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for the first time ever, I really really want to look at MS . . .
worms!
We got a compost thing in the fall . . .

i haven't read the article, but i have had the same worm box under my kitchen counter for about 15 years. it is easy, odor free and a great way to get 10 year old boys to think you are pretty cool (girls already have their own opinions, a couple of worm aren't going to sway them either way). i highly recommend it.

I am so excited. Just yesterday, I told my husband that I wanted a worm box/ compost. He looked at me as if I was crazy. I think if I show him that MS does it (mainstream publication) then it could not be that bad or difficult...
At least, in the terms of his involvement.

I have two worm bins. Love. them.

I'm seriously considering getting a third because two don't absorb all the fresh veggies we have available in the summer.

Question about vermicomposting -- the few people I know with bins have either had (a) runaway worms or (b) fruit fly infestations. This has kept me from going wormy. Are these inevitable? Or (hopefull) symptoms of bad worm management?

I've never had a problem with runway worms. Sometimes they congregate on ceiling of their bin after a rain, but I just scoop them down. No problema.
You will get fruit flies if you allow the bin to be too wet, or if you give your worms too much food. It's happened to me a few times. But as you said, it's a question of bad worm management rather than an inevitability. I would just let the bins dry out a bit and/or let them eat all the remaining food before giving them more. They probably won't be able to consume all your veggie scraps, but they do consume a lot. Any plants you have will be grateful for the worm tea.

Did anyone notice that the NY Times also had a little item about worm bins last week?

If you are in NYC, you don't actually have to do it yourself, community gardens throughout the city have composting programs where you can drop off your scraps.

I have a worm bin that is a source of infinite pride. I can kill plants, but worms are so easy to maintain. I'm thinking of starting a second bin.

I kept them outside up to November or so and then moved them into the basement. It's a fabulous way to compost if you have very limited space or live in a city.

I've never had a problem with fruit flies or runaway worms. My bin has a cover and I make sure to cover up the kitchen scraps when I put them in the bin, so that seems to have cleared up the fly issue.

Shredded newspaper over your green kitchen scraps is the way to go.