Changed my mind about needing a balcony for worm composting

I always figured you needed some outdoor space for a worm bin, like a patio or balcony, so I never tried it in my 600 square foot place. Then I watched a video from a guy in a tiny Tokyo apartment who kept his bin under the kitchen sink. The key detail that got me was when he said the worms actually prefer the dark and stable temps indoors, and his bin had zero smell because he managed the moisture right. I found a local gardening blog that said a properly balanced bin with enough browns, like shredded junk mail, won't attract fruit flies either. So I bought a basic stacking bin online for about forty bucks and set it up three weeks ago next to my trash can. I've been adding my coffee grounds and veggie peels, and it's true, no smell at all. It's way simpler than I built it up to be in my head. Has anyone else kept a worm bin right in their main living area without any issues?

2 comments

2 Comments

wesley8011mo ago

You said your bin has zero smell after three weeks. That's the honeymoon phase. I kept one in a studio and it was fine until a heat wave hit. The indoor temp spiked, the worms tried to bail, and I had a smelly mess of dead worms and rotting food to deal with. That "stable temp" idea falls apart if your AC breaks or you have a sunny apartment. Also, saying it won't attract fruit flies if you balance it right is a big if. One overwatered batch of peels or a forgotten piece of fruit can cause an infestation in your kitchen overnight. It's a lot of risk for a small space.

noah_barnes1mo ago

That "smelly mess of dead worms" line just gave me flashbacks to my failed terrarium lol