PUT THAT FOOD TO BED: Because we keep our worms inside our garage, it’s important to us that the bin not call fruit flies, mice or get over-run with ants.You can also store chopped up food in the frig until ready to feed if you end up with extra. We use a food processor, bring the bowl directly into the garage and scoop out the ground food with a rubber spatula.

Your bin may be completed in record time by making it easier for the worms to break down the scraps.

This isn’t necessary but it speeds things up.

SPOIL ‘EM ROTTEN: If you really want to make brats out of your worms, chop up their food.

But do not place the bin under a bright light.

EASY TO PLEASE: If they are happy with the food, temperature and moisture level, they will stay put in the bin even with the top off! The more circulation the better.

When testing a food, position it where you can easy find it later.

FINICKY EATERS: If after a week you notice a food hasn’t been touched, they may not be too fond of it.

Starchy foods like pasta, bread and rice – too much for worms to handle with all that bedding already in there.It will take longer for the bin to compost.

Citrus peels and fruit – to avoid fruit flies.

A small handful of eggshells or dirt is enough. Otherwise, use a small amount of garden dirt that has not been treated with chemicals. We’ve been reading that reproduction increases when worms live among egg shells! It helps add a little grit to the bin. I like to moisten the bedding before adding to the bin. Shred up the paper bags to make the bedding fluffy.

Shredded cardboard and paper bags are easy to find and recycle.

Used napkins and paper towels are ok as long as they are not greasy.

If you want to add more bedding, leaves are awesome! We like to rip up the bags before dropping in but it’s not necessary to break them up. Drastically limit citrus or eliminate all together to avoid fruit flies and to keep the bin clean smelling and easy to work with.

Non-citrus fruit work best, such as watermelon rind, strawberry tops, old blueberries, etc.

Any vegetable that’s not spicy or really gaseous will make them happy.

Vegetable scraps: apple cores, peels, carrot tops and wilted lettuce or trimmings.

It’s easy to make worms happy if you feed your red worms a variety of foods they love. We’ve tried a bunch of foods in our bins at home and have a nice list for you to keep things simple.

Download red wiggler composting worms