This is an excellent project for urban dwellers.

It is easy to set up and you will be helping to recycle, renew, reuse - and create a whole new product - soil, perfect for planting seeds.

One of the best aspects of this project is that it allows you to see the relationship between food, compost and soil.

The size of the worm bin will be determined by how much space you have and how many food scraps you produce. You can construct the bin yourself out of wood, or buy a plastic bin, as long as you maintain a depth of 8-12 inches. (I've used plastic 20 gallon size bins successfully).

The best way to make this work is to have two bins, one for composting and one for harvested compost.

Materials:

1. Plastic storage bin (8-12 inches deep) with a lid

2. Hand drill or power drill to poke holes in the lid

3. Enough newspaper to create an 8-12 inch bed

4. Red worms Eisenia fetida or Lumbricus rubellus - from bait or pet shops*

5. Fruit or vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells, dead plants

6. Water bucket to soak newspaper

7. Plant sprayer to keep materials damp

*Two (2) pounds of worms will process one pound of food scraps

Construction:

1. Drill a series of 1/4 inch diameter holes in the lid and along the top edge of the bin

2. Shred newspaper lengthwise into long inch-wide strips and soak them in water

3. Put the damp shredded newspaper into the plastic bin

4. Rinse food peels to remove any microscopic insect eggs

5. Add items from above list - napkins are also OK

5. Add the worms

6. Cover with more damp newspaper

7. Cover with plastic lid

VERY IMPORTANT:

DO NOT add meat, fish or dairy products to this bin- avoid odors and fruit flies

Rinse fruit and vegetable peels to remove invisible insect eggs

If you add tea bags, remove the staples - they hurt the worms

Maintenance:

1. Make sure to turn the materials every day to allow air to circulate

2. Make sure the food and worms are always covered above and below

3. Keep the materials damp but not drenched (a plant sprayer works well)

3. If the bin is too wet the worms will drown, so add dry newspaper if necessary

4. Keep the bin in a well ventilated 50-80 degree Fahrenheit location

5. Remove the dark, crumbly looking soil called humus (this can take anywhere from one to four months)

6. Use humus to plant seeds in small pots or a window box - or your garden.

VERY IMPORTANT:

DO NOT leave the worms in humus, they will get sick.

If you live in house with a yard - this project can be done outdoors. Use leaves and lawn clippings in addition to newspaper.

For a half-century, writer and passionate naturalist JJ Murphy, has been providing nature programs, original curricula, articles, product reviews, books and open discussion to children and eco-aware adults across the USA. She lives in Harriman, NY. http://www.writerbynature.com Creative Content for Your Nature Endeavors