Soil & compost
What size worm bin do I need?
About one square foot of surface per pound of scraps a week, and roughly a pound of red wigglers to process a pound a day.
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How this works
One square foot of bin surface per pound of weekly scraps; stock one pound of red wigglers per square foot. They eat about half their weight a day. A full countertop pail is roughly 3–4 lb.
Questions people ask
How many worms do I need to start?
A pound of red wigglers, about a thousand, handles roughly half a pound of scraps a day at first and doubles as the population grows into the bin.
What can I not put in a worm bin?
Meat, dairy, oils and anything heavily salted. Citrus and onion in quantity will drive worms to the edges.
Why are my worms escaping?
Almost always too wet or too acidic. Add dry bedding, stop feeding for a week, and check the bin actually drains.