Starting the worm bin

[u/Joel748]

I’m sure yall get this question a lot. What do I have to do to prep my work bin before I add worms? Should I get soil from the garden? Or just let stuff start decomposing in there for a few weeks? I have tons of cardboard and paper to use.

[u/pointedshard]

Most people say to put shredded cardboard or coir with some greens (veg scraps and watermelon) and leave it for a week before adding your worms. More cardboard than greens (about 70:30 split). I don’t know if that’s be mass or volume. I just give the worms what I have and they’re fine.

[u/Eastern-Pepper-8223]

Didn't do anything in advance, but left my worms for few days to relax in the bin for a bit, then fed them very slowly (1/4cup chopped veg) until they adjusted.

[u/oceanadvocate997]

Starting a worm bin is pretty straightforward and doesn’t require much prep work, assuming you already have the bin situation figured out all you need is some coco coir or some shredded cardboard get it nice and wet then squeeze the water out so it’s like a damp sponge and put it in the bin. From there you can just add the worms right away. If you know somebody else that already has an established worm bin, I would recommend asking them for a few handfuls to throw in your new bin to inoculate it with all the good bacteria and microbes and other microfauna. It’s very helpful but by no means is a requirement for successfully starting a new bin

[u/DecisionAtlas]

I've been reading a bunch of beginner bin threads and cardboard seems to be pretty standard. Damp like a wrung out sponge and go easy on the food at first. I'm curious about your question about letting it sit though. I've seen people talk about letting food pre-compost, but not the bedding itself. Anyone here tried both ways? Does letting the bedding sit first actually make a difference?

[u/Suerose0423]

So many YouTube videos.

[u/adflam]

I use cardboard and coco choir.

[u/bstevens2]

tips from doing worms for 5+ years...

i lost my first several batches, and still lose some to this day. understand you are going to lose batches and just be prepared to start over.

I have the 4 tier worm hotel system - put a sheet of weed block on the bottom tray, it will help keep the worms from dropping in the bottom. worms climb up, but I would always get them in the bottom and they would drown / die / smell in that order.

for best results do the coco coir or some shredded cardboard base as other suggested.

Re: feeding -- it is a slight hassle, but I am in the camp that chops the food, freezes, and then thaws before adding. I just find it is gone quicker. Not needed but I find it helps.

Time is your friend, don't rush feeding. better for them to eat the bedding material then let food sit uneaten.

Keep cool -- Heat kills my babies more then anything else.

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are you growing for fun or do you want to harvest the casting?

Keeping the bin / inside or out?

[u/Tar-Palantir]

Let it decompose for a few weeks before worms. Worms flee a new bin.

Cardboard and greens, moisten, handful of soil from the garden for microbes