Let us begin. A Free Vermicomposting Lesson 1 – How to set up your first kit Introduction.

When red worms are first mentioned in conversations, it seems inevitable that fishing worms come immediately to mind.  Although they are great for that as well, I feel that they are far better at their intended original purpose of cleaning up the environment and helping to enrich our soil. This is not to say that I don't grab a handful, toss them into a bucket and use them for fish bait, I've caught many of a fish that way. Even if you live in an apartment, you can still do this, so space is not a valid excuse. These drawer type kits are real handy and take up a very small amount of space. I keep mine next to my sink, sounds disgusting doesn't it?  Well it isn't, the worms stay where they are suppose to, in it!  They are very obedient if you don"t mistreat them. It's real handy for me right where I empty the coffee grounds, clean the veggies and scrap the plates.  I just open the drawer and put my organic waste into the kit (NO milk products, meat/bones or citrus please).  That means NO smelly garbage in trash cans for dogs and cats to tear into.  No smelly garbage in kit, the worms make fast work of it, a lot faster than waiting in a trash bag for the weekly trash pickup! The only thing in our trash bags now, is tin cans, plastic bottles and a little plastic wrap. We even recycle the plastic bottles (as mini green houses for seed starting) and tin cans when I get them outside.  All paper and cardboard goes into the kit as well, its bedding. We have a very small amount of trash that goes to the dump, about one trash bag full per month. There are several different types of containers that can be used for your first vermicomposting kit and it all depends on your needs, desires and income. You can use almost anything that is inert, Styrofoam ice chests, old wash tubs, cheap storage containers from the dime store, etc., the best size to start with is about 18" x 12" x 11", it will easily accommodate about 100 Red Wiggler earthworms AKA Red Worms (which you can most likely find at your local fish bait – tackle store). Don't be tempted to get Night Crawlers, they will NOT stay in these kits, they need totally different food/light/containers. I have a old deep freeze with the lid removed, some drainage hole poked in the bottom and a window screen over it, that I use now for our garden vermicompost, even put some mushroom logs at one end of it, since it is a ideal growing environment for them also, BTW they are Shiitake mushrooms! This drawer type storage cabinet is just the unit we are going to be starting with. Your first kit needs to be small enough to see fast results and still be controllable. After you get a working knowledge of what's going on, then get your bigger, better units. By then you will have a better idea of which size, what kind, etc., that will best fit your lifestyle and need. Most importantly you will know IF vermicomposting is for you or not!

What you will need:

1. Enough torn up cardboard and paper to fill a 5 gallon bucket about 1/2 way full.  Do this first, tear the paper/cardboard into small pieces, put them into a bucket and fill with water.  We want this bedding to soak for at least a few hours, longer is better.
2. Your kit, can be anything, as mentioned above, that will hold bedding, red worms and their food (organic recyclables) for a few months.
3. Red worms aka Red Wiggler earthworms, about 100+ to start a small kit with.
4. Drill or way to poke drainage holes in bottom of kit.
5. A couple of handfulls of aged compost, garden soil or soil from a potted plant, or just plain dirt. (This will be the safe zone, if/when the bedding starts to heat up and the worms need a cool place to go)

Start your bedding soaking.  Find your new kit, and then get your earthworms, you can most likely find about 100 red worms (Red Wigglers) (NOT night crawlers they will NOT stay in these kits!) From a local bait/tackle store that carries live fish bait. Now that you have your Kit in hand, lets poke some drainage holes in it. I burn holes in the plastic ones with a hot steak knife, (don't breathe the fumes), or you can drill them with a drill, it all depends on what kind of material your kit is made from.

• Poke/drill holes about the size of a pencil up to about 3/8" drill bit size, I do this along just one side on the bottom. (Makes it easier to catch the drained water in a small tray).

• If your kit has a tight fitting lid (I don't like these) then poke holes in the top as well, so air can get in. Or leave the top off and just cover the worms/bedding with newspaper.

• If your kit is the cabinet type, this is not necessary as the air circulates quite easily around the drawer and from under the top, just poke the holes in the bottom.

We will be checking to see if you have enough holes as we go along, good drainage is essential, there should never be any standing water in the unit. After you water the kit, the excess fluid should drain out freely in a matter of a few minutes. See Lesson 2 – Assembling the earthworm kit.