Just Like That, I am Back

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 If I said I was back, would you believe me? Blogging is complicated, and there are so many "get rich quick" blogging schemes that make it look like you are a lost cause if you are not currently earning money blogging. And why are you even blogging if you don't have multiple streams of income and entertainment. If you don't have a brand? I do have this website, but I do not have Instagram, Twitter, TikTok (you don't want to see me dance), or whatever is next.  Heck, I haven't even updated this since before the pandemic. So why am I here, writing about being back and then, probably ghosting for another two years? Life has been rough. It's been painful and overwhelming. I am so thankful for you my readers, or what is left of you. I am so thankful you are reading this post. I am so thankful that you are still committed to making the world a more exciting and more sustainable place.  Keep up-cycling my friends, and you never know, I might be back again with an

Vermiculture Tutorial: I Heart Vermiculture Part Two

ermiculture is great because you do not need to make a big investment in a high tech compost bin, or worry about having a large plot of land to compost in. Vermiculture (or composting with worms) can be done with buckets or storage containers that you already have on hand.
 I keep my worms in my basement in the winter than move them into my backyard in the late spring.

I do appologize that I do not have all of the step by step instructions pictured, but I made this over a year ago.



What you will need:

  • Two storage containers
  • Brick
  • Drill
  • Newspaper
  • Compost or extra soil
  • Red Wigglers {not earthworms} (Red Wigglers can be found online or at the occasional farmers market. I bought a coffee jar full of them for $15)



Start buy placing a brick on the bottom of your first container. You do this to make sure that your vermicompost container can drain.

Drill holes throughout your second container so that the worms will be able to breathe and the moisture can drain (the drainage on the bottom is known as compost tea). You want to make sure enough air gets to the worms, but take note not to drill to many holes or else your worms might just fall escape.



Place your second container on top of the first container. It should be elevated slightly.

Now for the fun part (playing with worms!)

Start by ripping up some newspaper and placing a generous layer on the bottom of your compost container. This is your worms bedding. I like to crinkle the newspaper up a bit before laying it down.

Sprinkle a little water on the bedding and you are ready to add your worms.


Place your worms and some extra composted material in the bottom.  and watch them scatter to the bottom of the bin. They hate the light, its kind of funny.

Add some compostable materials such as fruit or vegetable cuttings, coffee grounds, and egg shells (they love egg shells). Then you will want to cover up the compost with more crumpled newspapers.  Close the lid and you are on your way to having some fabulous vermicompost to feed your plants with.


They really do hate the light, after several attempts to photograph my wormies I got one blurry picture of the little guys. I tried.

Now it is your turn. Get vermicomposting and let me know how it goes. I am not an expert but I would be happy to  answer any questions you might have.

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Comments

Melissa said…
My first vermi-composter was a bin composter like this and my worms moved out!! I did something wrong, I guess - but I found dried little worms all over my basement.

So I bought a tower. For people who might not want to go this route a tower is awesome.
Robin Ange said…
Wowza, no one wants a wormy basement. I am so sorry that happened. I haven't had any worms wandering. Maybe the holes were drilled to big?
the towers are definitely cool and if you can afford it and want to go that route it will guarantee your worms will not jump ship.
DogsMom said…
This was an interesting read.
I am glad I found your blog and learned about your upcycling party as well. Now I have to go read part one.
We like worms on the farm.
DArlene said…
I'm glad I found this post through Tools are For Women Too. I've been reading alot about compost bins and trying to decide what kind I want to make. Is the bottom bin for transferring and storing finished vermicompost?
Darlene said…
Oh I think I see now. It must be for drainage. Sorry, with my poor internet, the photos loaded slowly and I couldn't tell...

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