How to Make a Worm Farm Made of Every Day Items

Worms are easy to care for and are actually useful pets. They recycle your food scraps into compost, and their housing takes up very little space. Worm farms are typically stocked with red worms or red wigglers, which is a type of worm that thrives in close environments and will migrate to find its food. When one level of your worm farm gets too full, set up a new living space with bedding and food, and these cooperative creatures will move to their new digs, leaving you with a container full of compost for your garden or potted plants that is free of worms.

Things You'll Need

  • Two 10-gallon plastic storage containers with lids
  • Cardboard
  • Newspaper
  • Drill with 1/4-inch and 1/16-inch bits
  • Eight 3- to 4-inch-high blocks or mugs
  • Spray bottle
  • Red worms
  • Soil, peat moss, leaves, grass clippings (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Attach the 1/16-inch bit and drill a line of holes around each container, 4 inches below the top, spaced about 1 inch apart. Drill 20 1/4-inch holes, spaced 2 inches apart, in the bottom of each container.

    • 2

      Tear newspaper into 1-inch strips and soak it in water for 24 hours to remove any acids left from the printing process. Remove the moisture from the newspaper so that it is damp rather than sodden. Place 3 to 4 inches of newspaper bedding in the bottom of one container, and add, if available, crushed eggshells, leaves, grass, non-colored paper or cardboard and a handful of garden dirt or peat moss.

    • 3

      Place an upturned lid where you will be keeping your worms, for the collection of any excess moisture that may drip out of the farm. This is referred to as worm tea and is an excellent liquid fertilizer. Place a block at each corner of the lid, and put the empty container, right-side up, on top of the blocks.

    • 4

      Put the remaining four blocks in the corners of the empty container and place the container with the bedding on top of that. Remove 2 inches from the top of the bedding and add your worms and their food. Replace the bedding over them. Fit a layer of damp cardboard over the bedding and cover the container.