Worm Farming

A worm bin quietly turns kitchen scraps into the richest soil amendment there is, in a closet, garage or shady corner.

The setup

• Use a shallow bin (stacked-tray systems are easiest) in a shady, cool spot, vital in the hot South.
• Use red wigglers (Eisenia fetida), the composting worm, not garden earthworms.
• Bedding: damp shredded cardboard and newspaper, kept as moist as a wrung sponge.

Feeding

Yes: fruit and veg scraps, coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, tea, soft greens. No: meat, dairy, oily food, citrus and onion in quantity, and anything salty. Bury food under the bedding and don't overfeed.

Using the castings

Harvest the dark, crumbly castings every few months and mix a handful into planting holes or brew into a worm-tea drench. It's gentle, won't burn plants, and supercharges sandy soil.