I was thinking that getting two of them might be a good idea. I have so much garden space that I want to be able to make as much as possible. For years I was able to get free compost from a town facility, but the past two summers there was nothing there. I've noticed my soil quality isn't as good anymore. Thanks for your response.

There are advantages to both systems. Because of my mild climate, I have an outdoor worm 'pit', rather than the bins used by many. Plus several slow-no-turn compost piles [don't use bins, though they sound very attractive] May I suggest that you browse around in the Red Worm Composting site? Some really helpful videos and info for newbie and experienced alike.

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Work Composting

Great site! He describes using a rubber maid container for worm composting. I've seen quite a few systems for sale that use trays. Does anyone have an opinion about which is better? What is the purpose of the trays?

I have both a Worm Factory (with 7 trays) and an outdoor compost bin (actually a 3-bin system). I started vermicomposting 2 years ago, and it is great for small amounts of kitchen scraps (it takes a long time for there to be enough worms to work quickly). I like having the worm bin mainly because I want the vermicompost, but there's no way I could put all of my kitchen scraps in it (too many scraps causes a very stinky mess). When I was researching what type of outdoor composter would work for me (I needed a system where I could add kitchen scraps & chicken litter on a daily basis), the bin seemed like the best fit. It was my understanding that the tumbler works best when you don't add to the contents of the original material to be composted, although I could've totally misunderstood.

It's definitely a good idea to have two bins, one to continually put your scraps in, and another that doesn't get new scraps, but finishes the older stuff that you take out of the first bin. I actually have a big Earth Machine bin for continuous use, and a home-made tumbler for finishing. By the time the Earth Machine bin is getting full, what's been finishing in the tumbler is ready. So I empty out the tumbler, and fill it up again with partially finished compost. I usually pick out any really large or fresh bits and throw them back in the Earth Machine.

I also have a slow, cold pile for making mulch. I have more browns than greens, so I pile up shavings and yard waste that I've shredded and let it break down for a while before mulching my trees with it.

--Maureen

Lisa -- worm composting is fast and easy and can be cheap too. If you do the 'cheap bin' or make your own small 'flow-thru' you can be up and running for around $35 total. I like to pre-compost as much as I can so that they can go through more/faster.

Lisa .... one part of the RWM site ... has to do with an experiment in "overfeeding" a worm bin. Lots of pictures, and as I recall, a video.
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His GETTING STARTED section also has excellent videos
http://www.redwormcomposting.com/getting-started/

scroll down to SETTING UP A BASIC WORM BIN

Here is a link that might be useful: WORM INN overfeeding

For me rubbermaid bin is the only way to go unless you have something else laying around that worms can play in the "systems" are to complicated and expensive just to get worm poop

I live in a warm area so I can compost all year through and also garden continuously. The way I see it is that I want my worms working for me in the garden so I make loads of compost with my piles and tumbler and just keep heaping it onto the garden as a feeding mulch.

In this way you end up with lots of worms working where you need them which is everywhere in the veggie patch.

So, now I'm thinking two tumblers AND a home-made vermicomposting bin (mostly because I need an interesting, indoor winter project). My daughters are not thrilled about having worms in the house. LOL!
I guess it's going to be a matter of experimenting to get the right stuff in each. I have a large yard with LOTS of garden waste, and like I said, lots of kitchen scraps.

Lisa-

Although I don't know how much material you generate, you could also try building a compost pile for next to nothing which would probably allow for as much if not more material to be worked on than a tumbler.

I love my compost tumbler, but it's because of living in a cramped city space. I combine that with burying a portion of my scraps, and feeding another portion to the worms.

A rubbermaid tub with a bunch of holes drilled will take care of a little bit, but it's not ideal (using a big wood box or ultimately the Worm Inn is)... nonetheless you'll learn right away if you like vermicomposting. I'd be surprised if you didn't. I second checking out RWC as your top resource...Bentley is the best when it comes to worm stuff.

You can experiment with vermicomposting with an empty 3 pound plastic coffee container to see if you like it. Puncture the container near the top with lots of small air holes (I like using an old nail that I've heated over a candle) and place several inches of shredded newspaper in the bottom. Don't put the air holes near the bottom because you could get stuff leaking out. Add your veggie and fruit scraps and the worms along with more shredded newspaper and wait. The vermicompost will be stuck to the inside of the lid. Oh, about your daughter's concerns, the worms can't escape if the lid is snapped down :-)

Pam

You may want to consider both. We have a large area so we built a compost corral, where we dump all the yard waste. I use this long term 6 month compost for all my outdoor veges and plants.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMYDuBsROg8&feature=channel

I also bought a vermi hut http://www.vermifactory.com/ $75 for 5 trays. I use this for all my kitchen scraps (5 people) I use the continuous made worm castings for my indoor plants, seedlings, compost tea - it's my black gold compost. Bought my worms from the worm guy redwromcomposting.com - so much great information on the website. Have fun!