Compost Tumbler or Worm Farm-Which is Best?

Posted by Katie Elzer-Peters
February 10th, 2009
Filed in Compost
Tags: Compost, composting, earth

We get a lot of questions asking which is better-a Compost Tumbler or a Worm Farm?  So, I decided to give a rundown on the pros and cons of each.  It is really up to you.  Here is some information to help you decide!

Worm Farms

The singlemost important question to ask yourself when you consider purchasing a worm farm is: are you ready to be the caretaker of thousands of worms.  While that might not sound like a big deal, it is kind of like getting a dog or cat, or, more similarly, a fish.  Worms are living things, animals, and they have to be cared for.  They have to remain at a minimum temperature, which is well above freezing, just to stay alive, much less to be productive.  The ideal worm temperature is between 55-75 degrees.  Worms will die at temperatures below 38 degrees.  That means, obviously, if you have a worm farm, you need a way to insulate it during the winter, or you need to bring it into the garage.  If that is not a problem, then you are one step closer to becoming a worm farmer.

You can compost with worms in worm bins or worm farms. Worm bins contain layers of rocks, soil, worm food and worm bedding, and all of the composting takes place in the same bin.  Frequently, you will add food to the worm bin-kitchen scraps and such, and monthly, you will remove composted material, “freshen” the worm bedding, and essentially start over. Worm farms are a bit different.  Worm farms are “tray” systems, that include two or more trays.  Worms and worm food (things to be composted) are put in the bottom bin.  Additional trays can be added on top with more food.  The worms will migrate upward as they fully digest the contents of the trays, and the trays can be removed, and the compost used.  Worm castings (what comes out of the non-mouth end of the worm) are some of the most rich soil amendments produced in nature.  Worm castings are high in humus, one of the best soil conditioners there is.

Compost Tumblers

Compost tumblers have a number of advantages that worm farms do not.  A tumbler produces compost quickly, much like worm farms.  Tumblers are easier manage because you don’t have animals to manage.  (Pardon me if I don’t put microbes in the same category as worms.  Microbial populations naturally go through ebbs and flows depending upon the temperature, oxygen content and nutrient content of soil.  They migrate in and out.  Worms that you buy with the intention of caring for are a different story to me.)  Tumblers offer some of the same benefits as worm farms, in that you can recycle kitchen and food scraps as you accumulate them, rather than storing them and building one pile at a time (as other hot compost piles are built).  Tumblers are less work in terms of turning and maintaining than compost piles.  You can purchase a variety of different tumbler styles.  There is certain to be one that fits your gardening profile.

So, which is best?

Both compost tumblers and worm farms will help gardeners make rich, nutrient dense compost.  Tumblers are great for people who do not want to be worm ranchers and accept the responsibility of caring for worms.  Worm farms produce excellent compost for those who have a good place to put the worms in cold weather and extremely hot weather.  If I were to choose one, I would choose a worm farm.  However, I’m not ready to be a worm farmer, so I’ll probably get a tumbler.