Composting

I built a composter a couple of years ago and we also have a plastic green bin type and I thought that the compost should be warm and also have lots of worms but ours are both at the ambient temperature and having turned the compost over several times in past month, I have not seen one worm. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong
The wooden composter is about 3 feet square and 3 foot high.

 

Hi Peter, and a warm welcome!

Did you place the compost 'bins' onto bare earth/grass etc (as opposed to a concrete slab). Just thinking if they're on a solid, inpenetrable base the worms won't be able to find a way in!

What are you putting on the compost? My best heaps have a good mix of green garden waste, kitchen scraps and cardboardy fibrous stuff with a good helping of guinea pig bedding. The worms etc tend to congregate towards the middle of the compost, but if you're turning it loads, you should have found them if they're there! I only mix ine up every 6 months to a year or so (when I harvest it!). Maybe they're not appreciating being disturbed - though I know others do turn their heaps regularly.

You could introduce worms - either via an angling shop, or one of the on-line wormeries (I've used 'wiggly wigglers' before) if none of the above is useful - give it a kick start into action!