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Vermicomposting

Clarification on amount of kitchen scraps to feed

7 years ago

I have been researching this subject and I have seen multiple people say 1 pound (or 1,000) worms can eat either 1 pound of food per DAY or 1 pound of food per WEEK.

My bin is going to get roughly 1,000 worms and has a surface area of about 3.5 square feet.

The difference there is pretty big, I would think surely it is per week? If its 1 pound per day then I will need to try hitting up some local grocery stores and see if any will donate their food scraps because I don't think ill obtain 1 pound per day at home. Or maybe supplement with a worm chow? I definitely want the population to thrive and I plan on splitting the bin after my first harvest (god willing that I don't kill them somehow).

Featured Answer

11otis

7 years ago

1000 worms for 3.5 sq. ft., I would make a division w. a couple of vertical layers of corrugated cardboard and this will make it easier for the worms to find their partner, Less travel time and conserve energy. No need to empty the other half. You could put scraps for the next feeding there buried under the bedding.

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Comments (8)

tim45z10
7 years ago
I don't know your answer. I would not get caught up in a process that requires you to babysit. Throw your scraps in and let them take of themself.
Seun
7 years ago
Various foods differ in water content, digestibility and decomposability, CN ratio, palatability, physical structure, etc. All these factors affect the rate at which worms eat, so the only way to find out is by experimentation.
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thirstypotato
Original Author
7 years ago
I realize there are many variables and I think I will just start with my first feed at being 1/2 pound and see how long it takes to go through. I have gathered lots of different scraps so far from potato peels, sweet peppers, lettuce, baby carrots to cantaloupe scraps. I plan to blend it all together with a bit of apple sauce to make the blending go easier.
harry757
7 years ago
Thirsty, if you're blending your scraps you probably don't need the applesauce as it will most likely be wet enough. 1/2 pound to start is a good idea, if you have lots of bedding, then better to have too little food than too much. Worms don't seem to care much for potato peels so they take a long time to break down. Put them in a regular compost bin.

Harry
sclerid
7 years ago
I don't blend the scraps I feed my worms and wouldn't recommend it. Chopped to 1/2" pieces is fine and gives them plenty of surface area to work on.

As for amount and timing, start small, check periodically, and just add more when what you last gave them is gone.
baldeagleomelette
7 years ago
It is true what they say about melons - I dug into my compost pile and while the corn cob layer is still there, the melon layer has almost entirely disappeared, and smells of worm droppings.
dott
7 years ago
You are doing an indoor bin, if I remember correctly, yes? I would err on the side of caution and feed less, because I believe your worms will be plenty happy just processing their bedding to suit them for the first, oh, three weeks or so, if the oh-so-cool time lapse vid somebody so nicely posted on You-tube is any indication.

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