what kind of bin? indoors or out? worms don't like light so in an uncovered bin, will never surface, but in an outdoor bin, you can take care of that by using some wet bedding material for a surface cover - shredded paper, a layer of wet corrugated cardboard [they like the glue], an inch of grass clippings renewed regular, etc - indoors in a small bin a cover might help maintain the moisture in the top part, keep light out so the worms can swarm scrap additions, and help keep any smell down and flies away Bill

I just moved mine out into the garage. It stays cooler in the back of the garage than almost anywhere else, it's out of the sun, wind and rain. I'd like to have them in the house somewhere, but there just doesn't seem to be an appropriate place for them. Funny isn't it that we provide a stinky old sandbox for our cats to sh!t in, but nice, quiet, sweet-smelling, little worms have no place in our home. Hinky! Cheryl

Again, I thank you two for your input. I have begun to do some research based on the things you guys had to say here and I am becomming very excited about the possibilities and potentials I have in my present situation! I also followed that link you gave me, tclynx, and found the most remarkable articles down at the bottom of the page called THE BURROW. It has the story of a guy's experiments with his worms and his findings, which already gives me some understanding of why I may have all these worms after all. I am also getting a feel that it isn't brain surgury and that I can actually improve my overall soil condition while getting rid of my little bit of food scraps. This is exciting! I also located pictures of what other people are doing to make their worm beds, plus, I lurked through all the things I could find in the forum and I have a much better idea of what a bed of worms consists of. It seems that any bed I can build for plants is potential as a worm bed as well. Also, plank pathways with leaf debris or shredded paper as a base will also encourage the worms as that is what they were doing when I found them, laying under stuff. I think I am going to purchase one of the containers / or perhaps make my own container and do some real experimenting. But, now I know that I can keep them outside...and if they don't have enough food with shredded paper and leaf fall and downed rotting trees...then they never will have enough food. I will keep that bag of leaves and test for worms in the spring. I think that the worms may have crawled in there by themselves already and I will report what I find. I also wondered if I could put bedding in a gallon plastic milk carton, punch holes in it all over, keep it damp and throw in 3 pairs of worms to see if I can get a carton of soil and a bunch of worms. I actually fixed up that experiment about a week before joining the forum and I dated the milk carton. I just had to know what is possible as my main interest started out being plants. Again, it is appreciated greatly that you both have responded. I can't tell the difference between species or breeds of worms and may never be able to, but as long as they eat until my soil is beautiful, that is enough for me, at this point. Thanks a bunch of worms! =o)

Have a look at this: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/verm/msg100653415954.html I have since abandoned this idea and gone for the flow through system it works much better http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/verm/msg042040421641.html