Now that your worms are accustomed to their new home you will want to start slowly feeding them.  We recommend that you start out with small amounts of food to get to know what your wigglers like to eat and also to monitor the quantity.

Red Wigglers are known to love Watermelon, Pureed Pumpkin (pie filling), and Corn Meal.  Here are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to feeding your worms.

Dont’s:

• glossy paper products
• meat products
• dairy products
• jalapenos and other spicy foods
• cat and dog poo – can be composted by the worms but not if castings are to be used in the garden.  Poses a health risk.
• citrus – can make the bin acidic.  OK in very small quantities on occasion

Do’s:

• small pieces,  it is a good idea to chop food or soften it by freezing then thawing
• bury food under the bedding at least 3″ to deter fruit flies and gnats
• use rain water or well water if using  city water let it sit in a bucket for 24hours before using on bedding to reduce the chemicals used in the water.  Worms are like organics, they do not like chemicals.
• OK, this is Don’t but it is under the Do’s.  Don’t worry about bacteria, mold and microbe populations.  These organisms help break down the food matter to make it easier for the worms to consume.  They also contribute to the castings.  Great compost is full of microbial organisms.  And castings are full of them!

Here is a list of a few of the foods we feed to our worms:

(note is is better to try small quantities of new items at first to see if your worm herd enjoys them first)

By adding a pinch or two of cruched egg shells, sand, or dirt you can help your worms to digest the food in the list above. Worms have gizzards and need the grit that these items provide to help break down the food in the worms digestive system.

What do you feed your worms? Feel free to add to this list in the comments section.