All right, JoannaKat ~ this is your fault. You shared this link a while back and I could not get it out of my mind.

https://deepgreenpermaculture....

I garden in three raised beds and when I find worms I will add them to the raised beds.

I needed to provide a reason for them to stay.

I was looking for a container that would be smaller to fit in my raised beds. I had considered buying flower pots/drain trays, even a water meter box with a lid.

The frugal part of this idea was a friend suggesting a large coffee (plastic) can as they are plentiful. The one I chose to recycle was a 37 ounce size, measuring 7 inches tall and 6 1/4 across.

Using a hole saw, I drilled a number of holes in the sides.



The next step was to remove the base. It was more difficult to make it look neat but I suspect the worms won't protest.




Now to install it in a newly moved raised bed. I saw a lot of worms in this bed when I relocated it.



Will be starting to add fruit/vegetable scraps/egg shells, as well as more coffee grounds so I can make more containers.





I positioned it near a side so I can easily add compost material.

Depending on how long it takes to fill this one, I may do two to a bed. If it fills quickly, I can easily take it out and relocate it to another area of the raised bed.

I believe one of the bonuses will be this type of composting shouldn't attract the nighttime varmints.

Thank you, @joannakat

pod said:All right, JoannaKat ~ this is your fault. You shared this link a while back and I could not get it out of my mind.

https://deepgreenpermaculture....

I garden in three raised beds and when I find worms I will add them to the raised beds.

I needed to provide a reason for them to stay.

I was looking for a container that would be smaller to fit in my raised beds. I had considered buying flower pots/drain trays, even a water meter box with a lid.

The frugal part of this idea was a friend suggesting a large coffee (plastic) can as they are plentiful. The one I chose to recycle was a 37 ounce size, measuring 7 inches tall and 6 1/4 across.

Using a hole saw, I drilled a number of holes in the sides.



The next step was to remove the base. It was more difficult to make it look neat but I suspect the worms won't protest.




Now to install it in a newly moved raised bed. I saw a lot of worms in this bed when I relocated it.



Will be starting to add fruit/vegetable scraps/egg shells, as well as more coffee grounds so I can make more containers.





I positioned it near a side so I can easily add compost material.

Depending on how long it takes to fill this one, I may do two to a bed. If it fills quickly, I can easily take it out and relocate it to another area of the raised bed.

I believe one of the bonuses will be this type of composting shouldn't attract the nighttime varmints.

Thank you, @joannakat

Aw, you're welcome, but also, thank YOU! What a great idea! I've seen systems like this for sale but I prefer yours because I love reusing and recycling. Your method taps the best of both worlds!

Please do update us as time goes by. The big question is, will something eventually dig it up? I have a problem here with omnivorous chipmunks. They're feisty and plentiful and very industrious. I'd love to try this, but I'm concerned that they might dig the whole thing up.

Can't wait to hear your progress! So happy you posted!

Thanks... I don't think I will have a problem with something digging it up. You see the cattle panel laying to one side in the third photo. That keeps my kitties from using the bed as a litter box. It should also deter digging varmints.

@pod I love your idea, I have 4 raised beds and am going to try your way. Thanks a million.

Thanks James, I wish us both success! Please add your trials with this system.

I have to wait to accumulate more coffee cans but am always open to new ideas.

Looks great @pod . Those coffee container lids are pretty easy to remove so you might want to put a brick or something similar on top.

You are right. A raccoon could easily manipulate the lid. It may well need a brick. Thanks!

Protein supplement powder comes in pretty good plastic containers too and they have a screw-on top (mostly)! In case you're looking for alternatives.

A container with a screw on lid might be a good option also. Thanks!

pod said:A container with a screw on lid might be a good option also. Thanks!

On second thought, it might be a bit difficult to remove when it's in the ground. And can racoons unscrew things? I do know they can really screw things up....

If the lid protrudes above the ground a bit it shouldn't be difficult to remove. Probably the biggest problem with any plastic container is that raccoons are pretty good at shredding things, and those types of containers are pretty light weight. But, you can always try it and see what happens. We get a few raccoons here but usually just during the breeding season. We don't have damage issues with them.

Here I was just thinking how good it was that the coffee can lid was black. That should make the compost decompose faster due to warmth in winter as well.

I'll have to keep an open mind about other options. Although I'm not too worried as I have a large fenced yard with a dog and kitties in it. They discourage all comers.

I'd go with your original plan @pod . If you have any problem then try a different option. Any of those containers are pretty easy to come by.

You're probably not going to have to worry too much about the compost decomposing. The worms will probably eat it all first and then you'll have lots of "black gold" for your plants!

I love this idea. There are more options for container choices. Today I was thinking about some gallon plastic jars with screw on lids that would work as well. I may try a variety and see if one works better than the others.

I also hope others that have different ideas will let us know what they used and how well it worked for them.

How about a plastic 5 gal. paint bucket with lid? Available at farm stores, $3 to $4. Joint compound for sheetrock work uses the same style buckets so if you know anyone that does sheetrock work you may be able to get them for free.

I truly think the 5 gallon containers would work well in a large garden area. It would make for an easy way of adding compost to the garden spot.

Mine are raised beds with improved soil. I'm too vintage (read lazy) to dig that deep.

I do think this is limited only by my ambition and by our imagination.

Hey, you have to use what's best for you. I was just throwing out a couple additional ideas. We're anxious to see what you come up with .

I am puzzled by the amount of work discussed here.
For the past 32 years I have been burying kitchen scraps directly in my garden. Only after a couple months, I would always find a large number of big, fat worms in the very spot I buried the veg & fruit scraps. There is no need for any worm tunnel to get these results:

pitimpinai said:I am puzzled by the amount of work discussed here.
For the past 32 years I have been burying kitchen scraps directly in my garden. Only after a couple months, I would always find a large number big, fat worms in the very spot I buried the veg & fruit scraps. There is no need for any worm tunnel to get these results:

Beautiful results! But when you have perennials you can't dig around or near, having a permanent container is a great advantage. It's also great if you want to harvest your worms for any reason.

Plus, some of us have creature problems that make burying scraps untenable. For me, it's those darn (but cute) chipmunks. If I bury, they dig and feast. That means no decomp for me, and no worms for my garden. AND, a great food supply for them means they nest nearby which, no matter how cute they are, I do not want.

I just have one question for you: When's dinner?