Vermicomposting

Prepare the bedding for worm bin. You can use newspaper, cardboard, dry leaves or cocopeat, or a combination of them.

Cut newspaper and cardboard into small pieces and soak them in water. I soak my coco peat in water as well, but this should be optional.

This is my first bin, and I don't want the worm to escape to the bottom bin where the worm tea is stored. I use some cardboard to cover the holes.

Layer 0: I put a piece of newspaper at the bottom layer (optional).

Layer 1: I squeeze the water out from the soaked newspaper and cardboard, and layer them on top of the newspaper.

Layer 2: I squeeze water out from the coco peat and layer them on top of the newspaper / cardboard layer.

Layer 3: Dry leaves. Optional you could put in animal manure or compost to introduce microorganisms into the sterile mix.

Layer 4: You cover the top layer with some dry cardboard / newspaper / cloth. This is to trap moisture and prevent attraction of insects.

Don't compact the bedding and keep them fluffy. If you didn't soak your bedding material in water, you might want to spary water on the bedding to keep them moist.

My bin is only 7 inches tall, and my bedding is about 3 to 4 inches.

Bedding should be prepared 5 to 10 days prior to introducing worms into the bin.

Some introduce minimal kitchen waste into the bedding during preparation, while others only put in kitchen waste 7 days after the worm move in.

I prepare a small cardbox as staging area for my kitchen waste, so that I don't need to store axcess kitchen waste in the fridge.

It is actually Japanese Cardboard Compost using Cocopeat and Rice Husk Ash (add water to keep moist). I am worried the worm might not like ash, so I only add in a minimal amount of ash in this staging compost box.

I am not sure whether this idea of staging compost box for the worm bin will actually work.

The bottom is reinforced with extra layer of cardboard, and the bottom gap is sealed with tape to avoid insect getting in. Cardbox is breathable, so there is no need to drill hole. Cover the top with an old t-shirt.

The African Nightcrawlers worms finally arrived today.

Lay them out in the bin, and they will slowly move into the soil to get away from the light.

I keep the bin indoor (avoid sun), cover the soil with a layer of newspaper to keep moisture and avoid insects infections.

Since the top plastic cover has holes where insects could easily crawl in, I cover it with a layer of old cloths.

I decide not to put in kitchen waste first.

The great escape on day one. Dozens of worm escape through the bottom water holding container, and a few escaped outside the box. There are a few casualties as well.

I switched on the light, and this seems to prevent further escape.

The worms doesn't seem happy, where the linger on the surface of the soil.

Try feeding some fresh kitchen waste to the worm.

Feed the worm kitchen scrapes from my enzyme bottle.

Casualty of teenage and baby worm who escaped.

Added a bit more kitchen waste to the bin as I harvest my 2 weeks enzyme. I experiment worm food of

• fresh kitchen waste
• fresh enzyme waste
• enzyme waste composted for 2 weeks

I noticed the worm have yet to dig in on the last batch of kitchen waste 5 days ago. Perhaps they prefer cardboard or newspaper instead. Will not add more kitchen waste unless it is eaten up.

Made a top mesh cover for the worm bin out of wooden picture frame (have it custom made at the picture frame shop for RM 10).

I guess it is unavoidable for the worm bin to attract all kinds of insects, even though I was cautious in securing and covering in the bin in an indoor environment.

Today I found some snails, either it is from leaves or bedding which comes with the worms. There are at least another 3 types of unidentifiable insects crawling around.

The corn fed to the worms sprouted in the bin.

I fed 2 kinds of kitchen scraps

• Fresh one
• Dip in enzyme microbes for 2 week

I have yet to find if the worms prefer fresh ones or soften ones.

Harvest some vermicast for latest batch of Lettuce planting.

The corn growing well within the worm bin without sunlight.

Harvested in the corn microgreens in the worm bin after 10 days. Some tasted sweet, while others slightly bitter.

Plenty of tiny black insects in the worm bin. Put in a white cloth (so you can see the insects clearly) for a few days, the insects would attach to the top or bottom of the cloth, remove the cloth and soak in soap or enzyme to kill the insects.

This would help to keep the insect population under control.

Some of the worms prefer the bottom layer, bringing along the vermicast.

I harvested some vermicast in a container, remove some unwanted worms/insects/snails and let it dry for a few days before usage.

Have a tiny snails infestation in the bin. Nothing much could be done except to pick them up whenever I see them.

Is this a worm cacoon?

Another unwecomed residents of the bin.