Identification

• Indoor worm composting---also called vermicomposting---involves keeping composting worms in a wooden or plastic container on bedding of finely shredded, moist newspaper. These worms eat mild food scraps, like potato peels and carrot scrapings, and produce worm castings, nutrient-rich humus that may be used as a plant fertilizer or a soil amendment.
  
  

Features

• Worm composting works well indoors because the worms consume food more quickly---often up to half their weight in food each day---at temperatures of 70 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. They prefer a dark, moist environment. Bedding should be kept about as damp as a wrung-out sponge and the bin should placed in a dark area, such as a pantry or basement.
  
  

Considerations

• According to Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture, compost worms produce finished compost within approximately 10 weeks.
  
  Smelly or slow-to-decompose food waste, such as dairy and meat products, attract rodents and other pests. They should not be put in a composting bin.