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The beauty of vermicomposting is that it can be done anywhere at any point of the year! With temperatures cooling down, it provides a unique opportunity for compost enthusiasts to continue their efforts inside. That way, by spring you’ll have an excess of castings and compost fertilizer ready to be applied to your garden. (or if you live in an apartment, your indoor plants!)

Building and storing a worm bin is a difficult task without the proper know-how and equipment. This keeps many from vermicomposting indoors. We are here to tell you it’s not as challenging as you think. In fact, we designed our Worm Box with the goal of simplifying vermicomposting. Once you understand what the worms need to get started, the process becomes straightforward and achievable. Let’s take a look at the basics of indoor vermicompost. 

What you need: worms, bins, & food

Red Wigglers (Eisenia fetida) are the worms responsible for the magic. Unlike garden worms, wigglers live close to the surface making them excellent digesters of food and plant waste. The by-product (worm castings) act as a nutrient rich soil amendment that enhances plant health and growth.

The bin you use is essential to the success of your worm colony. Just like humans, worms need oxygen to survive so bin air flow is extremely important. Your bin also needs to provide shelter for your wigglers. Shredded newspaper is a staple of vermicomposting as it absorbs excess moisture and serves as worm food. 

Wigglers love to eat, but there are certain foods you should not put in your bin. Think of wigglers as raw-vegans, so toss in cores, peels, and veggies but stay away from fats, oils, and dairy. 

Check out our full Worm Box how-to guide here

Where to store your bin 

When choosing a location for your bin there are a few factors to consider. Worms are happiest in cool temperatures (65-75F) so cabinets and basements work great! Worms also prefer a dark environment so get creative with the location! For max efficiency, store your bin in the kitchen so you can feed your worms and get rid of food waste all at once. 

Ready to try it out?

With Winter around the corner, now is a great time to start vermicomposting indoors. We made this easier than ever with the Worm Box. Each box comes complete with around 100 red wigglers, worm food, castings and newspaper (no set up involved!). All you need to do is choose a bin location, periodically feed your worms, and wait for them to begin digesting.

This is also a great gift for anyone who wants to start or expand their vermicompost operation. We also offer several compost gifts, perfect for all gardening enthusiasts in your life! To see what we have, check out our shop.