Subpod

Update: As of March 25th, 2024 subpod has shut down unfortunately.  I’ll still leave this review up in case you ever find unit second hand for reference.  

I’ve been worm composting for the past year with subpod and here are my thoughts and tips on how easy it is! I do have a code as I recently signed on to be an affiliate. SUSTAINABLYAMBER code gives you 10% off. If you use my code I do learn a little commission, but that is no cost to you. It’s a small way you can support the work I do. All thoughts are my own below.

Where do the worms live? The subpod is an inclosed box which sits (mostly) inside the ground. The box has small holes all around the sides. This helps the worms to be able to travel in and out of the box as needed. This is especially helpful during very cold or hot climates. The worms will be able to bury themselves far under the ground to survive. I can attest to this from living in Texas where we get a lot of hot summers.  So far my worms are surviving through the heat.  I do give them some containers of ice to cool the bin down; as well as freezing the scraps before adding to the bin.  The ideal temperature for composting worms is between 40° and 80°F.  But that shouldn’t discourage you, as I’m successfully still composting in 100° plus weather. The box also has a secured lid, which is helpful in keeping wildlife out of your compost. The worm bin is also made from recycled materials!  Keep in mind that once your box is settled into the dirt that you will most likely need to add more dirt as it settles over time.  The dirt should cover all the large holes.

Does it smell? Not at all! If it smells then it may be user error. There is a little learning curve when first composting with the worms. You’ll need to add carbon (paper, leaves, etc) to balance out the amount of food scraps you’ll be feeding the worms. I suggest always adding more carbon than you think is needed. Make sure you are aerating the soil as well. Basically every time you add food scraps and carbon you’ll need to mix it around. A simple garden trowel helps with this.

Does it attract bugs? Bugs are apart of the ecosystem, especially under ground. You will probably get some rolly pollies (pill bugs) from my experience. But they aren’t harmful to the worms. In fact it’s a good sign because they are beneficial in helping break down the waste, thus making it more microbe-friendly. Which basically means a more nutrient compost in the end.  Living in south texas I once had fire ants set up in my bin and that was not fun! I stopped feeding the bin for a few weeks and then throughly aerated the soil. That helped as I didn’t see the ants after that. If you choose the balcony system (I have both the in-ground and balcony) you will get much less bugs because it’s not directly in the ground. More on that below.

What if I have little space or live in an apartment? You may want to check out the new modbed balcony solution. I recently set mine up and I am loving it! I even got one for my dad who recently retired. It takes a little diy set up but they include everything that is needed to assemble. I really like how it’s level to your waist. In the traditional garden bed you’ll need to bend over, but with the balcony planter you don’t need to worry about that at all. Plus it’s on wheels! Being able to move the whole system is a game changer for me! Especially in the Texas heat; I like to move it to a shady spot as the afternoon progresses. They even have alot of little add on’s for the balcony system. Things like a small trellis, a greenhouse cover and even a protection cover. I find the protection cover to be the most versatile for me in my climate. It’s basically like a mesh screen. It helps to keep things a little shaded, keeps bugs out, and I’m even raising some butterflies in the protection cover!

Tips on feeding?  Cut up the food scraps small. The worms have no teeth so smaller pieces make it easier for them to eat. Mushy foods are by far their favorites! I make my own veggie stock and will feed the worms the soft veggies after and they gobble that up so fast! Even if you cut up a fresh banana peel you’ll see they might not feed on it until a few days later. That’s because they really only like to eat food that is decomposing. But eventually they will eat it!  They say to avoid anything spicy, citrus, meats, and dairy. But I feel like that’s only when starting out. Once your worms are fully established and comfortable in their home you can introduce those types of food in small amounts.  

How long until you can harvest compost? I would stay you’ll need to wait 3-4 months if first starting out. The worms take a little while to get adjusted. After they get adjusted, you can easily harvest compost every month or so. Of course that depends on how much you’re feeding them. The more food you give, the more compost you’ll receive.

What is a worm blanket? They are usually made from jute material that is harmless to the worms. It’s actually important to have a worm blanket, especially during the beginning stages of composting. This helps the worms to stay inside the dirt. Otherwise sometimes they want to try climbing out as they get adjusted to their new environment. It’s also good to keep the blanket slightly damp. This really helps during hot weather. Worms can’t regulate their body temperatures so they need our help during the hotter weather. Even a piece of cardboard is helpful here if you don’t have a worm blanket. Eventually the blanket or cardboard will biodegrade and provide food for the wormies.

Any cons? I would have to say the price. It is on the higher end for composters. The mini is around $140 USD and the classic is $220.  However once you’re actively harvesting the worm castings (compost), you’ll quickly see how much $$ your saving over the years.  It also doesn’t come with the composting worms. I hope that’s something the company may be able to work on in the future. You’ll need to do your own research on where to buy them. I would suggest looking to see if they are sold locally. If not then uncle Jim’s is a good place to start. They ship everything plastic free, and in under 2 days. They also have great customer service. My worms look a little extended vacation in the mail and the company makes sure to stand by its product.

If you got this far reading you must be really considering getting a worm composting system. I hope I helped answered any questions you may have. If I left anything out feel free to leave a comment and I’ll answer to the best of my ability!  I really feel like my garden produce has increased since composting!  Especially if you are planting items directly in the same dirt as the subpod.  I tried growing a birdhouse gourd last year before I put in the subpod and wan’t sucessful.  Compared to this year I now have the subpod and a birdhouse gourd growing!  You can see the picture on the top cover of this post.

Funny story, when I first started composting with the worms I was so excited. I told my friend that “I have worms now” and he looked at me so funny. We both burst out laughing after realizing what I said 🤣 So here’s to everyone getting worms and diverting waste!

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