I've been thinking about doing worms but worried about having them inside for the winter. Is it much of a problem? Do they smell? Do tell!
How did you get started? What do you keep them in? What was the start up cost?
What cute kitties! We have two also, one nice and one jerk!
PS your jugs are showing!!LOL!!
-B

Thank goodness you showed a picture of your worm bin! I thought you were talking about your cats! LOL! I've wanted to start one but I didn't want it in the house and it's too cold to have one outside. You can find lots of useful information on the veracomposting forum.

Oh my goodness! I looked at the first picture and thought to myself.. "awe... Sam!". He looks just like my beloved Sam. Sam found my family one chilly fall day, he was starved and beat up. He sole our hearts away and it wasn't long before he was the beast of the neighborhood! All 22 lbs of pure muscle! He's gone now, 25 years later and I still miss him...

The picture of Cocoa reminds me of our late Abby, a Main Coon we had. What a lovey she was!

We have two cats now, as well, plus "Spot the Wonderdog". All rescued from the shelter.

YES! Do tell us more about your worm farm/bin. If I can't farm four or two legged creatures, no legged cratures will do!

Nice jugs you've got in the background there too Carol!

I am curious about the smell too - do you ever notice it?

Diana

Hi,
No, never any smell, of any kind.The worms eat every thing so quicly,i guess there is no time for a smell to build up.
When i drain the "liquid gold",there is no smell from this either,and i use it every other day to water my house plants.
The "poo",i usually do not mess with in the winter, but come spring, it will go to my flower beds.

I have a hang over on my kitchen counter top, where one might place a stool,this is where my bin lives.No one has ever even asked me what it is,funny,huh?No one knows i have worms in the house,and when they do find out, they are usually interested,and want to see them.

I orderd mine on line,there are a lot of places you can buy them,I bought mine from "The Worm Factory",about $1,000 worms were extra,1,000 worms,i think were $49.00,when the worms arrive, you think, there is no way there are 1,000 worms here,but there wil be,along with lots of eggs.

Yep, see what i mean, all i have to do is open the back door and stick them out side,execpt now, my porch is full,so i am starting to fill up the front porch,looks like a hillbilly set up back here,ha ha,and i say that with kindness, hubby is from the south,there is a difference though,believe me.

Glad you enjoyed my jugs,haven't heard that in awhile,ha ha
Carol

Wow, I'm intrigued. I might have to do this...hmmm...now where do I have room for it...

hey, did you show this to the folks over at the soil/mulch/compost forum?

Carol,

The worm bin is very cool. Your plants must be very happy.

What pretty kitties! The orange fellow looks like my little guy, Hobie. He is super sweet but very demanding. MUST drink out of the faucet, picks on his sister, and will bother me relentlessly if his meals are a minute late. I also have two girls, Jackie, a grey and white, and Sydney, a brown tabby. Both are super sweet and mellow.

BTW, nice jugs.

Amy

No, I have never been over to the soil/mulch/compost forum,i only have been here and the hosta forum.
Amy, we really love our kitties,well, Cocoa is 5 years old,Sammie is still young, about 10 months,
BOTH, love to drink from the sink,something i really don't like.but they insist,yes they do,all you who don't have a cat, they insist,i tell you.
Carol

Thanks for sharing Carol! Wonderful cats mine is identical to your red one.. They must be twins.. LOL

I received Gardeners suppy company catalog in the mail yesterday they have the worm bin listed as 159.0 and 2 lbs of red wiggler worms for 39.95 . Thanks for starting the thread Carol...Great idea and it doesnt smell either...Barb

Hi Carol- I forgot to mention that you'll enjoy the Vermicomposting forum for this, too. Some great discussions on this whole concept!
Have fun with your bin!

Here is a link that might be useful: Vermicomposting

Wow ! Just one more hosta, Those are beautiful kitties you have there. I love your worm bin too. Don't have one yet, but your post has motivated me to start worm composting in the Spring.

Price range at The Worm Factory web site appears to range from $87-100. Pretty interesting that you can keep it in your kitchen.

I have a question. I have bunches of worms in my compost bin outside. Can I use them inside in a worm bin? They look a lot like the ones in your pictures. I don't need 2lbs of worms. I live alone and don't create a lot of kitchen scraps aside from some veggies and coffee.

I really think this topic would be better served on the vermicomposting forum, but it's most definitely excellent that it was brought up so that it piques interest in the subject so we can better our garden spaces.

Here is a link that might be useful: Here's a relavent post for token's question

That was very interseting reading mmqchdygg,and sure to answer any questions put to me, i just am a little person doing a little composting in her kitchen.

I do wonder however why,when i was just a small girl, my dad raised worms in the basement for fishing,and he would sell them also,no fancy equipment,he used shredded newspaper,coffee,and table scrapes,and his worms did just great,they were earth worms,not red wigglers.All the scintific information is great,but i guess years ago, there was no one to tell you your couldn't do it, you just did it.Interesting isn't it.
By the way, are them people over there just a little grouchy?Man!I think i'm gonna stay over here,ya-all are so nice.:0)
Carol

Carol, I tend to only read the soil/composting forum. There's a lot of hostility over there. I think they spend too much time thinking about decaying matter rather than seeds and new life. LOL

Yeah, you gotta take them with a grain of salt over there. Take what you need for info, and leave the rest. It's easy to pick out the personalities and who you would 'gel' with on threads.
But if you want specific information on the topic you're curious about, you're more likely to find your answers on the specific forums. No one says you have to participate.

I've often found that the scientists among us (all forums) tend to be very territorial wrt their specialties. We thank them for their contribution to the planet & humanity, hopefully gleen some good information to keep us all on the right track, and keep on truckin'.

Cheers!

I like the cats and your post. Glad you posted here or I would have missed it. I was not interested in worms but now I am.

Carol,

My DH isn't going to be happy about this- now I'm going to be whining about getting a worm bin and it's all your fault! LOL!!! Your kitties are gorgeous creatures, you can tell Sammy is a love muffin and Cocoa is an ingrate diva- just kidding! How much worm doo can they produce during the winter?
Token and Mmqchdygg- ROFL!!! Sounds like they need some serious Margaritas over there!

Your cats are lovely and if I didn't have a toddler I'd be tempted by the worm bin. My kitten used to look just like yours. He is a bit older now. He prefers to drink out of my cup when I'm not looking by putting a paw in. After being hissed at he goes and checks the faucets. I love the white tipped tail with all the rings, mine has that too and is cuddly.

Carol,

Thanks so much for posting this here. I received a couple of E-bay gift cards for Christmas and now I think I know what they are going to be used for...Ebay had 51 listings as of last night for worm bins! Just look what you've started. (Glad you did!)

Mechele

Good evening garden buddies,
I am so happy to see so many interested in this great hobby.You will love it Mechele,make sure you get every thing you need,you can e mail me with any questions you might have,at any time ok.
And thank you all for your kind words about my feline friends,
Yep,Cocoa is the Queen around here,the rest of us are her servents,ha ha
Carol

Ah Flood, the ol' paw in the glass routine, I know it well. My boy will drink out of anything except his bowl. LOL! He's a little oddball.

Amy

Carol, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your pics and info about your worms and of course your little furbabies. :)
I am very interested and it is definitely on my list of things that I want to do when I can. Don't tell DH, but so is getting a kitty someday when my grey-girls are gone (not that I am rushing that....they are wonderful and I LOVE them! :)
thanks again...I think you have several converts on here now!! ;-)
gg

Carol,
I ordered it! I won't get the worms for it right away, too cold to ship them. I'm going to check around for a local source. Thanks again for posting this here.
Mechele

Mechele,
Oh i am so happy for you,you are the only one i know tyhat will have a bin,so cool.
What type did you buy?
Will you be keeping it in the kitchen?
I am excited for you,did they say when they will ship the worms?
Please let me know will you,you can e mail me if you like.
Carol

That's the exact same bin I have down to the color - isn't it great!

Oh mannnnnnnnnnnn...you had to show me this!!! Now I want one.
Where'd ya get it? Did it come with worms??
And I particularly like those two big ones at the beginning...cutest worms I've ever seen :)

Linda

Hey,hi Linda & kathi,

Kathi,yes, i love my worm bin.i have had mine for about a year now,i will never be with out it.How long have you had yours?

Linda,ha ha ha,you should have a worm bin,every one should.
I bought mine from The Worm Factory,you have to order the worms seperate,and they olny ship when it warms up a bit.
Mechele just bought one,she can tell you when they will ship the worms.I absoultly love it,i throw all my kitchen scrapes in it,and get the reward of good black gold,and worm tea.

The two big worms at the beggining are Cocoa & Sammie,you won't find cutier worms any where.

Carol

Carol,

The one I ordered is also The Worm Factory. I got it on Ebay. It is the 5 tray model in black. The black one is made from recycled plastic, the other colors of the same design aren't recycled. I will probably keep it in a corner of the kitchen, at least that is the plan for now, seems like the most convenient place. I did not order the worms yet. I want to get it set up and ready before I order worms. By the way, I priced them on Amazon also and found that Ebay was cheaper. Mine was $75 with $15 shipping. I'll let you know how it goes.

Mechele

WOW!5 trayes,lucky you. :0)
I am happy for you.:0)
Carol

I just got my worm bin today...the worms are on there way.
The place I ordered both from says the worms double their population in 3 months! What am I going to do with 500...1000...2000...worms?????
This is becoming a scary proposition...I guess I'll be feeding the birds more than just bird seed...
Linda

Worms are so fun!
So glad more people are getting interested! And I agree that the other forums are not quite as friendly! I have had two bins outside for two years. One three tray one and one old trash can, AND now I have one INSIDE! I found a slim trash can I drilled holes in and it fits well under my counter.
Carol can I ask you, do you keep your inside one inside all year?

Are flies ever a problem?
Thanks so much
Audrey

Hi Audrey,
Yep, I keep them in my kitchen all year around.This spring i will be seperating them,as i know i have well over 2,000 now,i did put a few out last fall in the garden,when i emptyed the compost.

Flies have never been a problem,nor any knid of smell.
I love my worm bin.
cAROL

When I read up on one in a website it seemed very hard to get all the conditions right: too much/little food, moisture, could kill the worms. I'm definitely into low maintanence gardening (that's why I love WS ;P), is it easy for you or is it difficult to maintain?

Hi Pull,
The worm bin is so easy,i forget it is even in my kitchen.
All i have to do is take off the lid,throw in my kitchen scrapes,put the lid back on,done!

The bin i have has a spicket on the bottom,you can see it in the picture,just drain off the liquid gold into a container,every two weeks or so,and use that to water your plants,it's great stuff.Then a couple times a year,you can take all the compost from the bottom tier,and spread it around in your flower beds.
It really is that easy,i will never be with out a worm bin in my kitchen.
You should get one-really.
cAROL