The Worm Bin System for Composting

Line the bottom of the worm bin with newspaper, cardboard or commercially available vermicomposting bedding. Saturate the material with water, squeeze it, and fill the bin two-thirds full with moist bedding.

Place the red worms on the lining. You need 1 lb. of red worms for each 1/2 pound of scraps you put in the bin daily. Spray the bedding with water whenever it starts to dry out.

Cover the worms with only a small amount of food at a time to prevent rotting and foul smell before the wigglers have a chance to eat it. You can add vegetable and fruit scraps as well as coffee grounds and filters. In theory, anything organic is viable for vermicomposting. With time, you'll learn what the worms go through quickly and what sits in the bin emitting unpleasant odors. Worms eat vegetables faster than fruit, for instance.

Move the bin under the sink or to another dark area. A lid over the bin also provides the light-less environment that worms require. Don't make the container airtight, as ventilation is also vital for successful worm composting. Keep the temperature above freezing and below 84 degrees Fahrenheit.

Take the bin into the light to force the worms to get under the bedding. Scoop out the black humus -- worm castings -- they made out of the food you gave them. Incorporate it into the soil as you would another organic amendment.