For the home composter, a bin under the kitchen sink might be that's needed to turn food waste into fertilizer. Anyone who wonders about turning that compost project into something bigger, though, might wonder about the feasability of an outdoor worm bin. Worms, after all, do wonders with food waste, breaking down almost anything into rich material suited from home gardening. But what about the winter? If your climate dips into the freezing temperatures, what happens to your compost bin - and those worms - between fall and spring?
The Washington Island Hotel Coffee Room in Madison, WI can answer that question.
Their "worm farm," a big wooden box behind the coffee shop, has sat covered by hay bales throughout the winter months. Their worms get fed a premium diet of coffee grounds, organic fruits and vegetables, and newspapers. These are happy worms. Red wigglers, to be exact, which unlike ordinary fish bait are composting specialists that eat half their weight each day.
"Our customers have been worried about our worms all winter," says Dustin Skelley, a barista at the coffee room. "I don't know how many times I've been asked if the worms would survive."
Not to worry, he assures the customers. The worms are still alive. Last month the hay bales came off the worm bin, and the worms were still there. A thermometer confirmed that, on a day with a high in the 30s, the compost measured around 60 degrees. "On a hot day, it's closer to one-fifty," Skelley says. That's 150 degrees - hot compost. And very healthy. For anyone wondering about expanding their compost hobby outdoors, rest assured that a closed box and some food waste are probably all the worms need to stay happy and productive.
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