When I was at the Buffalo ReUse office on Eaton Street the other day, I noticed a pail of kitchen garbage. I know everyone composts whatever’s compostable at BR, but sometimes in the winter it’s a bit more difficult because you have to go out in the cold and snow to dump the garbage on the pile. So I told Caesandra I’d set up a worm bin they can put in the basement.

And remembering her dictum “If you didn’t take a photo of it, it didn’t happen”, I set up the camera and took some snapshots of the process.

Worm composting is an easy way to make use of your household food waste. The end result is a wonderful natural fertilizer for all kinds of plants. Step by step, here’s how to make a home for your garbage-eating worms.

Inexpensive plastic crates make good worm bins. This is a Christmas ornament box I bought at a discount store after Christmas one year. $5 each, the largest expense of the entire project.

As is, liquid can collect in the bottom. This might make the worms soggy, or at least make them avoid the bottom. Best to put a few drainage holes in to make it easier to keep the worms’ environment moist, not wet. It will, however, cause your bin to leak worm juice. You can catch it and put it on your plants, or, dogs love to lick it up – yum!
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