My son and I went to a local gardening event that was kid friendly. One of the booths showed us this simple indoor worm composter that we could make ourselves. It was SOOOOOOO easy and SOOOOOOO kid friendly that I had to share how to make one to all of you!
First, I have to share the benefits of this simple worm composter:
- Worm castings used as organic soil amendments
- Generates worm compost tea for watering plants
- Highly nutritious plant food!
- Recycles food wastes
- Recycles paper
- Very LOW maintenance
- It’s so easy, kids love to help and play with the worms!
- Use the worms as fish bait as they multiply
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Supplies Needed and How to Start The Worm Composter
- Two plastic bins.
- The worms and compost will be on the inside bin and the compost tea will be collected in the outside bin. One bin will sit inside the other.
- These 2 plastic bins I found on Amazon I found are the perfect size and made from recycled material as well.
- Drill
- A couple breathing holes on top for the worms and a couple holes on the bottom sides to let the compost tea leak out to the second bin.
- Shredded Newspaper
- Just cut them into strips after you’re done reading the paper. Fill about a third of the bin.
- Worms!
- Red Wigglers consume waste the quickest! You can have them shipped to you from Home Grown Worms. You don’t need a whole lot because they will reproduce.
- Fruit and Vegetable Scraps
- Just a few pieces to start and add more as your worms multiply. You can stir the bin around and see how much food scraps are left after a few days to gauge how fast the worms are eating.
- A little bit of filtered water
- Just enough to moisten the newspaper is all you need. Check the moisture of the newspaper daily and add as needed to maintain consistent moisture.
- I use this water filter for my indoor gardening needs!
Maintaining the Worm Compost Bins
Starting every few days at first, observe how much moisture is staying in the bins (not too much and not too little) and observe how much the worms are eating! The levels of the newspaper will go down and the food scraps will disappear. Note the rate of consumption and then you can adjust as time goes on and you become and expert vermicomposter-er.
When you’re ready to use the compost for your garden, take a trowel or use your hands with gloves to scoop out the treasure at the bottom of the bin. Mix in the worm castings with your top soil for your plants.
Don’t forger you can water your houseplants with the excess water that comes out the bottom of the bin into the second bin.
The New Health Cycle 