Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States
DIY Worm Bins
Vermiculture & vermiponics
Contrary to popular belief, worms do not need soil in order to be happy or to live. This is because worms breath through their skin, which means that they can even live completely submerged in water as long as it is oxygenated enough!
Everything You'll Need
Plastic Totes
You will need to have at least 2 totes or other plastic containers. 1 to act as the filter, and the 2nd to catch any liquids not absorbed by the bedding/worms' environment. This liquid by-product is called "worm tea" and can be added directly to your garden.
Rubbermaid - Single / Buy a 2 Pack and save 16%
Electric Drill
You're going to need some help making all of those holes in your totes, and there are a LOT of holes you will need to be making...
DeWalt 20V Cordless Drill w/21-45 Drill Bits
Safety Glasses
With how much hot plastic is going to be flying around, you will be needing AND wanting a pair
Coco Coir
Made from the ground up husks of coconut seeds, coco coir is a common medium n hydroponics and is a great starting medium for any vermiculture/vermiponics project. This is because the medium is both easy for worms to crawl through and is excellent at retaining moisture.
Burpee brand - 16 quarts - Highly recommended, 16 quarts is just the right amount to start a 50 gallon project
Composting Worms
You can't have vermiculture without the vermi! The two recommended species are red wigglers, and nightcrawlers. Both have their advantages based upon what your needs and goals currently are.
Red Wigglers - A communal species that will migrate as a group towards sources of food. Good choice if you don't want to spend hours finding worms and you are capable of having multiple locations to deposit food and rotate in a regular pattern (clockwise, counter clockwise, "lawnmower")
Night Crawlers - A larger but more solitary species of worm. Great for feeding to other animals or situations where their food will be sporadically and or sparsely placed around their territory