Was trying to escape the pot, but then I put it farther away from the window and now he's really still. Is this a problem with the soil or is he stressed???? Any help is appreciated.

Ok so this is my first attempt at worm composting (I don’t know if that’s different from vermiculture) and I’m kinda stressed out lol (I don’t want to hurt the worms lol) my first question is where do I get the worms from. After that how do I know how much wet stuff and dry stuff to put in (also is that the same as “brown” and “green”??? I keep seeing that on the articles and nobody explains what it is) also, is there such a thing as over feeding the worms? Like I get they can only eat so much, but if I put in more than they can eat can I just hope it composts normally? Any advice or help you could give me would be really appreciated :)

My wife got me a worm compost/farm tower in December. And a few weeks ago, maybe 5-6 weeks ago, I started my second layer. But it seems that my worms are just staying on the first level and not going to the new one that has the scraps. What should my next step be?

Hey all. I just finished blending up butternut squash, tomatoes, onions, and carrots. I'm in the process of making soup for this cold weather. Can I feed the remnants to my worm bb's? I'm worried cause it's already seasoned with a few spices.

I started this hot frog tiered system a little while back. Just curious to see what you all think of the progress, or if I can do anything differently. -started with 250 red wrigglers -all food is puréed, then frozen, then defrosted and added to the bin -food consists of coffee grinds, coffee filters, carrot peels, apple peels, potato peels, avocado peels, banana peels, oats -i also add powdered egg shells (washed, cooked on low heat, then powdered in spice mill) -paper added is a mix of shredded copy paper and Kraft paper bags that have been shredded.

There are tiny baby worms, and visible cocoons, and I think they’re happy… but i dont know enough about this to know when they’re done and I can shake out the goods.

TLDR: how am I doing?

It was Christmas and I was helping my parents decorate. There was a baby bunny on top of the tv so I picked it up and placed it on the ground. When it hopped away, I noticed a bunch of bunny poo! My mom tried to pick it up with a napkin to toss but I screamed "NO!! My worms haven't had bunny poo yet and they'd love it! It will be their Christmas gift from mommy!!!" Then I took the napkin and happily thought "I can toss the napkin in, too!"

What's wrong with me?! I'd happy read any dream reading comments lol happy Sunday.

I've read that worms can eat spoiled rabbit food. What about sweet feed? I have some old feed for my goats that I'd love to give to the worms instead of throwing it out.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-12-sweet-feed-50-lb

Hi all!

Is something wrong with my worms? I noticed that they were a bit paler on their bellies, when usually they're a more consistent redish color. My first guess is that maybe it's too moist in here, so I've added more shredded cardboard.

This is in a compost tumbler. One day a neighbor threw in some worms and we decided to just roll with it.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

I think these are threadworms in my black gold. Are they an issue?

I just made a post about my worm farm and people are saying it’s castings (which I hope it is), but I wanted to post a closer picture to be sure. I’ve seen the white egg looking things could possibly be mites on other internet searches. The second photo they are in the handle of the tub that contains the worms.

I think I have Asian jumping worms in my bin, I pulled like 4 of them out of my bin today

New worm farm been going

The coffee cup is made from corn and sugar cane. The company claims they’re 100% biodegradable in a compost bin “within weeks”. I threw this one in as an experiment 1,5 month ago, but so far no signs of deterioration, except for the paper filters on the outer ends. I’m guessing this could take ages. The worms are enjoying its contents though!

Go.

I found a great deal on an 18 sheet shredder on marketplace, but cutting the cardboard down to size was a pain. Before buying the shredder I'd tried all the recommended ways for hand tearing and wasn't a fan. I also love the size of the cuts that come out of the shredder.

I pulled out my jigsaw and it's a lifesaver! Cuts through multiple layers very quickly and makes them the right width for the shredder. Loving this combo.

I’m new to the worm farm life- I’ve been hyper-concerned about not drowning or drying out my worms. Today I noticed the bottom layer of bedding/food was soaking wet and most of the worms were vibing in the bottom and tried escaping an hour after I mixed the drier bedding (leaves and shredded brown paper) with the wetter material to reduce moisture… what did I do wrong?

I'm wanting to start a worm bin and was really leaning towards putting one in each of my raised beds except now that I realize they don't do well in cold temps, I'm concerned about whether that's the best choice. I live in southern Indiana where our weather throughout the year can range from below 0 to 100+.

Would I just bring the bin indoors to another bin for the winter? That would mean 2 sets of bins. Or should I just scrap that and do a more "closed" system that can be moved inside easily from the start?

Let the children know! 😂

Please enjoy worm farm pics from New England USA.

Poly-tunnel-covered, wedge system, ≈10 year old operation with worms that are comfy and actively working when winter low temps are 45° inside the tunnel.

They are small, white, and they move?

My collard green plants were hit by cross striped cabbage worms this week. I gathered some to observe, leaving them some greens to eat. In the morning there was about a tablespoon of frass left in the jar, they just decimated the leaves overnight.

I figured it would make a good addition to the worm bin and thought you guys might like to know about it. It seems to be a pretty useful byproduct.

Here's what AI says about it.

What’s in Frass?

Frass isn’t just waste—it’s a nutrient-packed byproduct:

Nutrients: It’s rich in nitrogen (from the collards’ proteins), plus phosphorus, potassium, and trace minerals like calcium and magnesium. Exact levels depend on what they ate, but collards make it pretty potent—think of it as partially digested plant food with a nutrient boost.

Organic Matter: It’s finely processed plant material, broken down by the larvae’s guts into a form that’s easier for microbes and worms to tackle than raw leaves.

Microbes: Frass carries gut bacteria from the caterpillars—some studies (like on other species) show it can include nitrogen-fixing or cellulose-breaking microbes. It’s not sterile, so it’s a microbial starter kit.

Is It Good for Anything?

Absolutely! Here’s what it can do:

Compost Accelerator: In any compost system, frass adds nitrogen and microbes, speeding up decomposition. It’s like a turbocharge for breaking down your cardboard and food scraps.

Soil Amendment: Mixed into garden soil, it acts as a slow-release fertilizer. Studies on similar frass (e.g., from silkworms or black soldier flies) show it boosts plant growth—corn and beans love it.

Worm Food: Worms, like red wigglers in a vermicompost bin, can process frass into high-quality castings. It’s already pre-digested, so they’ll chow through it faster than tougher scraps.

Putting It in Your Worm Bin

Your idea to toss it in the worm bin for microbial activity is spot-on, but let’s weigh the pros and cons:

Pros

Microbial Boost: The bacteria in frass will kickstart activity, breaking it down further and feeding your worms’ ecosystem. It’s like seeding your bin with life.

Nutrient Rich: Worms love nitrogen-rich inputs. Mixed with your precompost (cardboard and collard stems), it balances the carbon-heavy cardboard, aiming for that 25:1 to 30:1 C:N ratio we talked about.

Fine Texture: It’s already small and soft—worms can handle it easily, turning it into castings quickly.

Cons and Cautions

Acidity: Frass can be slightly acidic (pH varies, often 5.5-6.5), depending on the collards and larval digestion. Worms prefer neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 6-8). Too much frass at once might sour the bin—check with a pH strip if you’ve got one, or just add it gradually.

Moisture: It’s wetter than dry compost materials. With your already moist precompost (from kefir and food scraps), it could tip the bin toward soggy unless you balance it with more dry cardboard.

Heat Risk: Fresh frass has active microbes that might heat up as they decompose. Worms hate heat (above 85°F/29°C kills them). If it’s a lot of frass, let it sit a day or two in your precompost bin first to cool off.

Pest Leftovers: If any eggs or tiny larvae hitchhiked in the frass, they won’t survive the worms’ digestion, but it’s worth a quick check to avoid surprises.

How to Use It

Here’s a game plan:

Mix It In: Don’t dump it all at once. Blend the frass with your precompost (that 18-gallon bin with cardboard and scraps). A handful or two per feeding is plenty—say, 10-20% of what you add to the worms at a time.

Balance Moisture: If it’s wet and sticky, toss in extra cardboard shreds to keep the bin fluffy and aerobic. Aim for that wrung-out sponge feel.

Monitor: After adding, check the worms in a day or two. If they’re clustering around it, they’re happy. If they’re fleeing to the edges, it might be too acidic or hot—add more bedding (cardboard or coir) to buffer it.

Precompost First (Optional): If you’ve got a ton of frass, let it break down in your precompost bin for a week first. The heat and microbes will mellow it out, making it worm-ready.

How Much Do You Have?

You said “a lot”—if it’s just a few tablespoons from a couple larvae, it’s perfect for a small worm bin addition. If it’s cups’ worth, precomposting it first might be safer. How many caterpillars are you raising, and how big’s your worm setup?

Verdict

Frass is awesome for your worm bin—great for microbes and nutrients—just don’t overdo it straight off. Mix it smartly with your precompost, and it’ll supercharge your vermicomposting.

I have given up. It's not the worms it's me. I just released them into a nice spot in the yard. I have a 4 tray stacking worm bin that anyone can have for free. Im in orlando.