I've done basic compost piles before, but my compost pile in the backyard is full of fire ants and I've tried but just can't get rid of them. I wouldn't worry about it a whole lot but it has so many ants that when I stir it they get all over and it often causes them to spread around the yard and I have small children who play in the back yard so I don't want these ants spreading all over. So I was looking for something else to do with my kitchen scraps and have decided to start a small worm compost bin.

I've done a bit of reading on it but I thought I would ask here if any of you have ever done worm composting and if you had any advice?

-Beth

I tried seeding my compost pile with worms, but I was unsuccessful. I have been very interested in the concept for the past two years, but unfortunately have not turned my interest into action....yet!

Here are some intersting sites and a good book:

Worms Eat My Garbage: How to setup & maintain a vermicomposting system
Author: Mary Appelhof
ISBN: 0-942256-10-

http://www.happydranch.com/index.html

http://www.wormdigest.org/

My compost pile is full of ants that look like fire ants in every way. They even swarm just like fire ants when disturbed, but if I put my hand in there, they just keep moving around it. My tendency is to keep any creature from the pile. I even kept the lizards last summer even though I'm pretty sure they're eating the worms. Ants, lizards, gnats, roaches, worms, or whatever are all welcome in my pile.

I'm sure that these are fire ants because they've bit us before and the bites burn and develop the little puss bubbles. If they weren't fire ants I wouldn't worry about it.

-Beth

You can use 10 gallon rubbermaid containers for worm composing or build your own. This is the easiest way to compost kitchen scraps and turn them into the richest compost of all. I have found it best to use leaves partially decomposed leaves because of the richness of the finished product. There is a good article on the Arlington Organic Garden Club by Jay Mertz at www.aogc.org. The sites already mentioned are good but you might also try www.mastercomposter.com. Also, just do a search for worm composting and you will find a lot of great and informative sites.
Richard Spitzer

I had pretty good success with a worm pile. I ordered the setup from Seeds of Change and followed their intructions. The only thing that was inhibiting for me was the heat. They can't survive in really hot situations and here in Houston--that was a problem. BUT--they do eat those scraps and multiply and make the worm castings. It is an interesting process if you stick with it. Good luck to you! - Susan