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Page 2 of 2 Feeding your worms
At first, the worms are fed at most half their body weight per day. It is best not to add new food on top of old food until the old food has been processed by the worms. You can either place food on top of the existing layer of bedding in the bin and then cover with another layer of bedding and repeating every time the bin is fed or alternatively maintain a top layer of bedding and bury food in different locations each time to give the worms time to decompose the food in the previously fed pockets. The top layer of bedding is then replenished as necessary.
Food suitable for worms includes coffee grounds and filters, tea bags and plate scrapings, as well as rotting fruit, vegetable peels, leftovers, moldy bread, etc. If too much kitchen waste is added, the bin mixture putrifies before the worms can process it and becomes harmful to the worms. High-protein foods like beans are particularly susceptible. To balance this effect add shredded newspaper. An occasional sprinkling of garden soil in the bin gives the worms grit they need to digest food.Things to avoid feeding your worms
High-water-content materials like watermelon rind adds a great deal of moisture to the system with very little food for the worms, and should be added sparingly as they disrupt the moisture level of the system. Grass clippings and other products sprayed with pesticides should be avoided. Although worms can digest proteins and fats in meat scraps, these materials can attract scavengers. Pests can largely be avoided if a sealed bin is used where the pests cannot access the material. Too much oil or fat can hinder the breathing of the worms, as they breathe through their skin. Worms cannot break down bone and are said to dislike highly spiced foods such as onions, garlic, and salt.
A bin with a strong odor is usually due to too much greens waste. This can be overcome by adding shredded newspaper to the mix to absorb excess moisture. Stop adding food to the bin until a substantial portion of the uneaten food has been turned into compost. The carbon will absorb the nitrogen and form a compound that is not smelly. Bin Maintenance
Worms and other composting microorganisms require oxygen. This can be accomplished by regularly removing the composted material and liquid fertiliser. If insufficient oxygen is available, the decay becomes anaerobic, producing a strong odor and creating a toxic environment for the worms. Harvesting
Your worm compost is ready for harvest when it contains few to no scraps of uneaten food or bedding. The dark brown waste liquid that drains into the bottom of your worm farm is also excellent as fertilizer.
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