Digesters

Vermicomposting has fans

Vermicomposting has some vocal proponents and has received more media attention in the last several years as urban composting gains in popularity, but not everyone is enthusiastic about adding worms to their compost. You'll need to buy a certain type of worm (a type of earthworm commonly called red wigglers) to get started. One advantage is that vermicomposting can be done indoors to compost food scraps. You can make your own vermicomposting container with instructions found online, but you can also buy a pre-made vermicomposting kit that will come with instructions.

Of the vermicomposters we've found, the Triformis Can-O-Worms (*Est. $130) is by far the most reviewed and has the most consistently favorable reviews. The Triformis Can-O-Worms is a multi-level bin composed of 100 percent recycled material. The bin itself stands on five plastic legs and has a tap in the bottom for use in draining the liquid compost. The Triformis Can-O-Worms can be placed either indoors or outdoors, as long as the worms aren't subjected to freezing temperatures or summer heat over 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but some vermicomposting experts recommend keeping the bin indoors regardless.

There's some extra cost involved with purchasing the red wiggler worms (*est. $35 for 1000 worms), but since the worms will reproduce and multiply their population considerably, this is likely only a one-time expense. Bedding for the worms can be obtained at little or no cost; these worms thrive in materials such as peat moss or shredded newspaper. They subsist on kitchen waste, much of which isn't suitable for an outdoor compost pile. (One exception is fruit, particularly citrus. Experts don't recommend putting fruit in a vermicomposter because the peels take longer to break down, which may cause the bin to stink.) Out of a dozen or so reviews for the Triformis Can-O-Worms featured at Amazon.com, all but one give the product either a four- or five-star rating. Most owners say that they're very happy with the performance and value offered by the Triformis Can-O-Worms, stressing that when the worms are properly fed and their bin maintained, there are no unpleasant odors or pest problems.

The few issues that did arise were generally minor: one customer wishes that the Triformis Can-O-Worms had a larger capacity, while another indicates that the tap for draining the compost tea from the bottom of the bin had to be replaced after seven years of use. One reviewer at Amazon.com and one at Epinions.com mention a problem with the worms escaping and drowning in the tray that collects the liquid compost. The remaining Epinions.com reviews are favorable overall but some customers complain about the unit's flimsy spigot. The Triformis Can-O-Worms takes up about as much space as a kitchen trash bin.