What to do with your worm composting bin when you go out of town

Many worm farmers worry about leaving their vermicomposting bin when they go out of town. They do not want a great vacation ruined by returning home to a bin full of dead worms or a house full of worms that escaped from their worm bin. But, you don’t need to worry about leaving your composting worms when you go on vacation.
So, what should you do to your worm composting bin before leaving your composting worms so your worms are safe and happy while your are gone? Should you feed them more? Add worm bin bedding? Hire a worm sitter? It all depends on how long you will be away.
If you are going to be away for less than two weeks, there isn’t much extra you need to do. If you plan to be away for longer than 2 weeks at a time (lucky you!) there are a couple simple steps below that will ensure the safety of your composting worms while you are away. For example, if you are teacher with a worm composting bin in your classroom, you don’t need to take your worm bin home each weekend or even over spring break but I would recommend taking them home over the longer winter break and certainly over the summer.

Leaving your composting worms for less than 2 weeks

Here is a simple checklist to follow before you leave town.

• Feed your worms the day before you leave. Feed your worms the same amount that you usually do. Remember, most worm bin problems stem from overfeeding. Also, your composting worms will eat their worm bin bedding as well. They will not starve.
• Check the weather. Be sure there won’t be any drastic temperature changes that will hurt your worms. If there will be drastic temp changes, plan accordingly. Here is an article controlling temperature changes in your worm bin: Regulating Temperature in a Worm Bin
• Add more bedding if it is low.

Leaving your composting worms for more than 2 weeks

Here is a simple checklist to follow to ensure your composting worms enjoy your vacation as much as you did.

• Feed your worms the normal amount the day before you leave.
  

  

• Check the weather and plan accordingly.
• Add more worm bin bedding.
• Get a friend to check on them half way through your extended vacation. Ask them to feed your worms your normal feeding amount. This works best if you have a friend that is also a worm farmer so that you dont have to train them. But hey, if you do have to train a rookie, thanks for spreading the worm composting knowledge!
• Consider asking a friend to keep your worm bin at their house while you are away. Again, this is easiest if your friend is a worm composter already but if they arent, simply refer them to this website for an overview.

Follow these simple worm composting vacation checklists before leaving your composting worms and your worms will be happy and healthy when you return. As always, if this article was helpful to you, please share it with a friend.
Do you do anything different when leaving your composting worms to go on vacation? What do you do to your worm bin before you leave town? Please share on social media. Thanks.