Build a Worm Composting Bin   >  What Earthworms Like to Eat

What Earthworms Like to Eat

Here's a fun project that turns your kitchen garbage into natural, nutrient-rich food for your plants with the help of our friends, the earthworms.

Worms like mostly vegetable waste

Any vegetable waste you generate in the kitchen can be used, including potato peels, grapefruit and orange rinds, the outer leaves of lettuce and cabbage, celery ends, and similar items. You can also use plate scrapings like macaroni, spaghetti, gravy, cooked vegetables, or mashed potatoes.

Spoiled food from the refrigerator, such as baked beans, moldy cottage cheese, and leftover casserole can also go into the worm bin.

Biodegradable waste like coffee grounds, paper coffee filters, and tea bags can also go into the worm bin. You can add egg shells, too — but crush them into small pieces before putting them in the bin.

Note: Giving your worms some citrus is okay, but too much citrus will kill your worms. If you have a small bin and squeeze a dozen or so oranges for guests, don't put all the rinds in your bin!

Here are some things your worms might like to eat:

Apples	Celery	Cucumber	Molasses	Pineapple rind
Apple peels	Cereal	Deviled eggs	Oatmeal	Pizza crust
Baked beans	Cheese	Egg shells	Onion peel	Potatoes
Banana peels	Coffee grounds	Grapefruit peels	Orange peel	Potato salad
Biscuits	Corn bread	Grits	Pancakes	Tea leaves
Cabbage	Cream cheese	Lemon	Pears	Tomatoes
Cake	Cream of wheat	Lettuce	Pineapple	Turnip leaves

Don't put these things in your worm bin:

Salty snacks, such as chips (unless they've been soaked in water for 24 hours to remove salt)

Excess citrus waste

Vinegars

Manures or pet waste (these carry toxins dangerous to your worms)

Green grass (creates high temperatures, which can harm your worms)

Chemical fertilizers

Diseased plants (vermicompost does not reach temperatures necessary to kill pathogens)

Non-biodegradables, such as plastic bags, bottle caps, rubber bands, sponges, aluminum, foil, and glass