Red worms & cold winters

[indypower1]

I am considering buying some Red Worms for use in my compost pile. Compost is grass clippings, leaves, twigs, dead plants. No food waste. My compost pile is getting big now with the leaves I mowed up with my lawn tractor. My question is will red worms survive the cold winter of New Hampshire or will they freeze to death. Winters here can have lots of snow, rain, freezing rain, and temps can get down to -30F for short periods of time. Below 0 F is not uncommon. Should I buy worms now or is it better to wait till spring. Thanks.

[chandler]

If your compost pile is really active, the interior temperature will be like Palm Springs for the worms. They will dive to stay warm. Spring is a good time, but I doubt you would have a problem if it is as large as you say. Is it smokin' yet?

[Pilot Dane]

We compost our kitchen scraps with worms in a big plastic bin so they cannot escape (there are air holes so they can breathe). The worm bin sits outside above ground and we have never had any trouble. Our winters are nowhere near as cold as yours but we usually have at least a week below freezing with nights in the single digits. The worms just retreat to the center of the bin where it is warmer.

If you compost pile is open to the earth on the bottom the worms will take care of themselves. Like Chandler said. If they pile is still cooking it will stay warm. If you are only putting summer grass clippings and yard waste on the pile it may slow way down or stop come winter. The worms sense the change in conditions and will head down into the ground where it is warm. Once spring comes they should find the wonderfull food source in your pile and move back in.

[indypower1]

Here is more info. I started the pile late spring after I bought a lawn tractor with a bagger. Started with just grass clippings. Just an un-used area out back and on the ground. Started out with a 5 foot x 5 foot area. It never got to the smoking stage (at least I never saw smoke coming from it) probably because we had a record breaking wet summer and it was cooler than usual. (stores could not sell air conditioners). Now with the leaves being added, I increased it to 6 foot x 9 foot. Other than grass clippings & leaves, I did throw in a few apple cores, a couple of orange peelings, banana peels, egg shells & water used to boil eggs.
How can I get it cooking faster and make it really active?

[Pilot Dane]

You could turn the pile (mix it up) every two weeks to speed up the process.

[indypower1]

I went out & turned the pile today and made room for more leaves. When I turned it, I saw what I thought was dust but after reaching in to get a stick, that area was warm. So she's a cooking but not smoking yet. (smoldering maybe). So when I get the worms, I dig a small "hole" and bury them? I just don't want the crows getting them as soon as I put them in the pile.