mbg Contributor
mbg Contributor
Lauren David is a Chilean-American freelance author. She writes about gardening, meals, well being and wellness, and sustainability. She has been revealed in Allrecipes, Greatist, The Wholesome, The Kitchn and extra.
Picture by Nabi Tang / Stocksy
Might 29, 2022
Prepared to show your meals scraps into compost with out an excessive amount of effort? Contemplate vermicomposting, or worm composting—a system the place worms break down natural waste right into a nutrient-rich soil modification, also known as black gold.
In the event you’re able to embark in your vermicomposting journey, these are the perfect worm composter bins to get you began.
What worm composting bins do.
“A worm composting bin offers a closed atmosphere during which worms, normally crimson wigglers, eat your leftover food scraps and excrete waste often called castings,” explains Matt Eddleston, a gardener with over 20 years of expertise and founding father of Gardening Vibe. “The worm castings are nutrient-rich, making them an excellent natural fertilizer for rising crops.”
A worm bin might be so simple as a plastic container with a lid, or as sophisticated as a multi-layer bin with many alternative compartments and options.
Whereas it can save you cash by building your own bin, Chia-Ming Ro, a backyard guide and proprietor of Coastal Homestead explains that purchasing a pre-made one “takes the guesswork out.” Contemplating that an ill-fitted bin may go away too little room for air to get in—or not sufficient room for air to stream by means of—choosing a pre-made one will higher set you up for achievement from the start.
Worm composting bins additionally include many optionally available options, comparable to stackable trays or spigots, which might be more durable to design your self.
How to decide on your bin.
While you’re deciding on what compost bin is finest for you, step one is considering how you may use it. “It’s a good suggestion to think about how a lot area it’s a must to maintain the bin, the amount of meals scraps to course of, and the way discrete you need the looks to be,” says Eddleston.
You’ll wish to maintain your bin in a cool spot that does not get direct solar; both inside a basement or storage, or exterior on a coated porch. Some bins are higher suited to be indoors whereas others are designed to be exterior.
In the case of nature working its magic, the circumstances are essential, so that you must also take into consideration your familiarity with vermicomposting. “Some bins assist to maintain the circumstances humid, well-drained, and well-aerated with out a lot intervention wanted from you, growing the probabilities of sooner compost manufacturing,” explains Eddleston.
Lastly, think about the bin’s dimension. “Ideally, your worm bin has two bins that enable worms to maneuver freely from one to the following,” says Ro.
“Stackable bins can course of numerous meals scraps and have a small footprint,” explains Eddleston. “However if you happen to’re residing in an condominium, you may want a smaller mannequin with fewer trays than a few of the bigger bins which are higher suited to outdoor or a home with storage area.”
How we picked
Our record comes vetted by vermicomposting specialists who’re aware of the method.
Whether or not you are seeking to shell out or save, there is a bin on your funds on our record.
Whether or not you wish to proudly show your bin within the backyard or maintain it discreetly in your storage, there’s an choice right here for you.
Since everybody has totally different area restrictions, we made certain to supply quite a lot of bin configurations and dimensions.
mbg’s picks for the perfect worm compost bins of 2022:
Professionals
- Straightforward to make use of
- Comes collectively quick
Cons
- Higher for outside use, as it might probably leak
In the event you’re new to worm composting or just need a simple set-up, think about this worm bag. “This easy-to-use vermicomposting bin lets you course of a big quantity of scraps with out having to fiddle with trays,” says Eddleston. “You simply place bedding within the backside and add meals scraps to the highest.”
Usually, castings are prepared in 4 to six months, and all it’s a must to do is unzip the underside and allow them to fall right into a tray or bucket.
“This vermicomposting bin is sufficiently small to slot in the nook of your kitchen or on a small balcony space,” says Eddleston. “The bin comes with detailed directions, is straightforward to arrange, and comes with the whole lot you might want to get began, together with coco coir bedding (however not the worms).”
The good thing about this compact dimension is you may simply transfer it from one location to a different if you might want to. And due to the smooth design, it is not apparent worms reside inside.
Professionals
- Expandable
- Suits a number of scraps
In the event you’re seeking to course of numerous meals scraps, “this stackable vermicomposting bin has one of many largest capacities available on the market,” says Eddleston. It additionally has the benefit that you may add an extra two trays to the preliminary 4, so you’ve gotten ample room for all of your meals scraps.
Professionals
- Expandable
- Suits a number of scraps
Cons
- Not appropriate for indoor use
This stackable worm compost bin comes with 5 trays and the choice so as to add much more, as nicely a built-in spigot to empty extra liquid. There’s additionally a particular bonus characteristic: “The ‘footwear’ that match across the ft of the product are significantly helpful for utilizing this bin in your yard,” says Eddleston. “When crammed with water they forestall ants from getting inside and killing your worms.”
Greatest for individuals who do not love worms: SUBPOD Composting System & Worm Farm
SUBPOD Composting System & Worm Farm
Professionals
- Suits a number of scraps
- Straightforward to make use of
Cons
- Not appropriate for indoor use
In the event you’re squeamish round worms or usually are not certain you’re able to work together with them, that is the composter for you. It is a two-chamber bin that may be positioned inside your soil or a raised backyard mattress. “Worms can come and go as they like and [it] doesn’t require turning the compost,” says Ro.
Eddleston provides that it is “a really hands-off answer, as you don’t have to empty the container to gather castings.” Plus, it doubles as a small bench within the backyard, holding as much as 150 kilos due to a newly bolstered latch design.
Wish to begin vermicomposting however don’t need it to be apparent that you’ve got pet worms? “The Urbalive vermicomposter has probably the most fashionable design available on the market, making it a good selection for folks with restricted area,” says Eddleston.
The light-weight bin is straightforward to maneuver and has a smooth and stylish design that you’re going to be keen to indicate off, indoors or out. Though small, there’s an choice to broaden from two trays to 4, relying in your wants.
How do you begin your bin?
Upon getting your bin and order your worms, you will get the method began by filling the worm’s bin with a mixture of meals scraps (inexperienced and brown) and “bedding” comparable to shredded paper, cardboard, straw, hay, dry leaves, dust, or wooden chips.
Worms can eat a variety of food scraps together with fruit and vegetable scraps and occasional grounds, however keep away from giving them citrus fruits, animal, and dairy merchandise. The important thing to sustaining your mattress is ensuring it has the correct amount of meals (and due to this fact, moisture) always. When the system is out of steadiness, it would begin to odor. Here’s a complete primer on getting started feeding your bin.
Combine your bin periodically to loosen up its supplies and forestall odors and hopefully, you may have black gold in your palms very quickly.
How lengthy does it take to compost with worms?
One of many important variations between worm composting and traditional composting has to do with pace. “Vermicomposting is quicker than conventional composting and also you additionally get the additional advantage of worm castings (ie. poop),” says Ro.
Usually, you’ll have to dedicate solely half-hour every week and can have castings inside 3- 6 months. And the way a lot can worms eat on common per day? “One pound of worms can eat about 1/2 pound of meals a day,” says Ro.
Suggestions & tips to strive.
Right here, Eddleston and Ro share their finest ideas for anybody who desires to offer it a go along with a worm bin:
- “To extend the pace at which the worms produce vermicompost, you must maintain the bin between 15-25 °C,” says Eddleston.
- “Maintain your meals scraps in a sealed container earlier than including them to the vermicompost bin,” says Eddleston. “This prevents flies from laying eggs within the meals and retains them out of your bin.”
- Ro explains to keep away from including “an excessive amount of citrus or onions abruptly.”
- “In case your worms are gradual at consuming the meals scraps you give them, strive reducing them up into smaller chunks. This normally helps them course of the scraps faster,” explains Eddleston.
- The worm bin shouldn’t odor. If it does, it’s an indicator that one thing is amiss. “A well-balanced compost should not have any foul odors,” says Ro.
The takeaway.
Worm composting sounds intimidating, however with the proper bin, it may be fairly painless. Select a bin from this record that matches your wants and prepare to live more sustainably by changing your meals waste into gold.
