Question 1

My worm bin smells bad

Accepted Answer

Sour or rotten odor usually means overfeeding, excess moisture, or missing carbon-rich bedding. Stop feeding 1–2 weeks, add a thick layer of dry bedding on top, and cover every new feeding with bedding.

Question 2

I think I'm overfeeding my worms

Accepted Answer

Pause feeding 1–2 weeks until scraps shrink. Chop or blend scraps to digest 3–5x faster. Wait for population to double (every 2–3 months) before increasing volume.

Question 3

Worms are crawling out of the tower

Accepted Answer

Check moisture (squeeze test: 1–2 drops max), buffer acidity with crushed eggshells, manage temperature, and leave a light on for the first 48 hours after setup.

Question 4

How do I keep my worms alive in winter?

Accepted Answer

Wrap with burlap or insulation, cap with 8–12" of dry leaves or shredded cardboard, move to a garage or sunroom for the coldest months, and reduce feeding by 50–75%.