Reader Question: Stinky Worm Bin?

I received this email from Vicki:

"Hi Colleen. I've had my worm bin for a little over two months, and for the last week or so it has started to smell rotten. I keep reading about how worm bins don't stink, but mine definitely does! What can I do to get rid of the smell?"

Thanks for the question, Vicki. I think that in the zeal to sell people on vermicomposting, many writers overstate the simplicity of worm bins. Worm bins that are being properly maintained don't stink. But the key phrase there is "properly maintained." And if you're new at worm herding, figuring out how to create the optimal conditions in your bin can be rather hit or miss.

There are a few things that can cause a worm bin to be smelly. Most commonly, the cause is too much moisture. This can be caused by adding too much water to the bedding, but is more often caused by adding too much "wet" food at once. Melon, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes -- all of these are very moist foods that can cause an excess moisture problem. Luckily, it's pretty easy to fix a wet worm bin.

Other issues could be that you've added too many smelly foods, such as onions or garlic. If that's the case, remove as many of those as you can, and hold off from adding any more of them for a while. Also, be sure to avoid adding meat or dairy, as the spoilage of these foods will definitely make your worm bin smelly.

I hope this helps! A smelly worm bin is annoying, but it's pretty easy to remedy, and you'll be back to a sweet-smelling bin in no time.

More About Vermicomposting:
How to Set Up a Worm Bin
Worm Bin Problems: Worms Trying to Escape
Best and Worst Foods for Your Worm Bin

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Reader Question: Best Houseplants for Low Light?

I've had several questions lately about houseplants for low-light conditions. As someone who has a fairly dark house (the living room, kitchen, and dining room all have a northern exposure, and half of it is shaded by trees!) I can definitely relate. So, to answer the question (as well as to find some new plants for myself) I looked to some of my favorite houseplant experts for advice:

About.com Houseplants Guide Jon VanZile recommends lucky bamboo, pothos, and sansevieria, among others.One of my favorite garden bloggers,? Mr. Brown Thumb, recommends ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), as well as cast-iron plant, philodendron, and others.Judy Lowe, gardening columnist for the Christian Science Monitor, lists her favorite plants for low light.

I hope these recommendations help, and please let us know if you have a favorite houseplant for low-light indoor conditions!

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Reader Question: Growing Sprouts Indoors

This week's question:

"I've heard that growing sprouts indoors is easy, but then I read about E. coli in sprouts and I wasn't sure if it was safe to try. Can I grow my own sprouts? And how would I do it?"

Growing Sprouts Safely

Any food that you consume raw carries a risk for food-borne illness, and that includes fruits and vegetables. There have been about 30 cases of outbreaks of illnesses due to raw sprouts. Most commonly, the problem is Salmonella or E.coli bacteria. I've been growing and eating raw sprouts for over ten years, and haven't had a single problem. There are many things you can do to help ensure a healthy batch of sprouts:

Look for seeds specifically labeled as "sprouting seeds." These seeds are guaranteed to be pathogen-free.Keep everything clean, clean, clean. Start with a very clean jar, soak the seeds in fresh, clean water, and rinse with clean water. When they've finished sprouting, rinse and dry your sprouts and store them in a clean plastic or glass container in the refrigerator.During the soaking process, keep your sprouts in a cool, dark place. Don't soak your seeds too long. It should take one to three days, tops, for most sprouts. Soaking and rinsing longer than that will increase the likelihood of encountering harmful bacteria.

Sprouts are a tasty, nutritious addition to the diet. If you follow a few simple precautions, there's no need to worry about E. coli or other bacteria. It's very easy to do -- here are simple instructions for growing sprouts in a jar.

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