How to build a worm composter | Natural History Museum

Summary

This video provides a straightforward guide to setting up a simple worm composting system using three stacking boxes. It outlines essential materials, including peat-free compost and worms, and breaks the process into three key steps: building the boxes, filling the top box with newspaper and compost, and managing food waste effectively. Viewers learn to avoid adding certain foods and how to utilize the resulting compost for their gardens. The system encourages sustainable waste management and offers a hands-on way to enrich garden soil with nutrient-rich compost.

Takeaways

• 🛠️ You'll need 3 stacking boxes, newspaper, peat-free compost, worms, a drill, and 4 bricks.
• 🔩 Drill holes in the bottom and around the top of two boxes to facilitate airflow.
• 🌳 Place one box in a shaded area and put two bricks in the bottom for support.
• 🪴 Line the top box with newspaper and add 3cm of damp compost for the worms.
• 🐛 Introduce the worms into the top box and cover them with newspaper, allowing them a week to settle.
• 🍽️ Add food waste like vegetable peelings, tea leaves, coffee grounds, and eggshells to the compost.
• 🚫 Avoid adding citrus, garlic, onions, meat, or dairy to the compost to keep it healthy.
• 🔄 When the top box is full, switch it with the middle box to encourage worm migration.
• 💧 Regularly empty any liquid from the bottom box and dilute it with 10 parts water to use as fertilizer.
• 🌱 The worms will create compost for your garden as they migrate through the boxes.

Q & A

What materials are needed to set up the worm composting system?

You need 3 stacking boxes, newspaper, peat-free compost, worms, a drill, and 4 bricks.

How should the boxes be prepared for the composting system?

Drill lots of holes in the bottom and around the top of two boxes. Place the other box in a shaded area and put two bricks in the bottom. Repeat with the second box and then stack the final box without bricks.

Why are bricks used in the composting system?

The bricks are placed in the bottom of the first two boxes to ensure proper drainage and airflow, which is essential for the worms' health and for preventing excess moisture buildup.

What is the purpose of lining the top box with newspaper?

The newspaper serves as a lining to keep the compost moist, help regulate temperature, and create a comfortable environment for the worms to settle into.

What should be done once the worms are added to the compost system?

After adding the worms, cover them with a little more compost and then place another layer of newspaper on top. Allow the worms to settle into their new home for about a week.

What types of food waste are suitable for the composting system?

Suitable food waste includes vegetable peelings, tea leaves, coffee grounds, and eggshells. These provide essential nutrients for the worms and help in composting.

Which types of food should be avoided in the compost system?

Avoid adding too much citrus, garlic, onions, meat, or dairy as these can harm the worms or disrupt the composting process.

What should you do when the top box is full of compost?

When the top box is full, switch it with the middle box and continue adding food waste. The worms will migrate to the new box, leaving behind compost for the garden.

How should the liquid at the bottom of the boxes be managed?

Regularly empty out any liquid from the bottom box. This liquid should be diluted with 10 parts water to be used as a natural fertiliser for plants.

How does the composting process benefit the garden?

The worms create rich compost as they break down the food waste, which can then be used as a nutrient-rich fertiliser for your garden.