Mama's Worm Composting

Worm Bin Critters

One benefit, or at least unexpected experience, of having a worm bin is the introduction of a variety of critters into your life. When I first started worm composting it never occurred to me that I might be dealing with more than just worms in my bin. The first time I saw a helper mite I was horrified, not understanding whether the critter would eat my new red babies alive or simply hang out. Of course, at the beginning of one's first worm composting project the simple process of food breaking down is completely disgusting and sort of horrifying, so the thought of other bugs being part of that process can sort of turn your brain to mush. Over time, however, dealing with a variety of bugs may still make me scream, but they are also good indicators about the health of my system. 

Now don't freak out by this next little part; these are critters I see over 700 square feet of worms in a warehouse and may not represent your personal little worm bin at home. 

Slugs, for example, are gross and trouble-causing as they can actually eat the small worms, but they indicate a healthy system for worms. White mites as well. Rolly polly bugs indicate a healthy, but overly dry, system. Maggots mean I've got some dead worms that are being feasted on by housefly larvae, a problem. Spiders are just inevitable. Mold usually occurs when the food source (usually fresh food) isn't buried appropriately; the worms don't go for it fast enough because it's on the surface and then it starts to mold. Fruit flies or fungus gnats, sadly, mean a healthy system (though I hate them with every fiber of my being and try to kill them at every opportunity). Ants mean the bedding is too dry. 

All of these monstrous critters I've seen and squealed my surprise at over my worm farming ventures. So take a look at the article here, which shows images of a variety of worm bin critters, to familiarize yourself with the possibilities. That way when you someday see an innocent helper mite you won't freak out and dump the whole bin. 

You know, all this time that I've been doing this now, I still yell and scream when I see a spider in the house. And guess who gets called on to kill it? My loving husband. I guess I'll never be TOTALLY desensitized. 

Good worming!

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What Is Going Wrong With Your Worm Farm?

I had a little diagnostic job to do over the weekend, and it inspired me to make a cheat sheet for you all to have a look at when you feel something is going wrong. A reader wrote to me about a problem bin in which the worms seemed to be decreasing in number, and flies were increasing in number. After many, many questions, I determined that he wasn’t adding dry bedding to the bin each time he fed his worm farm, leading to condensation of the compost materials, anaerobic conditions, and the slow die-off of his worms.

Having problems with your little worm farm? Take a look at the list below and see if your problem applies.

Do you add water to your bin?

You generally don’t need to add any water unless you are using an open system. Too much water will condense the materials, creating anaerobic conditions.

 

Do you feed bread, citrus, or onions?

All of these things are acidic, and could “turn” your worm bin into an unfriendly worm environment. Bread is generally ok in moderation, but citrus and onions you should stay away from entirely.

 

Do you add dry bedding with each feeding?

You need to! Without the dry bedding between layers of food, air flow is severely impacted, resulting in, you guessed it, condensed materials and anaerobic conditions.

 

Is the food rotting before the worms eat it?

You are overfeeding. As long as you are adding ample bedding, it’s ok to overfeed, as the worm population will increase to meet the food supply. However, pay close attention to the bin; if you see the materials condensing down into a thick dense layer, mix in more dry bedding to break it up and allow air in. Also, be careful of overfeeding if smells are a big concern (like for indoor worm composting).

 

Does the bin stink?

A well maintained worm bin should smell like slighly composted food for about a day after feeding, and after that should smell like rich earth (not that garbage-y smell you get with traditional composting).

 

Does the bin smell like fish?

RED ALERT! RED ALERT! Get out the hose, the gloves, and a mask for your face, cause you’re about to clean up a big mess of dead worms!

 

Is your bin in the sun… EVER?

If you have a plastic worm bin, make sure it is never, EVER in the sun, not even for just a half hour a day. Can you say worm souffle?

 

Is it really hot or really cold?

Red worms thrive in bedding temperatures between 55 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that the temperature outside can be well outside this range, as long as the bedding is within range. Grab your meat thermometer and stick it in there; where does it land? If it’s above 77, add more dry bedding and try to move the bin to a cool location; do NOT add water. If it’s below 55, consider an insulating blanket, addition of manure, or moving the bin to a garage or slightly warmer location.

 

Got a question about your worm farm that I didn’t answer here? Please feel free to email me for specific advice.

 

Good worming!

 

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