Cost factor: I would guess that composting might be started with little or no cost, while worms probably will have to be purchased.

I think that one or two compost bins/piles will handle more vegetative waste than a worm bin. PLUS the compost piles/bins can handle larger sized garden waste than the worms.(?]

Depending on your work routine .... if you must be away from home for extended periods, your worm 'ranch' might need a sitter.

Having said all this ... and having both compost piles and worm "ranch"..... I couldn't choose between them. I love my squirmy little hired hands, and think of my compost piles as a living creature.

I've never done vermicomposting... What's involved? And how does it work?

And I agree about the compost being a living creature. I've named mine 'monster'. :)

For compost piles; don't you have collect all the materials together and just make one pile, ie, doesn't adding more degradable material to the pile increasing decomposing time?
For vermicomposting on the other hand, continually adding more kitchen doesn't seem to affect the decomposing rate. Correct me if I'm wrong but this is what I understood from what I read online.

@heirloomjunkie: Vermicomposting involves the use of worms to decompost kitchen waste materials instead of just relying of aerobic bacteria. So essentially you add worms to the compost pit/bin and they decompose materials and thereby eliminate the need to continually turn the waste to ensure aeration.

Here's a link: http://www.journeytoforever.org/compost_worm.html

Also, is there alot of odor issues when using a compost bin or is that a sign of having done something incorrectly?

It is not a question of which is better. What do you want from what you do. As a general rule of thumb the finished product from vermicomposting is not as much volume as you would get from a 4 x 4 x 4 compost pile. Many people do both.

I do both. If you primarily compost just your kitchen waste I would go with the worms. Vermicomposting can reduce your waste materials as much as 90%, leaving a more concentrated compost. If you have a yard and/or garden you maintain, you should have a bin or pile. It will handle and produce greater quanaties. It really depends on your needs and situation. I don't think either method smells badly when done right.

If you're going to get enthused, you're going to want to have an outdoor compost bin of some sort or another. (You may want a worm bin, too, but a worm bin has a limited capacity.)

Both bins can be neglected for long periods of time, and both systems can be fed over time. Mystic, I can't imagine stockpiling my kitchen waste until I can build a whole pile. I do build instant piles (out of manure, grass clippings, hay, pumpkins, seaweed, leaves and anything else available that day) and they are my hotter piles, but there's nothing wrong with colder piles built over time. I can't imagine running a house without one. Putting rotting food in buckets or in the freezer waiting until I can build a 3'x3'x3' pile is unfathomable to me.

I do have enough space to run more than one pile, and I have access to materials, so I don't have to breathe down the neck of a pile like some people have to. In other words, I have enough bins that I don't really care how long my cold pile takes. I make two cold piles a year and at least five that I attempt to run hot. Here in Maine, though, I start my cold pile in November and I use it by spring, ready or not. My second cold pile is started in May and, ready or not, I spread it by November---often as a mulch around perennials. I've never seen any ill results from using not quite finished compost. If it's brown and is unidentifiable, I'll spread it. (I don't use woodchips or sawdust in my cold piles.)

I would say to anyone, if you have yard space, and no fear of wildlife, and don't have neighbors who can't appreciate the aesthetics of rotting garbage, you should have either an open pile or a pallet type or a hardware cloth bin (my favorite). If you can't have a real bin, due to the above restrictions, get a tumbler. For fun, and fertilizer, get a worm bin.

Worm bins yield worm castings---a richer fertilizer than compost.

A well-managed compost bin shouldn't smell. Mine wouldn't smell if I bothered to cover my nitrogenous offerings with some leaves. The worst was this summer when all my neighbors were bringing me lobster shells.

If you run an indoor worm bin, make sure none of your contributions are harboring slugs or slug eggs. I, who cannot kill things, had a thriving indoor slug bin going once.

Depends on:
1) Amount and type of household wastes
2) Amount of compost desired
3) Size of yard and grass and leaves available
4) Age and activeness of composter
5) Any fishermen in family?

vemicomposting will be fun for kids that like to touch slimy stuff or slugs in the garden.

The compost - there are many different kinds of composters out there from cheap to expensive. Cheap is putting 3 pallets together and adding 4 more pallets to make 3 bins plus 3 more pallets to keep out animals not including bears or creatures that jump (raccoons, cats, squirrels, etc.)

Thanks for the interesting insight on both methods!

Mine would be a combination of garden materials and kitchen waste. As a result I was leaning towards vermicomposting as you can constantly add materials without affecting decomposition time. I refuse to place food in buckets or freezer until I have sufficient waste materials.

Does constantly adding waste materials to a bin or a tumbler significantly add to the decomposition time?

Also, the one thing that concerns me about vermicomposting is the cold climate. I live in Canada which means we have harsh winter weathers. I reckon the worms would not be able to survive the frigid temperatures. So, how feasible is vermicomposting outside? Do you all simply shift the vermicomposting bin indoors or insulate it or simply not use using during the winter months?

Further, how much of a difference does a tumbler make? Is it just popular as it makes aerating the compost easy or does it also significantly reduce the time to make compost. I know some claim that the compost would be ready within 14days. It seems a bit improbable...

As annpat said earlier you can add constantly to a compost pile. That's what I've been doing and it seems to be working out.

As far as vermicomposting I doubt you could do it outside in the winter. It's more of a basement or backroom thing.

Probably tell I'm from Minnesota. No don't even think you can do a herd out side at -20F. A Warm basement is ideal. My herd is sharing the warm kitchen with me. So far stink is no problem. Love my Teddy worms LOL. I do have a compost pile I can't get to this year.

Curt~

"I live in Canada which means we have harsh winter weathers."

Sissy! ;-)

Tumblers do provide for excellent aeration but they do have to be turned. They are able to provide the conditions to accelerate the composting process but it does require a bit of care. I have yet been able to make what I call finished, mature compost in 14 days. There are pros and cons to tumblers.

Lloyd

P.S. Just kidding 'bout the sissy thing, we're up to -7C right now, veritable heat wave!

Really, as has already been said, it depends on your situation. I keep worms beacause its really handy for me to have them out on my balcony. My garden area is down some steps and behind the house so its not too handy for composting down there. The worms are just plain fun for me, but not everyone would think so. I live in socal, so outside temps are not a problem. I do have a small bin right in the house, but I haven't always done that. In my garden area I kind of use the lasagne method when I get ahold of leaves or starbucks coffee grounds. I'm very partial to the worms, but I also love to fish, so that is a big plus. Whatever method you use, be sure and have a lot of fun with it...steve

I have both the worms are eaisy and low attention needed i have left them for 2 months with no issues

I usually find kitchen scraps breaking down quite fast compared to say corn stalks so I add them up until my piles have hit peak temps and are starting to cool off I start a new pile and let the other one age for a few months

there is also a vermi forum on gardenweb and yes your worms have to come inside for the winter