I have had red wigglers in a bin in the basement for a LONG time (maybe fifteen or sixteen years?). For me, they have been a great way to compost my kitchen waste because my yard was too small for a regular compost bin, and besides I live in New England where it is too dark and icy for much of the year to really have a flourishing compost bin--at least not a small one. Anyway, that was long before I had access to the internet and wonderful resources like this forum, and even before Mary Appelhof's book (which later became my bible!) All I knew was that these red wigglers could consume my peelings, eggshells, corncobs, and leftovers, and that I should tear some newspapers into strips and throw the strips in too. And it worked! Over the years I have set quite a few people up with their own Rubbermaid tubs and a starter set of worms, and once when I did lose my worms (I moved during the winter and they ended up freezing) I was able to start up again with a cottage cheese container full of worm-filled compost from an old friend whose worms were the progeny of my original ones! So I am an old-timer at this, and despite that fact, I have only recently joined this forum and am absolutely amazed at how much I have learned. I love it! And I just love the fact that so many people are getting worms. I think they are terrific, and I don't understand why everybody doesn't have them! (Well, maybe the fruit flies might explain a lot.) To those of you new to vermiculture, I say welcome! Thank you for your enthusiasm, and for contributing to making our world a better one. And please don't worry too much about what to give your worms or not to give them. They are sturdy and forgiving little creatures, and even if you have a set-back, you (and they) can recover. And I know from personal experience that not everything people warn you about is that much of an issue. My worms have always had to contend with the fact that I view them as responsible for taking care of ALL my kitchen waste and turning it into lovely castings. I had no idea that oatmeal was verboten! And neither did they, apparently. And I think vermicomposterchild is very wise to have two bins, because that way of one of them has a melt-down, she will still have plenty to reintroduce to the process. Probably that won't happen, but it's comforting to know. (To me, anyway!) Worms are great, and so is this forum. When I have a problem or a question, I know just where to come. Keep up the good work, everybody! Betts

Thanks for the replies. I just added some food to the bin. I took a few carrot ends, some celery tops and bottoms, some lettuce, a little corn, an apple core, and a coffee filter and grinds. It was maybe two handfuls tops. I put it in one of the corners. I then took the worms and compost I got from the community garden and dumped it over the food and sort of spread it out so the dirt/compost would get in with the food. I then covered it with a few inches of newspaper that I soaked and squeezed until there was very little water if any dripping off of it. I am going to try my best to not open the bin for a few days. I didn't realize how much scraps I collected from one evening of cooking. It makes me want to go out and buy three more bins! Now it is time to freeze my left over scraps. I never thought I would say that.

First of all I would not use aluminum foil trays over a rack and sterno butners. And I still don't know the quantity that a half tray holds. I have done more than a few engagement parties for 60. One thing I made was a sort of BBQ turkey dish....served hot in a large chafer with the rest kept hot in the kitchen and replinished. Sides were a pasta salad...with I think peas?? Rolls and a broccoli salad. Another time I made cornflake chicken....you know chicken rolled in evaporated milk and cornflakes and baked.....sides were potato salad and coleslaw...it was summer! Another time I did a casserole of hamburger and rice ( that was bad....I didn't make it!) How about a ham....either spiral cut or a boneless you cook and slice....a side of creamed dilled potatoes, pineapple and cheese casserole, marinated veggie salad and rolls. For appetizers you could do wings and a cheese platter and crudites and dip. I have also done a similar party with a huge whole poached salmon and platters of sliced ham and turkey a rice pilaf of brown rice cooked with onions, celery, and pecans and dried cranberrys,a marinated veggie salad, rolls and dessert. Remember the KISS principal...Keep It Simple Stupid! LOL! A meat dish or perhaps 2...a starch a veggie, salad and rolls is lots. Another thing I have doen is meatloaf....made special by a spinach mushroom and blue cheese filling...simple oven browned potatoes a veggie, tossed salad and roll.....appetizers and dessert. Shout if you need recipes. Linda C

How much you need is partly determined by what other food you have. If the veggie platters are the main thing, you will need more than if they are one of many food choices. What I usually do with veggie plates is to get more or less even amounts of stuff. It seems easier to arrange nicely that way. If I read your post correctly, and I may not have, I would get the same volume of cucumber and celery as you did of carrot and broccoli. If you haven't purchaced anything yet, I would assume each guest would have about 6 pieces total more or less divided equally. 150 pieces of each veggie. More if you want to ensure leftovers. Oh, and cherry tomatoes or olives are good accent bits to veggie platters.