I don't think the kitty litter buckets have enough surface area to get a significant herd going. I know the feeling though, I am also always looking for something to do with them!

I would try to get a starter batch from a local wormer. Your extension office or local Master Gardener's group may be able to refer you to someone. You don't know what worms you have in your garden. Unless you are very lucky, the earthworms in your garden will not be as efficient as compost worms, and if they are deep diggers they could be very unhappy in your bins. You are better off attracting them to a compost pile outside.

Worms don't need to keep too cool, but a 55F basement should be acceptable. Redworms like it 65-80 for maximum production.

Worms love tea leaves. They are one of the first things to disappear when I toss them in. Like most creatures, though, they need some variety in their diet, so don't just feed them tea leaves. Anything organic that's not animal based is fine.

I would buy the worms. I use rubbermaid totes in my basement and they seem to be doing well after a week and a half. I've already seen some cocoons. I've given my worms some tea but they seem to really like UCG, used coffee grounds. Also, newbie hint, I suggest doing a mixture of newspaper and cardboard for the bedding. It seems to do better for moisture and aeration.

Thanks for the info... I wish the buckets would be large enough :( I read a post where someone did a small batch of worms somewhere. I was hoping to do the same.

I will look and see what I can do in a larger area. The basement has heat/ac so it is cooler than the house but not by much.

I guess I can order some worms somewhere, right?

I have plenty of organic matter to give the worms. A family of 4 has plenty of food trash!! I just need to learn what to add. I was thinking of starting the bin before the worms arrive so the food will get nice and yucky for the little buggers.

Karen

You can raise worms in buckets, but the herd will stay small. Your bucket might support a pound of worms, but not much more than that. For a family of 4, you will want a larger bin.

a pound of worms is just fine with me. I figure I will not send all the kitchen scraps to the worm bin just yet. I just want a few worms to get some poop for the garden :) Or maybe just a fun activity with the kids. My sons will like the worms I think.

Thanks for the advice everyone! I think I may try the smaller buckets for now. I sure hope I can get some cheap or free worms somewhere (hubby will kill me if I buy worms lol)

Karen

Karen ... I saw a picture [can't remember where] of one man's vermi-farm in plastic coffee cans. I'm sure the smaller bins will work. BTW - something that your kids might enjoy would be using a flashlight with red celophane over light to watch the worms in a dark room. It is hard enough for we adults to keep from digging around to see what our wrigglers are up to ... can just imagine kids. Also, have you checked out the blog .. redwormcomposting.com ? Bently has a lot of experiments that your kids might enjoy.

Here is a link that might be useful: RWC

thanks borderbard!

I am collecting materials to get the bin going today. I plan to get the bin ready before adding any worms.

Karen

Learn About Composting with Worms:
http://vermicomposters.ning.com/
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/verm/
http://thegardenforums.org/viewforum.php?f=42&start=0
http://www.klickitatcounty.org/SolidWaste/fileshtml/organics/compostCalc.htm
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu//topic/vermicomposting/vermiculture/worm_publications.html
http://www.wormwoman.com/acatalog/index.html

Books:
Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof
ISBN 0-942256-10-7
The Worm Book by Loren Nancarrow and Janet Hogan Taylor
ISBN 978-89815-994-3

Ask us:
jugglebuckets@gmail.com

Composting worms are available at:
http://www.findworms.com/
http://www.cityfarmer.org/wormsupl79.html
http://vermicomposters.ning.com/forum/topics/worm-suppliers
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting/vermiculture/resource.html

WOW!!!

karendee, I see you are west of Chicago. I am in Rockford. If that is not too far a trek, I could supply you with a small start of wormies. And maybe talk you through some basics? I am pretty new too, but sometimes it is nice to see what is going on. I actually have a previous worm bin around too...

wow you guys are great! Rockford is about 75 miles from me. Hubby might think I am crazy driving that far :) Thanks for the offer.

I have begun collecting stuff for my bin and put it in the kitty bucket. I may decide to get a larger system before I add worms.

I also have a bunch of brown bannanas I froze for bannana bread. I took 2 out and squished them over the pile of stuff I have. They are nice and slimy. I also added shredded cardboard, shredded paper, dirt and some clippings from my herbs and flowers (I even added some of the mint I have from the garden)

I figure I will get the bin nice and ready before the worms arrive. I also have red worms in the garden so I may try adding them first.

I will read here and learn as much as I can.

THANKS
Karen

I have my worms in two 4 gallon buckets. I would love some kitty litter buckets but with no cat I will have to scrounge around for some.

If you have a compost bin outside you should find some worms in there.

I have plenty of worms outside. I have a compost area that has them :)

Here is what I have in the bin so far (no worms yet)
Dirt/compost
bananas and peel (were frozen and I microwaved them to thaw)
yucky lettuce gone bad
garden leaves (mint, grass clipping, oregano leaves etc)
shredded cardboard (tp tubes and thin cardboard boxes)
some packing paper ripped in pieces

Plan to add
UCG
Tea leaves
egg shells
anything else that can get the bin going...

I am hoping to get the bin nice and ready before even adding any worms.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I am learning a lot.
I don't even have any worms and I can't leave my small bin alone. lol
I may need to find a larger one...

Karen