Thus, most earthworms we see, including red wigglers used as bait, and those sold for vermicomposting worm bins, are invasive species. Invasives do better in human-disturbed environments.

An overly enthusiastic composter could end up with a smelly bin. It takes 2,000 red wigglers to consume a pound of food a day. Gauge your worm quantity needs by the volume of your household scraps.

He buys his red wigglers from an Oregon supplier. If you’d like to follow suit, visit unclejimswormfarm.com or one of the many other Oregonian worm suppliers you can find online.

By Emmy Ulmschneider and Debbie Roland Master Gardeners Gardeners and worms go hand in hand but not all worms are the same. We commonly use one type of worm, Red Wigglers, Eisenia fetida, for ...