Worm Composting (Vermicomposting)

Vermicomposting uses red wiggler worms (Eisenia fetida) in a bin to break down food scraps into castings — a dark, fine, nutrient-rich material that's one of the best soil amendments you can make. It runs indoors or out and needs very little space.

Worm castings are loaded with plant nutrients and beneficial microbes, and a handful goes a long way. A worm bin recycles food waste quietly and odor-free, with no turning required, making it ideal for apartments, balconies, and small yards.

Get a ventilated bin and add damp bedding — shredded cardboard or newspaper. Add a handful of soil and your red wigglers. Bury small amounts of food scraps in one corner, rotating corners as you go. Keep bedding as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Harvest castings from the bottom every few months.

Feed: vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, tea leaves. Avoid: meat, dairy, oily foods, citrus, onion, and garlic, which cause odors or harm the worms. Chop scraps small and don't overfeed — wait until the last batch is mostly gone.