I would like to try doing a worm workshop where I show folks the benefits of worm bins and get them started. I want to make it VERY SIMPLE for the participants-- give them a bin, bedding, worms, and Worms Eat My Garbage or some other literature. However, to cover the costs, I would have to charge a fee that would keep too many from coming, I'm afraid. I'm figuring costs to be about $20 for a pound of worms, $8 for a bin, and $14 (I think) for the book, and I can shred paper for the bedding. That's over $40.

I thought about doing an introductory workshop where they get info and bins, then order and deliver worms the following week, then about 3? weeks later have a follow-up workshop to troubleshoot/answer questions/etc.

Has anyone done this? Has anyone had a city or solid waste district sponsor the workshop? I'm just not sure people will fork over that much money to hear about something they may not be interested in doing.

Any help out there?

What about doing a free workshop, or one for a small cost to cover any liturature you might hand out (say $5 or $10). Bring a couple of bins to show at different stages. Then if people are interested you could always have a price list of different sized bins and people could pick them up from you.

I think the cost of your bins are fine because where I got my bin they charge $45 for the bin, starting materials (ie. bedding) and a 1/4lbs of worms.

I do many workshops.
I have a charge for an hour presentation about how worms/bins work.
There is a charge for a pound of worms.
Paper is there for a collaborative paper shredding.
They could bring their bins for set up, (with a suggestion for what would work best).
Remember you are providing a service and many folks are eager to learn.

RedHen-- do you give them the worms the same day? Is there any problems with putting the worms in immediately? How do you let people know what to bring for a bin-- do you recommend in your workshop advertisement, for example, "a 10 gal rubbermaid tub or something similar" that folks bring with them?

I am CERTAIN it is much less difficult than I am making it.... I hate the learning curve.

nicdec-- what kind of bin did you get for $45? I was thinking about just a rubbermaid tub-- nothing fancy.

That was just a small rubbermaid bin, as they call it a children's starter bin.

I'm not sure where your located but here in northern Toronto, Canada I have not found a lot of locations to get the red wigglers, so every where I've found charges an arm and leg for the worms.