hmmm... i have another question then:
The pulp that comes out of the juicer is more wet than damp, what if I put it in a shallow dish, like a saucer - would they crawl in and out as they wish? I'm planning to do the Left side Right side rotation plan in the bin.
Sorry about so many questions everyone...(does t his make me a perfectionist? - oh dear - )

Haven't tried that, but I think mixing the pulp with dry material, or leaving it to drain for a while before feeding it might be a better solution. About the same dampness of a wrung out sponge is what is recommended. My basement got pretty humid this summer and I had to keep adding dry newspaper and dryer than usual kitchen waste (actually took fresh trimmings from fresh produce and let it dry a day or two) to try to keep it dry enough, and I think the juicer pulp might need to be drained. Another solution would be to make sure the bin drains well into another container--instant "tea"!

the worms wont fall thru the drain holes??

I follow all your ideas, and thot the same thing. Thanks!

Some worms may crawl through the holes... though I haven't seen it happen much in mine. You could always put some screen over the bottom holes if it became a problem. That way the "tea" can still drain, but wormy can't fall into the abyss.

If they fall into the tea, they'll drown. If you're just concerned about them escaping and crawling all over your housemate... she needn't worry. In my experience... they shrivel up within a few feet of the bin when they do escape.

My experience is similar with Jen's, if the "escape" they don't last long outside the bin. You can put the air/drain holes slightly above the bottom on the side to maintain some soup in the bottom which should keep the worms higher in the bin, or as Jen says, put some screen over the holes, but 1/8th inch holes are usually sufficient for drainage and very few worms will escape through the bottom. They could crawl through, but I doubt they will fall out.

EXCELLENT!
Thank You again
I shall pass on the news.

If your an organic gardener why would you want to raise earthworms? My soil is so healthy that the eathworm population in my garden is numerous and healthy. Hint: pick up an old blender at a yard sale. Blend your kitchen scraps with water and add them to your compost pile (what, you don't have a compost pile?) or bury the mixture in your garden.

BTW- Read my letter to the editor on page 14 of this current issue of Organic Gardening where I write about my organic gardening experiences.

Hmmm...
why would I want to grow earthworms?...
I'm starting from scratch and want the process to go faster?
I want to put them in my container pots
My roommate can feed them to her turtles...
Just to see if I can?

I looked for the article online here, is it in the paper magazine? (I dont subscribe to it.)

I'm not going to the basement to get the magazine. I believe I remember that letter and was not impressed, if that is what you think we should be.
Worm composters are a great way to compost in winter. It doesn't mean someone doesn't have worms and compost outside.

For sale as worm-poo fertilizer???

Little Minnie-I think that you are thinking of someone else. I wrote a tongue-in-cheek letter saluting Organic Gardening Magazine and the ideals they preach.

Bingo. That letter was self-aggrandizing.

i have two different bins of compost worms, in dark containers, in the right temp, but one stays moldy. what do i do about that?

You might try opening more airways since mold usually results from too much moisture. Are they equally productive?

Mold is a sign of too much moisture, but the mold itself will not hurt the worms, the excess moisture can. There's a quick moisture test in here somewhere

http://www.earthwormworks.com/vermicomposting/about_vermicomposting.htm

Worm COMPOST and worm CASTINGS aren't the same. Worm Castings are just the poop and are more potent.