multi tier worm bins are real bad for brand newie worm wranglers. The trouble is they seem like simplicity itself. open lid and throw kitchen scraps which are 70% water in top tray and sprinkle with water. Over time these kitchen scraps 'decompose' and the worms eat upwards on the food, fungi, organisisms all muching away at these foods. The water and moisture from the kitchen scraps follow gravity to the bottom of the bin into the sump. So this bottom area tends to mainly be moist and smelly since new worm wranglers tend to not empty the leachate (which is toxic and poisonous) off enough, so the worms tend to dislike this bottom area since it has yucky stagnant water pooling there; its basically a swamp since it also contains worm castings. Thus new worm wranglers often drain off this foul smelling soup and flush the system with more water, but by 'overwatering' now they are compacting the upper layers with water molecules. this is because water acyaully is very heavy and it clings to itself, so the overwatering tends to compress the food bedding layers and the water clings to itself and displaces oxygen. So now we get anerobic decomposition and instead of aerobic methane that quickly disapates off in a well balanced oxygenated worm bin we get a compressed mass of food that slows down its decomposition due to lack of oxygen. Now we get ammonia gas and this gas kills worms real dead, so the worms must run away (into the bottom sump) or do a worm run and leave the bin entirely to avoid being gassed to death. So, to dry, to wet? the newbie worm wrangler tends to lighten up on how much water they add, so gravity tends to pull down moisture into the bottom layers and water sump. So now the upper layers of newer food tend to dry out more and worms breathe through their WET MOIST skin so they tend to move to where the water is (into the sump) luckily. AS long as they have a ladder to reclimb back up to the bedding layers instead of drwoning in the sump. Remember they need moisture to breathe so they dehydatrate if they stay up top. If it rains then they worm run away to the refreshing outside rain and die from sunlight or lawn fertilizer or whatever. So this is why (especially) with a sudden unplanned for run of hot weather that evaporates or transpirates your top layers of moisuture away your worms flee to the bottom sump layer for the life giving water. Remember without water worms are dead, dry bedding to a worm is the same as you crawling over broken glass or sandpaper without protection; it would not be nice so do not 'neglect' your worms. These factors and others are why multi tier worm farms are not the greatest for newbie worm wranglers, but remember worms are very resilient and people learn if they lose or hurt their babies (worms), so over time humans get better at 'listening' to what worms "like". Generally worms like being left alone to do their thing and mainly new worm wranglers try to hard to 'help' the worms with to much food or water but we humans usually get better over time, but of course you have to take note of the weather since worms cannot learn to drink from a tap; how could they turn it on ? ;)

Hello, I am pretty sure that you are talking about Springtails! They are basically in all worm farms and are harmless. You can just ignore them they will cause no trouble whatsoever for your worms or your worm farm. Have a look at the link below and you will find some more information about springtails and other worm farm inhabitants that you might find inside your bin sooner or later! Most of them are actually helping to break down the organic waste. Kind regards Stephan Here is a link that might be useful: worm farm inhabitants

Hi there, Sorry to hear about your losses. I once killed about 2 pounds on a hot day. Not pretty. I've seen the main cause of death for a new worm setup seems to be overfeeding. You may not be doing this, but for 1000-1550 in the first month I would have fed maybe once and only about a cup full of kitchen scraps, maybe 2 tops. One other thing I read somewhere "The Burrow" I think, was that worms don't really enjoy the dramatic change in habitat when moved from one system (type of bedding, feed etc.) to another. When I started, I saw similar kind of thing as you. When the first generation seemed to be expiring, the new ones started to thrive. And as for the bottom liquid area, I had the same thing happen so I packed it full of dry shredded newspaper and voila, they were all happy down the bottom too. I would shovel this mixture once a month back onto the top, and put in new newspaper. Been using bread crusts? I have found that pot wroms seem to appear when I use too many bread crusts. They seem to love the sugary bread, so now I put the crusts in my compost bin, and only occaisionally into the worm factory or totes. Stick with the first batch for a few months, and see what happens. You might get a nice surprise in about 8 weeks (ie cocoons start to hatch). Remember, underfeed, not over feed. It's critical. I started with 3 lbs about 2.5 years ago (paid almost $100), and now estimate I have 35 lbs in 10 totes and one worm factory, which I give away free to people who are interested. Good luck

I am also a newbie at worm composting and have some questions... Just reading through here had given me so much information and so many ideas! Thank you everyone. I am having some concerns about my worm bin. I have the Rubbermaid style bin with holes in bottom and on sides. It is inside my house and no one even notices it until I point it out. It doesn't smell at all unless I open it, and then it smells like old moldy food. The food scraps I have put in there do not seem to be getting eaten and are getting moldy, I know worms like the decomposing, are they okay with mold? I've stopped adding food, but am hoping to add it soon!! I also have a fly infestation, they are small brownish flies and seem to mostly stay in and around the bin. I would really like to get rid of them, but don't know if they are a menace or harmless. I also don't know how the best way to get rid of them is. I have torn paper and some torn cardboard pieces (all moistened) for bedding, I didn't have much soil to add, but just realized I have a bag of commercial compost I can add some of it if needed. Would that be helpful? I have about 200 worms (according to the container they arrived in) and know we will need more, but am hesitant to order them... I would like to find some in the yard, but am concerned about the how to and about getting the wrong ones... I stopped adding food after the first batch just sat there, but hate throwing away good worm food/compost material. Any suggestions? I have tried local cooperative extension offices and waste management sources, but no help there. My husband is tolerant at this point, but if it begins to smell worse or if flies get bad, he won't be happy for long! I guess I have more questions than I realized! Thank you all for the help!