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How to Construct a Worm Farm

Homemade worm bins can be made out of any shallow container, from an older dresser drawer to a salvaged bathtub or lumber and plywood. If you are looking for the very easiest construction for your worm bin, extension specialist Rhonda Sherman of North Carolina State University provides an exceptionally simple plan to get started at a cost of about $12 (2009 prices).

Things You'll Need

Rubbermaid Tote, 10-gallon or 14-gallon size with lid
2 soffit vents, 3-inch size
3-inch hole saw drill attachment

Instructions

- 1
  Use the hole saw drill attachment to create 3-inch holes toward the top of the long sides of the tote.
- 2
  Press the soffit vents into the holes.
- 3
  Add bedding, such as cardboard soaked in water and wrung out to the consistency of a damp sponge and torn into strips.
- 4
  Add 1-2 cups of chopped kitchen scraps and allow this to sit for a week to acquire the microbes and fungi preferred by compost worms. Place the lid on the tote.
- 5
  Order 1 lb. of red wiggler worms online or by telephone from a supplier such as Worms.com, Uncle Jim's Worm Farm or another nearby supplier (see Resources). Seek a supplier near your home address to lessen the amount of time the worms must be in transit. Place them gently on top of the bedding as soon as they arrive by Priority Mail. Spritz the worms with water from a spray bottle.

Insects & Science