How I Accidentally Became a Worm Nerd (And Why You Might, Too)

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Nurturing the Earth: Hands cradle rich soil teeming with earthworms, embodying the cycle of natural life against a green backdrop.

Last year, if you had told me I’d be geeking out over worms, I would have laughed. Hard. Worms? The squirmy things you dodge after it rains? No thanks. But then I stumbled into the world of worm farming, and now I can’t shut up about it.

It all started when I was trying to improve my garden without spending a fortune on fancy fertilizers. A quick Google search led me to worm castings—aka worm poop—which turned out to be some of the most nutrient-rich compost you can get. The more I read, the more I realized how easy it was to set up a worm farm at home.

So, I thought, why not?

I started with a simple bucket system, just as an experiment. Fast forward a year, and now I’m the person who casually brings up worm composting in conversations. I have strong opinions on worm species. I’ve caught myself proudly checking in on my worms like they’re pets. Somehow, I’ve become a worm enthusiast.

And honestly? I think you might, too.

Why You Might Want a Worm Farm (Even If You Think You Don’t)

At first, I thought worm farming would be messy, smelly, or too much work. Turns out, it’s the opposite. The system is self-sustaining, completely odor-free (if done right), and works faster than I expected.

Here’s why you might end up loving it:

✅ Worm castings are nature’s best fertilizer—packed with nutrients that make plants thrive.

✅ It reduces food waste by turning scraps into compost.

✅ It’s a low-maintenance, no-smell system that practically runs itself.

✅ It makes harvesting compost easy (especially with the right setup—more on that next).

How to Set Up a 3-Stack Bucket Worm Farm

After experimenting with different setups, I found that a three-stack bucket system is the easiest way to manage worms and harvest castings without any hassle.

What You’ll Need:

1. Three 5-gallon buckets with lids, food grade. *Firehouse Subs sells them for a $3 donation. You can also ask any chain grocery bakery like Walmart, Acme, ShopRite, etc. Call early and see if they have spare icing buckets. You may have to clean them, but usually, they're free or require a small donation to whatever charity they may have a drive for nowadays.*

2. A drill (for making air and drainage holes). you want to smooth the edges by either sanding or burning your holes in order to provide a safe habitat for your new crawling critters.

3. Shredded paper, coconut coir, or leaves (for bedding)

4. Red Wigglers (best worms for composting)

5. Food scraps (veggie peels, coffee grounds, eggshells—no citrus or dairy)

   
   

How to Assemble Your Stackable Worm Farm

1. Prepare the Buckets:

• Drill small holes in the bottom of two buckets (for drainage and worm migration).

• Drill air holes around the top rim of all three buckets.

2. Set Up the First Bucket (Home Base):

• Place this bucket at the bottom. No holes in the bottom (it catches any liquid runoff).

• This will act as a reservoir for “worm tea,” a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer.

  
  

3. Start the Worm Bin (Middle Bucket):

• Stack the second bucket (with holes) inside the bottom bucket.

• Add bedding (shredded paper, coconut coir, or leaves) and moisten it slightly.

• Add your worms and their first meal of food scraps.

4. Add the Third Bucket (Future Home):

• Once the second bucket is halfway full of compost, stack the third bucket (also with holes) on top.

• Start adding food scraps to this new top bucket. Over time, the worms will migrate up into the fresh food source, leaving their castings behind in the middle bucket.

How to Harvest Worm Castings Without Losing Your Worms

Once your worms have moved up into the top bucket, the middle bucket is ready for harvesting!

1. Remove the top bucket (where the worms now live).

2. Take the middle bucket and use the compost in your garden.

3. Dump any remaining stragglers into the new active bucket before restacking the system.

This migration method makes it super easy to separate worms from compost—no messy digging required!

*The Stick & Cardboard Trick for Extra Worm Gathering

If you ever need to manually collect worms, this trick works wonders:

1. Lay a damp piece of cardboard over the compost.

2. Stick a small branch or log in the middle.

3. Wait overnight.

4. By morning, worms will gather under the cardboard, making them easy to scoop up.

Where to Get Worms

If you’re starting fresh, you have two options:

Harvest them from your yard (look under damp leaves or old compost piles).

Buy them online (Red Wigglers are the best for composting).

Uncle Jim's Worm Farm, a top-rated Amazon seller, specializes in worms for gardeners, farmers, and composters. They offer species like red wigglers and European nightcrawlers, plus essential accessories. Customers commend their healthy worms for vermicomposting and soil enrichment. The company is known for excellent customer satisfaction, detailed descriptions, easy purchasing, and reliable shipping. Explore their offerings on Amazon [here].

Uncle Jim's Worm Farm 100 Count Red Wiggler Composting Worms Mix for Garden Soil or Fishing | Starter Pack of Compost Worms Improves Soil Structure and Quality for Healthier Gardens

If You Want the Benefits Without the Worm Bin…

Not into the idea of keeping worms? No problem! You can still use worm castings in your garden without maintaining a worm bin. Simply buy high-quality worm castings and mix them into your soil for the same benefits.

Check out these top-rated worm castings

[here]

Uncle Jim's Worm Farm Black Gold Worm Castings Compost Fertilizer for Garden Soil | Red Wriggler Earthworm Casting Organic Fertilizer for Plants | Nutrient Rich Fertilizer Solutions 4 lbs

Final Thoughts: I Became a Worm Nerd, and I’m Okay with It

I didn’t expect to love worm farming this much. I just wanted better soil. But now, I can’t imagine gardening without my little composting crew.

So if you’re curious, I say go for it. Start small. Set up a three-bucket system, toss in some food scraps, and let the worms do their thing. You might just find yourself unexpectedly excited about worms, too.