Interested In Worm Composting? Here's How To Get Started

Food waste — kitchen scraps, restaurant leftovers, and expired food that gets tossed out at grocery stores — decays quickly. That process generates more methane than any other material that ends up in landfills. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing to our global climate crisis.

That’s why many people who care about the environment turn to composting, a process that breaks down food waste into material that can be used to build healthier soil and improve plant growth. And it can be done on a large scale, too — Santa Monica College, for instance, employs millions of worms to deliver compost for use across the campus.

Worm composting became especially popular during the pandemic — so much so that there was a shortage in Southern California.

These worms are typically sold by the pound or in batches. They can be bought online, at gardening stores, and from home businesses.

In Studio City, Alyssa and Will Hatanaka, who are 10 and 9 years old, respectively, have been running Will’s Worms since 2020 (with the help of their dad). They do this on top of juggling elementary school and karate lessons, so their sales stay local.

Will and Alyssa Hatanaka run "Will's Worms" from their home in Studio City.

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Courtesy of Kevin Hatanaka

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In Cypress, Stan McCall has been running McCrawls Red Worms since 2007. When everyone was searching for something to do at home at the height of the pandemic, his business quadrupled.

In May 2020, his phone was “exploding,” he said. “I would sit on the phone for two hours, just taking orders.” By July of that year, he ran out of worms.

Today, he says, keeping the supply chain steady is more manageable.

Here are some tips to help you on your composting journey:

Choose the right worms, and the right number

Red wigglers (Eisenia fetida) are the best option.

McCall recommends buying in batches instead of by weight. He sells 500 for $40 or 1,000 for $70 — and he always throws in an additional 10% for free. For someone who’s starting out with their first composting bin, he said, 500 worms are enough to get going.

Use an appropriate bin

You’re going to need a bin, and make sure the bin has multiple layers. The bottom layer is where the worm castings (poop) accumulate, the middle layer is where the worms mainly live, and the top layer is where the food is deposited. Also, make sure the bin gets air ventilation.

A bin can be found online or at a home improvement store. You can also check with a local independent gardening store.

Use proper bedding

Coconut coir (pronounced "COY-er") and shredded newspaper are good materials for the worms.

You’ll likely find bedding where you get your bin — online, at a home improvement store, or a local independent gardening store.

Maintain proper conditions

Worms need their home to be moist, but not too wet. The moisture level of a wrung-out sponge (damp to the touch but doesn’t drip when you squeeze it) is perfect.

Worms also need the temperature to be between 55 and 75 degrees, so avoid direct sunlight.

Feed the worms a balanced diet

Red wigglers do not like acidic foods, and the soil can’t become too acidic, either. Avoid foods like citrus, onions, and tomatoes. Prioritize foods that are alkaline or neutral in pH, such as leafy greens, carrots, potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, kale, broccoli, spinach, and asparagus. Avoid giving them cooked foods, only using raw vegetables.

Chop or blend food

The smaller the food items, the quicker the worms will be able to process it.

Vermicomposting takes time and worms will become more efficient over time as they establish their population.