Big Red Worms

Feed

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Crushed egg shells
• Small amounts at first

Avoid

• Meat, dairy, grease, and oily food
• Too much citrus or onion
• Salty food
• Large piles of fresh scraps

Moisture

Bedding should feel like a wrung-out sponge. If it is dry, mist it. If it is soggy, add shredded paper or cardboard.

Location

Keep bins shaded and protected from heat. Worms do best when the bin stays cool, dark, and breathable.

Bin smells bad

Usually too much food or too much moisture. Stop feeding for a few days, bury exposed scraps, and add shredded cardboard or paper.

Fruit flies

Bury food deeper, cover the top with dry bedding, and avoid leaving sweet scraps exposed.

Food is not disappearing

Feed less and chop scraps smaller. Worms eat softened, decomposing food faster than large fresh chunks.

Worms try to leave

Check moisture, heat, and acidity. Keep the bin shaded, bedding damp but not soggy, and avoid big acidic feedings.

Castings

Castings add organic matter, improve soil texture, and support stronger root zones. Use a thin layer around plants or mix into potting soil.

Worm tea

Worm tea is a liquid garden boost. Use it around established plants, starts, and beds when you want a gentle soil-support feed.

Less landfill waste

Food scraps in a landfill can create methane. Worm composting keeps some of that material at home and turns it into something useful.

Better garden loop

Scraps feed worms, worms make castings, castings feed soil, and the soil grows more plants. It is a simple local cycle.