- Paper/cardboard (boxes, food packaging, junk mail, newspaper).
Removing plastic windows makes the end product easier to handle
when harvesting
the castings.
- Vegetables/fruits. Chop up or crush stems and large pieces of
tough vegetables. A meat tenderizer works well as a crushing implement.
Food processors and blenders may also work well but create more
dishes to wash.
- Grain products. Corn meal and
other grains have been traditionally used as worm fattener and
can be bought in pelleticized form. Scrap
bread and flour can be added to the worm bin but may act as a catalyst,
creating a quick rise in temperature which could kill the worms
in a small bin. Monitor bedding temperature for safety. If the
temperature is 85 degrees or above, cool with insertion of ice
or extra bedding.
- Eggs/Egg shells. Eggshells provide worms with an excellent source
of calcium. However, they can remain undigested and visible in
the vermicast long after other foods have been processed, so we
recommend grinding them into small particles or powder for quickest
decomposition. You may also choose to add them to a hot compost
pile instead of to the worm bin.
- Most animal manures. Make sure
they (especially chicken manure) have been partially composted
before adding to
the worm bin to avoid overheating and killing worms.
- Yard wastes. Examples are leaves,
grass, bush trimmings, wood chips, and sawdust. If using wood products
make sure treated lumber, cedar, and other toxic woods are not
included, as they will kill worms and associated organisms.
Any yard waste recently
sprayed with insecticides should be avoided.
- Human and animal hair.
- Coffee Grounds. Click here to
read an article from Starbucks about using coffee grounds in worm
bins and for general
composting.
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- Peanut butter, vegetable, or animal fat/oil: Acceptable in the
NatureMill indoor wormless composter.
- Highly salty foods. A high salt
content can make the worm bedding too alkaline. The salt also irritates
the worms’ mucous membranes
which keep them moist and allow them to breath.
- Meat, fish, bones, and dairy products: These
are not recommended for worm bins or traditional compost systems
because they decompose
slowly and can attract flies and rodents, and spread bacteria in
the meantime. They are acceptable in the NatureMill wormless indoor
composter or in a large-scale composting or vermicomposting system
if handled properly.
- Human feces. Human feces carry
pathogens which are best killed through hot composting in a controlled
environment.
- Cat/Dog feces: These carry pathogens.
Acceptable in systems like The Swag and the Tumbleweed Pet Poo
Converter.
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