How Many Worms?
Many people use redworms year-round, right inside the house to take care of their table scraps and a limited amount of shredded paper products. In the basement or under the sink, they keep them in plastic bins that are less than one cubic foot in size. As long as they are kept warm, moist and protected from light, one small worm bin per person will consume the daily production of vegetable and fruit discards along with the coffee grounds, filter and all, on a year-round basis. Worm farmers need to periodically remove the rich earthworm digested compost, called “worm castings,” as worms do not like living in their own manure for more than a few months. Worm castings, however, are worth the effort of indoor worm ranching. This “super compost” is the best ingredient in potting soils and is valued above all other compost products. Experienced gardeners will point to the soil worms in the garden and the redworms in the worm bins as the secret to their exceptional yields.
