Worm composting is a method for recycling food waste into a rich, dark, earth-smelling soil conditioner using worms, the most popular being redworms or "wigglers". The advantage of worm composting is that this can be done indoors and outdoors allowing you to compost year around. Vermicast, or worm castings (that would be poop) is the end product when organic matter is broken down by worms. It provides anyone an easy way to compost.
Worm compost in its simpliest form is made in a container filled with moistened bedding, food waste, and redworms. As you add food waste over time the worms and micro-organisms will eventually convert the entire contents into rich compost.
You can buy containers on the internet, or just build your own. There are "how-tos" on various internet sites that give you great directions. You can use wood or plastic.
The container depth should be between eight and twelve inches. Depending on the size of the container, drill 8 to 12 holes (1/4 - l/2 inches) in the bottom for aeration and drainage. A plastic bin may need more drainage - if contents get too wet, drill more holes. Raise the bin on bricks or wooden blocks, and place a tray underneath to capture excess liquid which can be used as liquid plant fertilizer (liquid gold for your garden!). The bin needs a cover to conserve moisture and provide darkness for the worms.
You will need to provide a damp bedding for the worms to live in, and to bury food waste in. Suitable bedding materials are shredded newspaper and cardboard, shredded fall leaves, chopped up straw and other dead plants, seaweed, sawdust, compost and aged manure. All of this must be moistened before putting into the bin. Try to vary the bedding in the bin as much as possible, to provide more nutrients for the worms and to create a richer compost. A couple of handfuls of sand or soil should be added to provide necessary grit for the worm's digestion of food. You can compost almost any type of green food matter, pulverized egg shells, etc. Just avoid meat or dairy products as they will smell and attract flies.
For more information, check out these sites: www.gardenworms.com www.mamaswormcomposting.com www.css.cornell.edu/compost/worms/basics.html 