How to Stir Up a Worm Bin

You may think you need to stir up your worm bin to aerate it. But your worms will be happier if left undisturbed in their environment. Think of them working with a "do not disturb" sign as they labor to create compost out of your food leftovers. Leave your worm bin alone so their castings (poop) stay at the bottom of the bin and are not stirred into unprocessed bedding and food, agricultural extension specialists say. If your worm bin becomes slimy and smelly, learn ways to rectify the situation so that you do not rely on stirring up the contents. Reserve stirring the bin as an emergency measure.

Things You'll Need

  • 3-tined hand cultivator
  • Rubber gloves (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pull back the bedding gently with a three-tined cultivator to add food to the worm bin. Cover the food back up with bedding. Do not feed the worms again until the food is consumed. Remove uneaten food, such as onions, so that it does not go anaerobic, creating a foul odor.

    • 2

      Add some dry bedding if moisture or water is ponding in the bottom of the worm bin. Leave the lid off the bin to dry it out if adding more bedding does not fully address the problem.

    • 3

      Use a three-tined hand cultivator to stir the worm bin, and leave the bottom layer undisturbed so the castings remain there. Do this in the event of a near-emergency, where you have added bedding to combat anaerobic bacteria and their odor and need to incorporate odorous materials into the new bedding. Gently stir only the top areas of the bin.