Is citrus ok?
One of the biggest challenges for new owners of a vermicomposting bin is the age old question of what to feed your worms?
What to feed your worm bin?
There are plenty of good foods to feed your worm bin. Red wiggler worms are voracious eaters, and they put that organic matter to good use. Did you know that your red wiggler colony will double in size about every 90 days in proper conditions?
Fruits and Vegetables
Worms love sweets. Sound like anyone else I know? Bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, berries, pineapples, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, avocados, squash, and tomatoes are all a go for your red wiggler worm colony.
Coffee grounds and tea leaves
A favorite food source for worms. Just remember to remove staples from any tea bags. Used coffee filters (in moderation) can also be tossed in just as you would cardboard.
Crushed eggshells
These provide grit. Although, you already know red wiggler worms are the grittiest of workers in your garden. As long as you treat them well, these worms work overtime. Will work for food that is!
Grains and bread
Whole grains (like oats and wheat), bread, and even pasta in moderation are good additions for your worms to snack on. Just be careful with ultra processed breads or pastas which may contain too much salt or other unnatural preservatives that may irritate your little crawlers.
Paper products
No plastic here. But newspaper, cardboard, and some untreated papers make good additions to your worm bins.
Plant matter
Dried leaves and clippings make an excellent addition to your red wiggler worms organic matter diet. Fun fact, they also make a nice bedding, and help to keep the moisture levels in the sweet spot.
Foods to avoid
Worms like to eat, but they do have a refined palette for earth-dwellers. Try not to feed them oily foods, salty things, citrus, onions or onion skins, garlic, fatty foods like meat, fish, and poultry. Some of the foods on this list also lead to un-welcome smells and unwanted pests joining the party.
Extra tips
Chop it up. The smaller bits are easier for the worms to digest and lead to faster digestion. Try feeding the worms on side of the bin, and then switch sides the next time you feed them. Keep the mositure level like that of a gently wrung-out sponge. And lastly, don’t overfeed them. Extra fun: put a camera next to your worm bin and watch a timelapse video of them digesting the watermelon rinds you gave them for dinner.
Just Rewind
Little Mrs. Rahima wasn’t the only talented one in the Khader family.
Check out this book, “Just Rewind” by her older teenage brother.
San Antonio Composting Project is deeply grateful for the wonderful hospitality and warmth that the Khader family blessed us with. Thank you!!
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I am interested in getting some worms for my composting project. How would I go about that and what is the fee for a fairly large quantity?
Thanks for sharing your experience on this.
Thanks for the honest take on this.