Below are some of our most frequently asked questions by young & old alike. If you have a question that is not mentioned below send us an email and we will add it to the list.


Are the worms used in a worm bin the same as earthworms?

We raise Eisenia Foetida (Red Worms) When most people think of "earthworms", they usually mean "night crawlers," which can be 8-10" long and 1/2" in diameter. 

Night crawlers are soil-dwellers, they like to burrow several feet below the surface. By burrowing, the nightcrawlers mix different layers of the soil, while creating tunnels which aerate the soil. On the other hand, red wigglers are surface-dwellers and prefer to live within the top 6" of the soil (which is why red wigglers prefer shallow boxes as homes). Red wigglers are often found among the fallen leaves of the forest floor, as well as in manure piles.

Can worms bite?

Worms do not have teeth, therefore they cannot bite you. Do not be afraid to hold a worm. Most people find that the worms are soft and ticklish.

How Many Worms Do I Need?

The amount of worms needed will depend on the amount of kitchen waste generated per day. One pound of redworms will easily take care of each half-pound of garbage. To add worms to the bin, simply scatter them over the top. The skin on the worm reacts to light and they will immediately work their way down into the bedding to get away from the light.

What do I do if my bin smells?

Unpleasant odors in a worm bin may result from too much food waste, too much moisture, or composting cheese or animal products. A healthy bin will not have an unpleasant odor. Control odors by removing excess waste.  You can also make sure that drainage holes are not blocked and adding more drain holes or fresh bedding if needed. Always cover fresh food waste with at least one inch of bedding.

What is growing In My Worm Bin?

 You may occasionally notice patches of mold or sprouts in your worm bin. Molds and fungi are a natural part of the composting process, helping to break down the food waste. Vegetables may sprout in your bin because of all the nutrients present. These things will eventually be consumed by the worms and other organisms, but you can keep the mold or sprouts out of sight by covering them with bedding

Do worms die in the box?

It’s hard to find dead worms in a worm box, but they do die in the box. Dead worm bodies decompose very quickly, because their bodies are between 75%-90% water. If you find many dead worms you should find out the cause. High heat (above 84 degrees) is fatal to them. Too much salt or acidic food waste can kill them. It’s best to change the bedding with fresh materials to solve the problem. Sometimes, partially replacing bedding may solve the problem.

How long do worms live?

Often, worms live and die in the same year. They are exposed to hazards, dryness, too hot or too cold weather. Eisenia foetida can live for as long as four years.

Do worms need air?

Worms need oxygen to live. The oxygen diffuses across the moist tissue of their skin, from the region of greater concentration of oxygen (air) to that of lower concentration (inside the worm.) Carbon dioxide produced by the bodily processes of the worm also diffuses through skin. Moving from higher concentration to lesser concentration, carbon dioxide moves from the inside of the worm’s body out into the surrounding bedding. A constant supply of fresh air throughout the bedding helps.

Why is worm compost so good for plants?

Worm compost makes nutrients available to plants. When compost is mixed with water, it has the ability to hold many positively-charged mineral ions (cations), or nutrients, which can then be taken up by plants. Also, as worms process (digest) the food scraps, the nutrients in the food are changed into forms which can then be used by plants.

What are the bugs in my bin?

Worm bins have LOTS of different inhabitants. Most are very beneficial to a successful bin. Here are some of the most frequent questions regarding them:

My worm composting bins are infested with small flies, presumably fruit flies...HELP!  
Fruit flies tend to increase when the weather is warm and they are feeding on the fruit waste in your bin. If your bin appears to operating normally I would recommend burying the fresh waste when you add it to your bin as well as covering the top of the compost with a damp newspaper or cardboard. This will help to reduce access to the fruit that they feed on.
Are the little ball looking bugs harmful?
If they are mites then generally the answer is no. They are among the most numerous inhabitants in the worm bin, with many different species feeding on decaying organic matter, fungi and other organisms. They are generally found on the surface of the bin, though some predatory species will venture deeper if the material is loose and there is a food source. While beneficial to the system for the most part, it is not uncommon for mite populations to become so large that they stress the worms. Infestation level blooms generally occur on the surface of the bedding and cause the worms to remain in the lower areas of the bin and to decrease their activity. Mite populations can be controlled by removing the upper few inches of bedding during an infestation level bloom, or by placing melon wedges, fleshy side down on the bedding. This is a favorite mite food, and they will soon collect on the melon, which can then be removed from the system. Leaving the bin lid open and exposing the bedding surface to drying and UV light will also control mite populations.

The vast majority of mite species in the bin are beneficial organisms which make up a significant part of the bin ecosystem. Mite species which damage living plants are not found in the worm bin. Control of mite populations should only be considered if the worms are demonstrating stress behaviors like refusal to come to the surface, huddling in a ball, low reproduction or mass exodus. What worms consider to be infestation levels of mites is often very different from the human view.

Mites are cousins to spiders and have large bodies, small heads and eight legs. Their colors range from mottled brown, to red, to glossy white. Species of mite found in the worm bin pose no threat to garden plants or people.

The MOST asked question.......

What happens if you cut a worm in half?

Some species of worms can regenerate, or re-grow, a new tail, if their tail is cut off. However, a worm cut too closely to its' head will have difficulty growing a new tail. Most worms will not regenerate a head.

Generally, we tell students that if you cut a worm in half, you will most likely end up with two dead pieces of worms. However, if you are lucky, the piece with the head may grow a new tail, so you will have one alive worm and one piece of dead worm.