Let’s start with this:
Yes, I have worms in my apartment.
No, it doesn’t smell.
And yes, I talk to them. Sometimes with respect, sometimes with panic.
Vermicomposting (a.k.a. worm composting) is the only time in my adult life I’ve watched something literally eat my trash and give me back black gold.
In a 12″x18″ bin. Under my kitchen counter.
🧠 Why Bother?
Because trash cans are the final graveyard of food that still has value.
Because city waste systems are overburdened, overcomplicated, and underfunded.
Because you don’t need a backyard to participate in the oldest natural recycling system in existence.
And because there’s something psychologically healing about knowing not even your waste is wasted.
🪴 What You Need to Start (Under $30, or Free-ish)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Plastic tote or bin | 10–20 gallons, opaque, lid with air holes |
| Shredded paper | Bedding—avoid glossy stuff |
| A handful of dirt | Introduces microbes |
| Food scraps | Veggies, peels, coffee grounds |
| Red wiggler worms | Eisenia fetida, not random backyard worms |
| Tray or mat | To catch stray drips (if you’re paranoid) |
Optional:
- Air filter sticker for the lid
- Second bin for draining worm tea (you’ll become this person eventually)
🍌 What You Can Feed Them (And What You Definitely Shouldn’t)
YES:
- Veggie peels, cores, old greens
- Coffee grounds + filter
- Crushed eggshells (dry them first)
- Tea bags (no staples)
NO:
- Meat or dairy
- Oily or salty foods
- Citrus (in small doses = okay)
- Anything you’re emotionally attached to seeing again
🚫 Smell, Bugs, and Other Panic Attacks (That Didn’t Happen)
Smell? If it smells, you’re doing it wrong. It should smell like damp soil or… almost nothing.
Fruit flies? Cover your scraps with bedding = no drama.
Mold? A little? Fine. A lot? Add dry bedding.
Worm escapees? Only if the bin is toxic. Happy worms don’t explore.
Worst case: you dump the bin, start over, and become emotionally stronger.
🧪 How It Actually Works (My Timeline)
Week 1–2: Worms hide. I feel rejected.
Week 3: They eat their first banana peel. I cry.
Month 2: Castings appear. The bin smells amazing.
Month 3: I harvest compost and realize I’ve joined a cult.
Ongoing: I feed the bin weekly. Stir occasionally. Harvest every few months.
No stink. No stress. Just transformation.
🧠 Why It Matters
This isn’t just about waste.
It’s about rewilding a piece of the machine you live in.
It’s about decentralizing decay, taking back the cycle, making life out of scraps.
In a world of constant consumption, feeding worms feels like an act of resistance.
Also, it’s fun to tell people you have a bin full of living creatures under your sink. Highly recommend.
📥 Subscribe to download: Urban Vermicomposting Starter Kit
Includes:
- DIY worm bin setup diagram
- Feeding do’s and don’ts
- Printable checklist: “Is This Smell Normal?”
- Compost harvest schedule for busy people
🌿 Ready to Start? Explore more:
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