Vermicomposting: How to Set Up a Worm Bin

We see all of those lovely earthworms out in the garden, and we know that they're doing a great job aerating the soil, breaking down organic matter, and leaving rich castings behind, so it seems obvious that they would be perfect for a vermicompost bin. While you can try working with these types of worms, your level of success would be much higher if you used one of the two varieties of worms that are specifically raised for vermicomposting. Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus rubellus are both used successfully in vermicomposting, and these are the worms that you receive when you order worms for vermicomposting. The difference between composting worms and earthworms are that composting worms do a fast job of breaking down organic matter from beginning to end. Earthworms are much more effective at further breaking down organic matter that has already decomposed somewhat. Go with redworms, or red wigglers, as they are also known, for a successful worm bin.