worm composting, getting over the ick factor

Zoe01

I am looking into worm composting. Our apartment has a patio so we could keep it outside. I really like the idea in theory but am having problems with ickiness of it all. I am a wuss about all things bug/creepy-crawly related. I think I can handle looking at worms squirming around but touching them is not really appealing. How much worm touching is involved? Also, do they try to escape the composter? I have visions of worms invading my apartment. Does anyone have any advise? Should I just make my husband handle all of the  worm related stuff?

belovedbride07

How much worm touching is involved?  None.  I've been vermicomposting for years, and have never touched a worm.

Also, do they try to escape the composter? I think I read somewhere that they will try if the conditions aren't right (too wet/too dry), but I've never seen it happen (I've had two home bins, and the last school I worked at had a bin for each classroom).

I have visions of worms invading my apartment. Honestly, it would kind of freak me out to have them inside, but I know lots of people do and don't have any problems. 

Does anyone have any advise? Go for it!  It's really not that bad!

Should I just make my husband handle all of the worm related stuff  You can if you want to, but I promise, you don't have to touch the worms!  

uncannycanuck

I never touch them, they never escape, I keep them inside because I live where it gets too hot and too cold.

It's really just not a big deal. They eat my scraps and dispose of my shredded bills. The only interaction I really have with the worms is when I clean out the bin a couple times a year - I wear gloves for that and do it outside.

ashton05

Nope, you don't need to touch them, ever. My husband and I compost (well, mostly it's his doing--a biologist and all) and we live in an apartment, it's worked out well for us. We only wish we had room for a larger composter! There have been a few times when we've found a worm out of the composter, but they "escape" by means of the shovel we use to mix the compost material with the soil. They never get far though and we easily put them back into the composter. If you didn't want to touch one, it wouldn't be the end of the world for a few to get away, worm populations actually double every 3 months.

northtamarack

uncannycanuck:

I never touch them, they never escape, I keep them inside because I live where it gets too hot and too cold.

It's really just not a big deal. They eat my scraps and dispose of my shredded bills. The only interaction I really have with the worms is when I clean out the bin a couple times a year - I wear gloves for that and do it outside.

Exactly.