4-H Vermicomposting
A fifth-grade school
enrichment program
Lesson 2: Setting Up a Worm Bin
• Objectives
– How to set up and maintain a worm bin
• Review
– What is vermicomposting?
– How do castings help soil and plants?
Contents of a Worm Bin
• Earthworms
• Shredded paper as
bedding
• Handful of soil
• Food scraps such as
vegetables, fruits,
coffee grounds, and
eggshells
Worm Bin Construction
and Storage
• Worm bin should be made of
plastic or untreated wood
• Drill holes along top sides of
bin to provide air for worms
and in bottom for drainage
• Keep worm bin where
temperature is between 55°
and 77° Fahrenheit
Worm Bin Bedding
• Composed of shredded
black and white
newspapers, paper,
bags, and cardboard
• Do not use glossy
paper or magazine
pages!
How Do We Prepare
the Bedding?
• Soak in water about 20 minutes
– Wring it out like a sponge
– Fluff it up before putting in bin
• Fill bin 1/3 to ½ full with bedding
• Keep bedding moist
• Mist dry bedding if needed
• Add more bedding as it disappears
Do’s and Don’ts of Food
in the Worm Bin
Do add
Don’t add
Fruits and
vegetables
Meat, fish and
dairy products
Coffee grounds Bones and
grease
Eggshells
Pet waste
• Meat, fish & dairy
attract pests, and
grease can coat the
skin of worms,
preventing them
from breathing
•Add up to ½ pound
of food scraps per
day if have 1 pound
of worms
Do Not Forget!
• ALWAYS cover food with bedding
• Make sure 2 to 3 inches of bedding
cover food at all times
These steps help prevent fruit flies,
mold, and odors
Worm Bin Record
Bury food scraps in a different
place each week so they don’t
pile up in one area. Label top of
worm bin with numbers to
designate where food will be
buried each week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Date
Oz. of
Food
Scraps
Temp Burying
Location
Comments
9/1
8
68
Set up worm
bin. Added
bedding and
food scraps.
#1