How to Build a Box for Canadian Nightcrawlers

Canadian earthworms are named night crawlers because they usually hunt for food at night. They hide under the soil during the day and are capable of digging down to 6 feet. Within the soil, they consume organic matter and extract nutrients, creating nutrient-rich compost. Aside from creating compost, night crawlers are a popular fishing bait and are used as a dietary supplement for pet fish. Raising your own night crawlers for these purposes can be fairly easy if you have the right kind of container to house them.

Plastic or wooden bin
Peat moss
Cornmeal or coffee grounds
Hand drill
Old newspaper and dry leaves
Soil

Instructions

- 1
  Your plastic box's dimensions should be 12 to 24 inches deep, to give room for night crawlers.
- 2
  Drill ventilation holes at the bottom, on the sides, and the top of the box. Use a hand drill with a small bit. Do not drill holes too close to each other; keep them about 1 inch apart.
- 3
  Soak the soil in water for a few seconds. Scoop the soil with your hand and squeeze the water out before you put it inside the bin. The soil inside the bin should be damp, but not soaking wet. Fill the plastic box with soil, leaving only 1 inch at the top.
- 4
  Soak old newspaper and dried leaves in water and squeeze the water out as well. Cover the soil with damp newspaper and dried leaves to about 1 inch thick.
- 5
  Sprinkle some coffee grounds or cornmeal on top of the damp newspapers and leaves. Close the lid of the box and store in a cool, dry place. Refill the worm box with coffee grounds or cornmeal from time to time.

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