Quote Originally Posted by Mrs. Greenjeans
I want worms. I threw a cup of nightcrawlers in my compost heap this summer. I wonder if they stayed?
Composting worms are the little red worms. The nightcrawlers and the brown or gray earthworms do not work for worm bin composting --- they may be good for the garden, but not for dedicated worm bin composting. Red worms can live in an environment that is nearly 100% organic matter, like compost or even manure, while the other kinds need to live in soil. Earthworms and nightcrawlers do eat organic matter, but they live in soil. Sometimes you can find red worms living in old compost piles, or in old manure piles. If you want to start a dedicated worm composting bin, they say it is usually best to actually buy the worms from a worm farm, otherwise you might bring in other undesireable organisms with "wild" worms. If you just want worms in your regular compost pile, wild worms are fine, and they will probably find their way there on their own. I bought my worms from a local worm farm.