Vermicompost: Say hello to my little friends!

As you might imagine, space in the weekly waste pickup dumpsters is at a premium.  Our gardening endeavors also demand viable soil and amendments.  

Hence, the "tiny tower" worm condo.  

MacGyver:  absolutely not in the apartment, it will stink!
Belle:  er, there are expensive ones on Amazon that don't...

Our cheap ($30) diy one doesn't stink and can scale.

Materials

• 2 (or more if you home cook for a big wolf pack) stackable storage bins with lids ($8.47 each)
• enough mesh to cover the a bin's footprint ($4.98)
• 4 "feet" to elevate the bottom bin like these plastic curtain mount cradles (approx $5.00)
• 1/4" and 1/8" drill bits + drill
• 1 lb (approx 1000) red wigglers ($27.95)
• couple cups of starter dirt (say from the failed hanging garden of bathalon)
• shredded paper (not the glossy worm poisoning ink kind)

1.  line the top and bottom sides of each bin with 1/8" holes (a/c for worm condo)

2.  cover the underside of each bin with 1/4" holes (elevator shafts)

3.  line the interior floor of the first level bin with mesh (drainage system)

4.  put lid on floor concave side up and add stability feet (sewer)

5.  balance first floor bin on stability feet

6.  fill with starter dirt

7.  watch mail diligently for worms (they die and get stinky if they languish in your mailbox)

8.  add worms

9.  slowly introduce organic matter.  Worm populations can double in 90 days, so expect to scale up.

10.  cover in shredded paper periodically to prevent smell

11.  put second lid on top of first floor

12.  when first floor begins to approach full occupancy, stack second floor directly onto first.  Worms will use the elevator shafts to migrate to the second floor.  

13.  bottom floor should smell earthy and ready to go about a month afterwards (your throughput may vary).  

14.  empty it for use as a "3rd" story.  Place its mesh liner outside of the currently occupied second floor.  

15.  you may notice your sewer filling up (particularly if your condo is located on a grade and fill it with watery coffee grounds).  This is worm tea.  It's like MiracleGro but way better and less chemicalicious.  Use it on your most troubled/prized plants.  

General tips for winning the bet with MacGyver that it won't stink:

• Start with small amounts of less stinky, already broken up food (coffee, tea, juicer pulp)
• Liberally cover with shredded paper whenever things start to look swampy
• Empty sewer early and often
• No animal parts or dairy (worms can eat egg shells, but can't keep up with our 4 a day habit)
• Go easy on citrus (sure, it smells lemony fresh, but if you put in the remnants from juicing an entire tree, it will get really acidic, taste like burning and take a hella long time to eat through)