How To Compost At Home

Composting made simple

Here is what you'll need!

DIY Vermicompost Bin

MATERIALS
1 plastic bin with a lid (at least 1 cubic foot)
1 plastic tub/tray (shorter and wider than the one above)
Shredded newspaper (can’t be shiny)
3 cups soil
Water in a spray bottle
1 pound red wiggler worms
1 large sealable container
Power drill
⅛-inch drill bit
Activated carbon (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS
Drill 12 air holes into the lid of the plastic bin, 3 near each corner of the lid.
Drill 6 more air holes into each side of the of the plastic bin, near the top of the bin.
Drill 6 holes for drainage near the bottom edges of the bin, on the front and back.
Fill the tub with shredded newspaper and dampen it with the spray bottle. The newspaper should be approximately 3 inches deep.
Add the soil to the newspaper bedding. Ensure that the soil doesn’t contain harmful chemicals.
Put the shorter tub/tray under the bin, it will hold the excess liquid or “worm tea” that exits the bin through the drainage holes. This liquid can be be used for the plants in your garden.
Add the worms to the bin and close the lid.
Collect food scraps in a sealable container, such as a jar or tupperware. Feed the worms once a week, 3.5 lbs of food per lb of worms. Cut any scraps into smaller pieces. Below is a list of items that can and can’t go in the compost bin.
Cover the food scraps with soil to avoid attracting flies.
Optional: Tape a packet of activated carbon near the top of the bin to reduce any odor that may emanate from the bin.
You may start harvesting your compost in as early as a month, just make sure to pull the worms out before adding it to your garden.

Food for Compost Bin:
Can Use:
-Fruits
-Vegetables
-Coffee grounds
-Tea leaves
-Dried flowers
-Household plants
-Eggshells

Can’t Use:
-Meat
-Dairy Products
-Spicy foods
-Salty foods
-Oily Foods
-Large amounts of citrus
-Toxic ingredients

MUSIC
Wholesome_Full
Licensed via Warner Chappell Production Music Inc.

STILLS
Banana peel icon in cartoon style
Ylivdesign/Getty Images
Bitten apple, whole, half and slice isolated on white background
Godruma/Getty Images
Cute cartoon earthworm
Sudowoodo/Getty Images
Getty Images: Cute cartoon earthworm Cute cartoon smiling worm drawing. Little pink earthworm isolated vector illustration. Details Credit: Sudowoodo Creative #: 671789496 License type: Royalty-free Collection: iStock / Getty Images Plus Release info: No release required Bitten apple, whole, half and slice isolated on white background Bitten apple, whole, half and slice isolated on white background vector illustration. Mark of bitten fruit with black seeds Details Credit: Godruma Creative #: 681763388 License type: Royalty-free Collection: iStock / Getty Images Plus Release info: No release required Banana peel icon in cartoon style Banana peel icon in cartoon style on a white background Details Credit: Ylivdesign Creative #: 678674582 License type: Royalty-free Collection: iStock / Getty Images Plus Release info: No release required

VIDEO
CU Senior woman's hands planting tomato plant in garden, Richmond, Virginia, USA
Ariel Skelley/Getty Images
CU Shovel throwing dirt over compost pile / Portland, Oregon, USA
Sons of Thunder Enterprises Inc/Getty Images
compost
John James Wood/Getty Images
Getty Video: compost Worms added to kitchen waste to create rich, natural compost. Details Credit: John James Wood Creative #: 491254170HD License type: Royalty-free Collection: Photodisc Clip length: 00:00:18:19 Release info: No release required Mastered to: QuickTime 10-bit ProRes 422 (HQ) HD 1920x1080 25p More information CU
Shovel throwing dirt over compost pile / Portland, Oregon, USA Details Credit: Sons of Thunder Enterprises Inc Creative #: 98305468HD License type: Rights-ready Collection: Image Bank Film Clip length: 00:00:16:00 Release info: No release required Mastered to: QuickTime 8-bit ProRes 422 (HQ) HD 1920x1080 23.98p More information CU
Senior woman's hands planting tomato plant in garden, Richmond, Virginia, USA Details Credit: Ariel Skelley Creative #: 90077213HD License type: Rights-ready Collection: Image Bank Film: Signature Clip length: 00:00:18:29 Release info: Model released Mastered to: QuickTime 10-bit ProRes 422 (HQ) HD 1920x1080 29.97p More information

[LadyoftheDreamless]

Im Canadian, i cant use worms but more or less still helpful.

[cansukutay]

omg this is the only video i saw within 30 seconds wtf

[yasmineatassi]

can I do it without the worms? I live in a small condo that's why I'm asking.

[kellydeng]

Where am I supposed to get all those worms?

[theresachanceyouwontlike]

Dose it hurt the worms? Do worms feel pain, stress? Sorry in not a worm expert

And will the paper be bad for then environment?

[valdelacosta]

the start is good until it said worms
i dont know if im going to barf or faint

[salviraa]

Can I just skip the worms part? Because... it's kinda disgusting.... I want to live a zero-waste lifestyle and make composts from my food waste but I can't stand worms. Please help.

[prabhatparalkar]

I dont think that newspaper should be used