So in your case I would say it’s most probable that your worms are exploring after a relocation, because they are so newly placed. If you buy one from the store, it will come with holes already pre-cut into the box. Without proper airflow in the worm bin, the worms will essentially get poisoned to death from the carbon dioxide that is excreted from their bodies. Aeration (or aerification) is an important part of the composting process. Oxygen and nitrogen are two of the most important elements required for decomposition to occur, and they are found abundantly in air. This will create finished compost quickly. Uncle Jim recommends Red Worms for composting, and European Night Crawlers for composting, fishing, and releasing into the garden. Sooner or later your compost will get moist. Also, aside from covering new food items when they are placed into the bin, how often should one turn over a composting bin? It’s possible that the drainage holes are blocked, or there is something else wrong. Also, take care not to place it in direct sunlight or in a relatively cold environment. Worms are low maintenance creatures, but at the end of the day, they are still living beings that require certain essentials to survive. And I would not be surprised if underground composting keeps your yard a little bit warmer during the winter simply because the bacteria that break down the organic matter shed heat (as do all living things). You can purchase live composting worms (link to Amazon) and build a simple DIY worm bin that’s ready to go by the time they arrive. Hi, I’m Corey and I love using gardening as a way to provide food for my family, learn life lessons alongside my wife, Andrea, and teach life lessons to my two sons. Don’t overdo it, however, as this can create other problems (more on that later). Instead, a worm bin would be a much better option for those with many food scraps. Integrating air holes into the sides, tops and bottoms of compost bins would help to balance out the process and improve the overall rate of decomposition. Haven’t made worm tea yet but it’s been 3 solid months so it’s time to try it. Just like opening windows in your home on a spring day, air holes allows the temperature within the bin to regulate and not reach extremes. Composting is the process of taking your organic, biodegradable trash (usually food products) and turning it into a source of rich nutrients for landscaping, gardens, and farms. While compost tumblers are pretty expensive and a lot more time-consuming if you choose to DIY, they are a lot faster and more convenient for composting. I accidentally forgot it one night but had no escapees. ). link to How to Keep Crabgrass Out of Flower Beds, link to 5 Tips for Creating Beautiful, Low-Maintenance Flower Beds, one of the best methods of indoor composting, Red wiggler compost worms will eat slightly molded or rotting foods, shredded cardboard and paper and they’ll eat that too, Citrus fruits (affects pH of the bin so I recommend avoiding this). If something stinks, you might not have enough air holes. Follow the steps below to build one: Note: When the bin is ready, ensure that you place it in a convenient place. He knows exactly what the challenges are to nurturing a thriving yard in difficult soil. You want to avoid using poisons and pesticides in your yard. This will tell you why worm bins need air holes. 8-16 pieces of 2 by 6 lumber. Good airflow is one of the secrets to successful composting. Especially in my living room.). A good worm bin generally has these attributes: Worm bins for composting can be made from wood, plastic, old pallets, mesh wire, or cement blocks. The worms cannot get enough air, so they crawl onto the surface. Therefore, the oxygen spontaneously moves from the air, through the worm’s skin, into the worm. Aerating a Compost Pile without Turning It. Worms make tunnels by eating their way through organic matter and soil.