Construct Your Worm Bin

• 1). Use the power drill to drill between 15 and 20 drainage holes in the bottom of one plastic bin. Drill holes every 3 inches along the sides of the bin, about 4 inches below the rim.
  
  
• 2). Cut a length of cheesecloth 6 inches wide and long enough to wrap around the inside circumference of the bin. Use the hot glue gun to secure the cheesecloth. The cheesecloth will allow air to circulate but will keep the worms from escaping.
  
  
• 3). Place the bin on top of one of the lids to catch drainage. Fill the bin with the newspaper scraps and sprinkle enough water over the newspaper to moisten it. Fluff it with your hands and continue to sprinkle water until it has the consistency of a damp sponge.
  
  
• 4). Add the soil and mix with the moist newspaper. Sprinkle the sand on top of the newspaper and soil mixture.
  
  
• 5). Add the worms to the bin. Place them gently on top of the newspaper bedding and leave the bin uncovered in a brightly lit area. This will encourage the worms to burrow into the bedding. Leave them undisturbed for two to three hours.
  
  
• 6). When the worms have burrowed into the bedding, gently shift a handful of bedding aside. Add a handful of food scraps to the worm bin and cover with the bedding. Feed the worms every day or two.
  
  
• 7). When the worms have completely composted the food scraps and bedding, it's time to add the second bin to the rotation and harvest your compost. Prepare the second bin just like the first. Set it directly on top of the first worm bin so the bottom drainage holes are in contact with the worm bedding and compost.
  
  
• 8). Fill the top bin with shredded newspaper, soil, and sand, just as you did with the first bin. Bury food scraps in the bedding of the second bin. This will encourage the worms to migrate into the second bin. Continue to feed the worms in the top bin for two weeks, until all the worms have migrated out of the bottom bin.
  
  
• 9). The bottom bin is full of ready-to-use compost. Mix it with potting soil for new plants, or use it like mulch for established ones.