matter so no need to worry about them getting to your garden plants when you use your castings if any are in the castings. Sometime, especially in my Tiny Worm bin, I will see a mite bloom or a quick increase in the mite population. This is most likely because of over feeding. The bin will turn slightly more acidic and the mites thrive in this overfed environment. So if you see this it could be an indicator to feed your worm a little less food at each feeding. I hope this helps!! Thanks so much for watching!!🪱🪱🪱

[@cf7627]

This helps a lot. Thank you so much!

[@Vermicompost]

My pleasure!!

[@tory464]

❤👍 great videos!! I like too see the traveling ones!! Check my worms out, the ones I threw in my compost pile. They are loving it. Time too bring some inside again.❤✌

[@Vermicompost]

That's awesome they are helping to finish off your compost!! They're gonna love coming inside to get some "fresh" food & not have to share😂 Thanks so much for stopping by to watch Tory!!🪱🪱🪱