Step by Step Filling a Garbage Can Worm Bin

[@renatobautista563]

Great video tutorial Captain Matt. I am beginning to learn from you about worm casting. I had a 55 gallon blue barrel where I collected all of our kitchen scraps mixed with shredded amazon boxes and newspapers and I'm amazed to see these thousand or more worms after a year. I started to view some worm casting videos on youtube and I found your videos so inspiring. I've collected most of the worms from my compost and moved them to the rectangular bin to keep them multiplying. Aside from hot composting I've decided to add this worm casting activity since we buy a lot of compost every year for our backyard garden. Thanks a lot!

[@connecticutwormsgardens]

ANCs are unique in that they become desensitized to light. The LED strip will work at first, but not for long. Eventually you can leave them in bright light and they will still come up and out (if they are unhappy) I found they make terrible fishing worms. Refuse to stay hooked 😮‍💨. I gave some to a friend to raise and he tried putting a couple in his all natural pool which has small bass and catfish in it. Both types of fish tried the worm and then immediately spit them out. Keep them over 75° if you want them to remain active. Lastly - keep them far from any other worm bins. They are bin hoppers and will travel quite some distance to get to another if they are attracted to something. I've been raising them for quite some time and have learned hands on all the things I'm sharing. The light desensitivity is also documented in a research paper.

[@wormsforlife7352]

Just a tip with the ANCs, if you take them fishing and you find that they break apart easy, or do not last long on the hook, a way to toughen them up is to use Alum in the worm chow. Another way is to put a dozen or two into a separate container for a few days before going fishing with 35%-40% moisture. Catch some big fish and have fun!

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

I think your grandsons are wonderful young men. And I think you have a great Worm bin there 👩‍🌾👍

[@bernadettestech6287]

I am going to be moving closer to my grandchildren next summer. I am so excited to make one of these bins when I move. Thank you so much for your videos!❤

[@michaell8295]

Captain Matt! I have a recommendation for anyone who is going to keep this bin outside. 1. A bungee cord on the lid to keep the wind or critters from opening the bin. 2. Need a way to block the door on the bottom, I had something get in mine and shred the cardboard, thankfully we didn't lose very many worms. 3. I keep it in the garage in the winter with a warming light in the bottom . Thanks!

[@mildahubbard6698]

I like the idea of the light in the bottom for winter warmth. That has been an issue for me in the past in our shop building. I can set it up using a thermostat like I use for my grow mats!! Thank you for sharing this idea!

[@CoralMan24]

i love the videos and love so much how your family is involved from your sons to your grandkids :)

[@Calvin2030]

You are a legend Capt. Matt.. Thankyou mate! I'm in Australia

[@spence3521]

A big Hello from Chattanooga TN to Captain Matt and soon to be my fellow Worm People; I just ordered 15 pounds of worms and a 24 pack of coco from MeMe and I’m going to Home Depot tomorrow to buy 3 96 gallon cans and the materials listed in this video. One can is going to my daughter’s house. She is gonna feed it for me; she gets the castings; I get the excess worms. One is staying with My Sweetness; wife of 37 years; and one is going up to our off grid property in North TN. My nephew will be feeding that one. I plan on building an 8 footer this summer and so on and so on……. Thank you Sir for providing the missing link up at our developing homestead. I can’t wait until you get that mentor program up and running. SIGN ME UP!!! Shalom; SPENCe

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

That’s quite the start! You’re one of the Worm People now 🥳

[@peterdamon4057]

Is there a follow up on this new build bin. Would like to see the results

[@williambonneau6754]

This video has me very excited to try this! I will look for more of your videos on this topic.

[@justindawson3428]

Hi Captain Matt I'm new to worms and have found your videos very helpful and interesting. I live in the tropics of Australia so not everything is relevant but there is more than enough to get great value from your videos. I have a few spare 55g drums I might try this type of worm bin with. When I do I will send a pic to you. Thanks for all the effort you take to making these videos.

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

Fyi ANCS are cold sensitive can't go much below 65 degrees.

[@PlantObsessed]

Looks like fun. It might be a good idea for my outside bin

[@redbearfarms9164]

I built one, been using it for weeks and I already putting lights in it not only to keep the worms in but also for heat during the winter

[@franknessi8053]

Hey Captain Matt! Gidday from Australia! My wife and I have just started watching your videos and we think you're awesome! We have a mini vegie farm in the suburbs of Sydney New South Wales - and I swear by the benefits of worm castings - so fair to say, we're avid worm people too! Keep the videos coming!!

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Gidday friend! Thanks for the encouragement!

[@rico99586]

Thanks Matt. Another great trove of info. A big point is I am really happy to see the boys really getting involved with some responsibilities. If they fish what do they do with the fish guts? It's great fertilizer too.

[@ajjustice9041]

I am excited to try this. I have red wiggled in a traditional square stackable farm and I get lots of juice but have not gotten the castings I thought I would. I will use the info I have learned from you and start the bins over. I am in mid OhIo and it gets cold so I would love to keep them in hoop house with no electric and find a way to keep them warm enough to keep them working thru the winter.

[@sherrywebster1675]

I'm making a few different experiments for my worm homes...will try to send pics some time soon . My problem is tech, not motivation . :)) Love the flow through.

[@amycroweee]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@Rick3196]

Thanks for the info . I have mine ready for worms which should be here Thursday.

[@littletidbit]

Id love to se a follow up even if its only been a few weeks, I am very curios about the african nightcrawlers and how they do as I love to go fishing and having them would be nice.

[@davidmeier8589]

I’m interested too

[@montegrounds7364]

I'm starting to be your biggest fan, your a genius, I'm going to try this soon!! Could you wrap the silver bubble wrap insulation around it for fall climate, to extend outdoor time.???

[@gayanimangalika7050]

Thank you very much for information about wormy compost l have got more ideas from you. I am trying to do this way make compost.

[@michaelmorris5525]

Thanks for the video. I just completed a build and will be adding worms tomorrow. Great idea for adding lights. Always enjoy seeing your Grandsons participating. How many worms will the CFT support when it is full? Thanks again.

[@adamfreedman5704]

Is there an update on this bin?? I love this idea!!!

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Hey Adam! We ran a full cycle of African Nightcrawlers in it… but did not get footage, unfortunately. If I do it again, I’ll use Red Wigglers - the ANCs stayed a bit too deep and came through when harvesting more than typical for RWs.

[@cuznclive2236]

Love Meme's Worms. I'm seriously thinking about starting a small-scale farm for local sales. My problem is I will need to build bins suitable for outdoors, which will require maintaining enough heat throughout the winter here in southern VT. My current thought is to modify old chest freezers with low-wattage heat tape between the inner/outer panels. Suggestions appreciated in advance. Be well y'all, and thank you!

[@LK-3000]

You can even use a dorm-sized refrigerator because it's insulated and the door makes a great lid (when you take the hinges and gaskets off) .

[@nikilenguyen6592]

@@LK-3000 may I ask...how do you make air holes on the dorm size refrigerator? (like how air holes were drilled on the plastic bin)

[@stroboogy]

Great idea. Hows the bin doing?

[@Willi3_Mach]

Nightcrawlers like to burrow deep do you think they'll borrow out the bottom between the PVC? Will you be able to scrape castings without hooking/harming the Nightcrawlers if they're hanging out deep or do you suspect they'll move up to where the food is as new bedding layers are added?

[@josevelez8410]

Thank you for all of your advise Captain Matt. One big question I have is the amount of bedding i should have in my container or bin? I heard you say only 3 inches of bedding in this size trash can. Is that for best results to increase breeding? I would have filled it quite a bit thinking the more bedding they have, the better it is for the worms? Im just getting started with my worms and I dont know what size of container or amount of bedding would be best for 500-1000 worms?

[@tbpatrick1]

How about an update on this bin? It's been a year now. How many castings did you get? Worm population. Ups and downs.

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

We ran it for about 8 months, unfortunately did not film - worked great but needed space for other experiments

[@thibault9172]

howdy! love the design! im just curious about the point where you harvest some castings, the rake or tool will have to tear through the cardboard. Should we look at replacing the cardboard at the bottom then?

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Cardboard disintegrates over a few months and the compacted castings form a “pad” that can be scraped so cardboard is no longer necessary at that point.

[@michaelbessette8685]

Great video. I am building a CFT for my school. It is going to be about 4 feet tall and 2x3 feet surface area, only a little bigger than a large trash bin like yours. We will paint the school logo on it and I will send photos.

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Love it, Michael. Send me some photos to [e-mail]

[@michaelbessette8685]

@@CaptainMattsWorms sure will

[@dennis384]

Do you replace the cardboard after scraping the worm casings or will additional layers stay above the pvc pipe??

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Hey Dennis… as you fill the bin, gravity creates a “pad” that will hold without cardboard.

[@JayCaskey]

how many worms did you put in.

[@michaelwalborn1384]

great video I really want to start worm farming. any advice on how to start. thank you and keep up the good work.

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Start slow and don’t stop!

[@andrewsusen3154]

How many worms can this method sustain?

[@rocketman3534]

Do you feed your red wigglers bread scraps I never see any videos of that

[@lanceosness6989]

Where do you get the perforated screen?

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Hey Lance, which perforated screen are you talking about? If you're talking about the one on the sifter, it came with the sifter.

[@haroldgray5811]

What size garbage can is this?

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Hey Justin! Glad you've found value in my ramblings. Would love to see pics. You can share to discuss.wormpeople.com/space/541284483

[@fatima-purposefullybeautif5950]

My intention is to build one.

[@mikesmalley6225]

Would one choose to feed these African Nightcrawlers the pad of red wheat grass, or no?

[@marlenen6130]

African night crawlers may not be the best worms for fishing, as they will likely die in the cold water, quickly. They also are best for composting cardboard, which looking around, you have plenty of. Try soaking ripped or shredded cardboard (or better yet, soak sheets of cardboard AND THEN rip it by hand) then squeezing out excess water and putting that in the bin as bedding. They absolutely love cardboard, more than kitchen scraps. Also, African night crawlers are not so sensitive to light as other worms. You can leave a light on and if they all decide to split, they will. African night crawlers are one of the most temperament worms and not the best choice for any new worm farmer.

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Thanks for sharing all the experience, Marlene. Will definitely try upping the cardboard. Jude showed me a video the other day of his bin and they are devouring everything. Agreed... they are proving to be a great first worm for him.

[@kreynolds1123]

Rather than non breathing plastic like bubble wrap on top, why not just put cardboard the led light strip keeps the worm down and under the cardboard that you just add as sessesary.

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

That could work... Just starts to fall apart after a while

[@kreynolds1123]

@@CaptainMattsWorms "just starts to fall apart after awhile", and feeds the worms 😄. When needed, just add a new layer of cardboard.

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

@@kreynolds1123 that's one way to do it!

[@rosecosta374]

🙏👏🥂Gratidão! Vermicompostagem Continua com fundo de papelão p/6meses. Estratificar: Terra compostada ou húmus - Minhocas - Cálcio/café e Residuos orgânicos.

[@mdegli]

i used an old refrigerator, i laid it on his back with the door on the top.

[@texaspatty4697]

Is there a way to be sure kids won't shut themselves in?

[@mdegli]

@@texaspatty4697 no , the refrigerator lays on its back and is filled with bedding for the worms , there is no lock on the door.

[@texaspatty4697]

@@mdegli, if children or grandkids can get to the fridge, please be sure they cant climb into it and shut themselves in, and suffocate. This has happened.

[@kromsnavelfun]

ANC's like more carbon

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Indeed... Have seen then devour cardboard ferociously. We’d be honored to have you join the forum over at community.wormpeople.com - your ANC experience would be valuable to the community.

[@michaelmorris5525]

You ask us to send pictures of our bins, where should we send them?

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Hey Michael! [e-mail]

[@randywells4674]

Why would you buy worms don't you have plenty

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

These were our first African Nightcrawlers

[@davidmeier8589]

Has anyone tried Big, Fat night crawler? I fish mostly northern Minnesota, where most of the crawler sold come from Canada, there much bigger

[@Str8Maddeness]

I don't have a problem with fish scraps in mine.