Learn how to make a cheap and easy worm composting bin and get started vermicomposting! I’ve tried several types of worm composting bins over the last nine years I’ve been vermicomposting and this cheap and easy worm composting bin is hands down my favorite.
I’ve used expensive vermicomposting bins, five gallon buckets and tubs but today I’m going to show you my all time favorite DIY worm composting bin so you too can become a “worm farmer” and vermicomposting fanatic!
My All Time Favorite Vermicomposting Worm Bin
My all time favorite worm composting bins are simple 20-30 gallon plastic storage tubs with snug fitting lids.
I use these bins for storage and organizing around the homestead so I always have some extras on hand. I love these plastic tubs so much I always keep an eye out for them at yard sales and second hand stores.
What I love about this bin is that it is so easy to make, use and maintain. There’s no having to remember to spritz the trays like in this style of worm composting bin to keep them from drying out (which was a chronic issue I had using this style in our dry climate).
There’s no need to constantly be monitoring the worm population for overgrowing the limited bin size.
These worm composting bins are big enough that I can feed the worms once a week, harvest compost two to three times per year and that’s it. Nice and low maintenance and easy to keep.
I will note that there are some things other people may view as a downside to this type of worm bin. They are big, which means they can get HEAVY!
If you need to move your worm bin around a lot, having a big tub is probably not the best fit for you. Instead you may want to try making a worm bin out of a 5 gallon bucket.
Our worm bins have been in the same spot since we moved to this homestead so these tubs work for me.
When we moved from our old homestead five years ago, I had to harvest a lot of compost from the bins to make them light enough to load in the truck and move to our new homestead.
This style of worm bin does not have a spout or drain on the bottom to harvest compost tea. Instead, any liquid may pool in the bottom of the bin if you don’t have enough compostable paper items to soak up moisture.
I add in more compostable newspaper shreds to my worm bins every week when I feed them. This helps to soak up moisture and keep the worm bin a nice damp moisture level that our worms thrive in.
Materials Needed to Make a Worm Composting Bin
-Large plastic tub with a snug fitting lid, this is the size and style I prefer to use but you can use any size you have on hand
-Power drill and drill bit
-Materials for the bin such as shredded newspaper, paper egg cartons, cardboard, coffee grounds and worm bin safe food scraps that have been frozen for a couple days (Be sure to read this post I wrote about why I freeze the food scraps before putting them in the worm bin!)
-At least one pound of Red Wiggler composting worms (You can find them here or if you are in western Montana you can email us for our current pricing since we sell our Red Wigglers by the pound)
Steps to Making a Cheap and Easy Worm Composting Bin
Step 1 : Drill air holes in the lid of the worm bin. The key is to have enough air holes to allow for some air flow and circulation but you don’t want the holes so huge the worms will be enticed to crawl out. I drilled ten holes about 1/4″ in diameter spaced around the top of the lid.
Step 2: Place the plastic tub where you want the worm bin to reside. It should be in a cool spot out of direct sunlight and out of the way so you don’t need to move it. Once the worm bin starts filling up, they get really heavy and are so challenging to move!
Step 3: Start placing compostable materials in the bottom of the worm bin. I always place torn up paper egg cartons, cardboard and shredded newspaper in the bottom to help soak up some moisture.
Then I carefully place the Red Wiggler composting worms on the paper layer. The next layer I add is coffee grounds and frozen/thawed food scraps. When starting a brand new worm bin, I sprinkle a light layer of garden soil or compost from one of my other worm bins on top. The final layer is a layer of shredded newspaper to help soak up moisture on the top layer.
Step 4: Put the lid snugly on the worm composting bin. Let the Red Wigglers settle into their new home and start making amazing compost for your garden!
I keep our two big worm composting bins out of direct sunlight in a cool, out of the way spot in our house. They are easily accessible but not in the way.
Now that you know how to build a worm composting bin, you may be interested in our other vermicomposting posts:
–What to feed Red Wigglers compost worms
–How to harvest compost from a worm bin
–How to keep fruit flies out of your worm bin
–Why are worms escaping from my worm bin?
Happy vermicomposting!
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