Done With Worm Composting

Posted on Feb 8 2010 - 6:01am by Mike Lieberman

Categorized as

Composting

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I can honestly say that I am done with worm composting after killing my third set of worms. This isn’t much of a surprise since they were literally crawling out of the bin a few days back.

My first set of worms I killed because they were too damp. The second batch were too dry and this batch…obviously I have no clue because I keep killing them.

So I’ll leave it at three pounds of dead worms and likely start more aerobic compost bins in my kitchen.

I’m sure that there are some worms somewhere thanking whoever worms thank that they won’t have to go home with me.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKQ45uPnSdI

22 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

balconygardener February 8, 2010 at 7:17 pm -

Have been following your worm adventures and was sure third time was going to be lucky. So sad it's not to be.
dirtygirlgardening February 9, 2010 at 10:11 am -

Oh what devastation! Don't give up on the worms!!
Doug Robertson February 9, 2010 at 1:55 pm -

I was kind of waiting to see what luck you had with the worms before I would even consider that maybe later, but I think I'll pass; I'll take my lesson learned from your experience.
Mike Lieberman February 9, 2010 at 3:57 pm -

I'm gonna chill with the worms for now. Mass produce compost the way that I've been good at it and then maybe go back to the worms later.
Mike Lieberman February 9, 2010 at 3:58 pm -

I am giving up. At least for the time being.
Mike Lieberman February 9, 2010 at 3:58 pm -

Thanks. It's not mean to be for now, but I might give it another go at a later date.
RawDamon February 18, 2010 at 1:55 pm -

That sucks man…was hopin' you'd nail that one down for us. I saw tons of worms in my outside compost and just decided to leave that whole process out there and keep taking out my compost daily. It's pretty darn cold out there and they love it…I was wondering if yours were looking for colder digs?
Mike Lieberman February 18, 2010 at 7:19 pm -

I'm sure my stubborn ass will give it another go in the future, but want to chill with it for now and focus on generating as much as I can with my kitchen scraps. The growing season is quickly coming.
RawDamon February 18, 2010 at 9:55 pm -

That sucks man…was hopin' you'd nail that one down for us. I saw tons of worms in my outside compost and just decided to leave that whole process out there and keep taking out my compost daily. It's pretty darn cold out there and they love it…I was wondering if yours were looking for colder digs?
Mike Lieberman February 19, 2010 at 3:19 am -

I'm sure my stubborn ass will give it another go in the future, but want to chill with it for now and focus on generating as much as I can with my kitchen scraps. The growing season is quickly coming.
Scott Edward December 1, 2010 at 2:05 am -

I’m no Vermiculturalist at all but I’ve been trying to get some useful info on indoor composting and unfortunately I stumbled upon your page. I noticed you are using a transparent container and I would guess that this is probably the reason why they are crawling around the kitchen.
Mike Lieberman December 1, 2010 at 5:50 am -

Unfortunately, what’s up with that? I’ve since started to use a Worm Factory 360 with much more success. I don’t think it is the light color and I know others who have used completely opaque bins without a problem.
Cjlucke May 25, 2011 at 7:45 pm -

And they smell to high heaven when they die!
Mike Lieberman May 25, 2011 at 9:37 pm -

I’ve never experienced the smell. Guess I shouldn’t be complaining about that..
Sandieanne September 11, 2011 at 11:12 pm -

I have worms in clear plastic containers and they do fine! It is better to have an opaque bin because they don’t like the light but they did fine in the clear plastic containers from lettuce and spinach at Whole Foods. I would put my finished worm compost in those containers and leave it there for months. I never put the lid on tightly because they need oxygen. Invariably the worms that I missed after separating the compost and the cocoons produced many more worms. They thrived in there until I used the compost in my garden.
Mike Lieberman October 27, 2011 at 8:12 am -

Hahaha. Thanks. I hit him up.
Adam Brockett January 17, 2012 at 11:48 am -

My worms kept dying off too so, in frustration, I stuck my compost bin outside and forgot about it. When I remembered it two months later, it was thriving with worms. Six months later they’re doing fabulous, so every now and then I throw a little something more in there for them and rarely disturb the soil (which is a huge temptation to check in on them. I’m going off of the principle that neglect is the key, which is serving me well.
Mike Lieberman January 17, 2012 at 1:39 pm -

I might have to start neglecting them too.
Denisereese252 March 3, 2012 at 3:30 am -

I started vermiposting four years ago and what has worked for me is just leaving them be for weeks at a time. Doing too much upsets the process.
Sue Miller May 6, 2012 at 12:55 am -

don’t give up- I’ve found they like the coconut coir and sheep compost for bedding. Shredded paper leaves a mess, and I snip up cardboard into small pieces for them while I am watching tv. The sammaler and softer the food for them- the better. Cut up banana peels,shredded zuchhini,pineapple skins, sweet potato peels. I also use a worm factory. Keep trying.
Sue
Mike Lieberman May 7, 2012 at 7:24 am -

Thanks for the advice.