How to start a Worm Composting Bin?
Starting worm composting is easy. Our VermiHut Worm Composting Packages include easy-to-operate, stackable worm bins with Cap, Working Trays, Worm Tea Collector and base. We also include coir as worm bedding, two Drain Cloths, and an instruction booklet. You will need to order worms separately as our packages DO NOT include worms. Worms may be found at local farms or you can order them from our web site.

How does VermiHut work?
The design of the stackable VermiHut worm composter allows food waste to be put into the bottom tray with Red Worms, bedding and food scraps. As the worms finish digesting, they will migrate upward into the tray above, leaving rich castings behind. The stacking tray feature allows users to add up to seven trays to meet their growing compost demands. In full operation, a 5- tray VermiHut system can house approximately 10,000 to 12,000 worms (10 lb), and can consume 4 to 5 pounds of food a day.

How do I choose which VermiHut is right for me?
We offer 2, 3, 4 and 5-trays systems. As a beginner, you can start with a 2-tray or 3-tray system. As you gain experience and become more confident , you can buy add-on trays.

What kind of waste do the worms eat?
Worms are "vegetarian". They eat vegetables, leaves and fruit, but they cannot consume oils, meat or dairy products. To encourage fast consuming, you may chop the waste finely before adding it to Vermihut.

How much can the worms compost?
It depends on the number of worms you have and the worm bin conditions. On average, two pounds of worms can consume one pound of waste food in a day. The worms also reproduce themselves very quickly in ideal conditions.

Do the worms compost the foods completely?
In the beginning, the worms  will eat just the fiberous materials/food Then they move on to the non-fiberous types of foods . It is best to wait until the worms have finished eating all the food before using the compost they make. As long as you see worms near the surface, you can add more food waste. This also helps ensure that your Redworms stay in the compost bin and don’t get put into the yard along with the compost.  Redworms will generally not survive in typical garden soil.  

Do I have too many worms?
No, not at all. The worms can regulate their population according to the space and the availability of foods. One 3-tray unit can house about 6,000 to 8,000 worms.

What do we do during extreme weather conditions?
The worms prefer temperatures  between 50° and 90 ° F. They can tolerate extreme temperatures however , in extremely hot weather, we recommend putting the worm bin in a sheltered place. In the extremely cold weather, we recommend moving it to a warmer place or wrapping it with paper, bubble wrap, or a used blanket.

How can I  keep the ants away?
You can place each of the four feet in bowls or trays of water.

How can I prepare bedding without coconut fiber?
We recommend using shredded newspapers and compost or garden soil. Tear newspaper (no colored pages) in strips approximately 1½inches wide, mix newspaper strips with compost/garden soil and moisten the bedding as wet as when you squeeze it water droplets ( not streams) fall down and when you release it, it forms a ball.

When can I  harvest the worm castings (compost)?
Most of the worms will migrate to the upper trays for food. Keep adding food and fiberous materials into the top tray. The bottom tray will contain the worm castings (aka worm compost). When the material in the bottom tray is nearly black, and looks like soil with only a few small chunks of mostly composted bedding matter, it is time to harvest.

What will it happen if I don’t feed the worms for several weeks, say, if I go on vacation?
Don’t worry. The worm bin will still be in healthy condition for a whole month without human attention. Before you leave for your vacation or business trip, what you need to do is to feed the worms a good quantity of kitchen waste foods such as fruit and vegetable waste, and leave the faucet of the worm bin open with a bucket underneath to catch and reuse this rich liquid fertilizer. .

I notice some worms are turning white. Are these baby worms or is it a signal of a problem?
These are not baby worms. Baby worms should have the same color as their parents. This type of worm is called entrachyadides. They are not dangerous to the other worms. However the presence of this type of worm indicates the system is too acidic or the pH is too low. Add some lime or oyster shell powder to adjust the system pH every month until the white worms are gone.  A pH meter is useful to help you determine the pH levels in your Vermihut.

I notice some flies around the system. Is this going to be a problem?
Sometimes small flies may appear around your worm bin, but they are harmless. However, this may indicate that the system has too much moisture or there is too much food in the system. To fix this problem, add some coconut fiber on top of the foods, add a handful of lime, oyster shell powder or dry materials such as dry shredded paper and cardboard. You also need to reduce the amount of foods fed into the system accordingly.

For more questions please contact us at
1-503-895-6197 or
info@vermifactory.com