WORM FEEDING GUIDE
Overfeeding is the leading cause of most bin issues.
Use these tips to create an easy feeding routine.
What worms actually eat
Worms do not eat fresh food. They only eat decomposing material and the microbes growing on it. Pre-breaking food down, aka "processing it", makes it easier for them to process quickly.
Worms can’t digest raw food, so processing food before adding it to the bin gets the process moving quicker.
Processing food scraps
Freezing reduces fruit fly risk and ruptures cell walls, speeding microbial breakdown. Always thaw before feeding; frozen food can drop bin temperature too quickly.
Freezing prevents pests and makes food easier to digest, but feeding frozen scraps can chill the worms.
Always cover the food
Food should never sit exposed. Cover scraps with a thin layer of bedding to limit pests, odors, and drying. Red wigglers are “top feeders,” meaning they stay in the upper layers and feed near the surface rather than digging deep.
Covering scraps protects food from pests and keeps worms feeding where they belong.
How to add food
You can bury thawed scraps directly, or wrap them in plain newspaper to make small “scrap burritos.” Newspaper adds carbon, keeps food contained, reduces mess, and improves airflow.
Wrapping food or burying it adds carbon, reduces mess, and keeps the bin balanced.
Where to add food
Do not feed in the same spot every time. Rotate feeding locations like a clock face. Feed at one position, wait until it is fully consumed, then move to the next area. Alternatively, so can feed then left side, then the right, then the left, etc. This leaves food-free zones so worms can retreat if conditions become unbalanced.
Rotating feeding spots prevents crowding and creates safe zones for worms.
Grit!
Worms need grit to digest food. They have no teeth; grit in the gizzard physically breaks material down. Without it, digestion slows and health declines. Suitable grit includes finely crushed powdered eggshells, agricultural lime (calcium carbonate only), or very fine sand. Apply lightly and infrequently.
Grit helps worms digest food efficiently and stay healthy.
When to reset
Continue this pattern until bedding is mostly gone and material looks uniform. At that point, it’s time to harvest the castings and move the worms to fresh bedding.
Fresh bedding and food maintain worm health and keep castings productive.