Can the Urbalive worm composter be kept outdoors?

The Urbalive is designed first and foremost for indoor use: kitchen, pantry, or living room, as well as schools and offices, where its design really shines. A balcony or patio can work too, as long as you protect it thoroughly:keep it sheltered from rain, which could get in through the lid;never leave it in direct sun, and bring it inside during a heat wave;cover it or bring it inside when temperatures drop below about 23 °F (-5 °C).Worms are most comfortable between 59–77 °F (15–25 °C). Without solid shelter, keep the Urbalive indoors: many customers keep theirs in a pantry or kitchen, with no odor at all.All our tips: How to protect your worm composter from cold and heat

Which accessories should I get with the Urbalive?

To get your Urbalive off to a great start, we recommend:our Eisenia composting worms: 8.8 oz (250 g) for 1 to 2 people, 1.1 lb (500 g) for 3 to 4 people, and 2.2 lb (1 kg) or more for larger households;a 9L coconut fiber block, as starter bedding;our oval hemp mat, sized to fit and placed on the active tray;extra trays for Urbalive, up to 4 in total;our matching Urbalive 6L kitchen compost bin, to store your food scraps in the kitchen.To get everything at once, our 5 Essential Accessories Pack includes 2 oval mats, WormFood, RegulaWorm, WORMboost, and a mini rake.All our tips: Which accessories for your worm composter?

What do you harvest from the Urbalive, and how long does it take?

The Urbalive worm composter produces two natural fertilizers for your plants:compost tea (worm tea), after about 2 to 3 months: the Urbalive's anti-drowning filter keeps the worms up above; just open the spigot with a container underneath, and it drains out on its own. Dilute 1 part worm tea to 9 parts water;vermicompost: first harvest after 3 to 6 months, then roughly every 1 to 2 months. Use 30% vermicompost to 70% potting soil; it keeps for 2 years.All our tips are in our guide: How and When to Harvest Vermicompost and Compost Tea

[ UL/2/IV ]

Urbalive Worm Composter

Q: Is the Urbalive right for my household, and how many trays should I choose?

The Urbalive is a great fit for households that want an elegant worm composter with a good capacity: each tray holds 3.7 gallons (14 liters) of usable space, the same as the trays of the Worm Café, yet its footprint stays compact enough for an apartment.It comes with 2 or 3 trays and can hold up to 4. As a rule of thumb, plan on 2 to 3 trays for 2 to 3 people; for a large family, the WORMbox or the Worm Café can go up to 5 trays. Extra Urbalive trays are available if your needs grow.All our tips: How does a multi-tray worm composter work?

Q: How many Willys (composting worms) do I need to get my Urbalive off to a good start?

To start your Urbalive, plan on 8.8 oz (250 g) of worms for 1 to 2 people, 1.1 lb (500 g, or about 1,000 worms) for 3 to 4 people, and 2.2 lb (1 kg) or more for larger households.Place them all in the first tray on moist bedding, with the filter securely in place in the leachate tray. They will then multiply and move up into the Urbalive's additional trays as you add them. Their population regulates itself according to the space and food available. The more worms you start with, the faster your worm composter gets going.All our tips: How do you set up your worm composter, step by step?

Q: How much waste can the Urbalive recycle?

In the Urbalive, your worms eat about half their body weight in food scraps every day, sometimes as much as their full weight. That means 1.1 lb (500 g) of worms digest about 8.8 oz (250 g) of scraps a day. Their population doubles every 3 to 4 months, then adjusts to the space available. With 3.7 gallons (14 liters) of usable space, the Urbalive's trays are among the most generous in our range, and with up to 4 trays, it offers great capacity in an elegant design.Bonus: your cardboard, paper, and egg cartons get recycled too, in equal parts with your peels, and it's this balance that keeps odors away. Depending on the household, that means 30 to 50% less organic waste in the trash can.All our tips: What can you feed the worms in your worm composter?

Q: When should I add a tray to the Urbalive, and how do I harvest the vermicompost?

On the Urbalive, add a tray on top when the active tray is three-quarters full. There's no need to add new bedding: put your food scraps straight into the new tray and move the hemp mat up onto it. The worms will migrate up on their own, drawn by the fresh food.When you have no empty trays left, harvest the bottom tray: move it to the very top under a light, without the lid, and scrape off the vermicompost in layers of 0.4–0.8 in (1–2 cm). The handles make it easier to move, but a full tray is still heavy, so don't hesitate to ask for help. The Urbalive worm composter holds up to 4 trays.All our tips: How and when to harvest vermicompost and compost tea

2 trays - Ivory

See description

4,7 14 reviews

Turn your food scraps into natural, nutrient-rich compost.
Its sleek, modern design by Jiří Pelcl, winner of a Red Dot Design Award, brings style and sophistication to your home.
Composting is fast and efficient thanks to its 2 or 3 convenient trays.
Wooden legs and sturdy plastic deliver both durability and great looks.
A clever filter keeps the worms from falling into the leachate tray.

SIZE 2 trays

2 trays

3 trays

COLOR Ivory

$139.49

€124.17 · Payment in euros · prices in USD at today's exchange rate

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Description
Technical data sheet
Video
Guide & FAQ8
Customer reviews14

Turn your organic food scraps into natural compost.

The Urbalive worm composter uses composting worms to break down organic food scraps from your kitchen.

Unique, modern, and stylish, the Urbalive is just as much at home in your kitchen as it is in schools or the workplace. It turns your food scraps into useful resources and helps protect the ecosystem.

Its contemporary design features 2 or 3 composting trays, where the worms turn food scraps into vermicompost. The process also produces worm tea, which collects in a bottom reservoir and drains through a built-in spigot.

The resulting vermicompost is naturally rich in enzymes and growth hormones. It improves soil fertility and gives your garden, houseplants, or vegetable garden a real boost.

Turn your organic waste into compost with the Urbalive

Its modern design comes from renowned Czech designer Jiří Pelcl, an international leader in contemporary design.
The Urbalive won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award, often called the Oscars of design.
A creation that blends aesthetics, innovation, and sustainability, right down to the smallest detail.

Comes complete with:

1 lid with wooden handle,
2 or 3 trays,
1 leachate tray with spigot,
1 anti-drowning filter for the worms,
4 wooden legs,
1 scoop,
1 vermicomposting guide + assembly instructions in English.

Included: the complete guide to vermicomposting plus a detailed 20-page user manual (8.3 in x 8.3 in [21 cm x 21 cm], in English) to walk you step by step through using and caring for your worm composter.

Urbalive with anti-drowning filter for composting worms

Benefits

Vermicompost with class, naturally and elegantly:

Contemporary design that fits beautifully into any home.
Large-capacity 3.7-gallon (14-liter) trays for efficient everyday composting.
Thick, sturdy plastic built to last.
Raised design makes it easy to set a bottle under the spigot.
Replaceable filter in the leachate tray keeps composting worms from falling into the worm tea, so you collect clean liquid with no drowned worms.

How it works & how to use it:

As the bottom trays fill up, you add a new tray on top and the stack grows by one level. The worms gradually move upward, drawn by the fresh food scraps, to feed on new organic matter. The vermicompost and worm tea are harvested from the lower levels of the worm composter.

Technical specifications Urbalive Worm Composter

Overview
Brand	Urbalive
Reference	UL/2/IV
Color	Ivory
Size	2 trays
Worm composter type	Stacking trays
Use	Indoor
Capacity
Number of working trays	2 depending on size
Maximum number of trays	4
Tray volume	5.3 gallons (20 liters)
Composting volume per tray	3.7 gallons (14 liters)
Total composting volume	7.4 gallons (28 liters) depending on size
Recommended household size	1/3 people depending on size
Recommended starting quantity of worms	1.1 pounds (500 grams)
Features
Leachate tray	Yes
Spigot	Yes
Planter	No
Filter	Yes
Casters / feet	4 wooden legs
Dimensions and material
Material	Plastic
Number of colors	6
Overall dimensions	Length 20.1 x Depth 15 x Height 24 inches (51 x 38 x 61 cm)
Weight	12.8 pounds (5.8 kilograms)
Manufacturing
Designer	Jiří Pelcl
Country of manufacture	Czech Republic
Certification / label	Red Dot Design Award (winner)
Box contents and warranty
Instructions / guide included	Vermicomposting guide in English
Warranty	2 years

Your questions about the Urbalive

The farm's answers to the questions our customers ask us most often.

The Urbalive is a great fit for households that want an elegant worm composter with a good capacity: each tray holds 3.7 gallons (14 liters) of usable space, the same as the trays of the Worm Café, yet its footprint stays compact enough for an apartment.

It comes with 2 or 3 trays and can hold up to 4. As a rule of thumb, plan on 2 to 3 trays for 2 to 3 people; for a large family, the WORMbox or the Worm Café can go up to 5 trays. Extra Urbalive trays are available if your needs grow.

All our tips: How does a multi-tray worm composter work?

The Urbalive is designed first and foremost for indoor use: kitchen, pantry, or living room, as well as schools and offices, where its design really shines. A balcony or patio can work too, as long as you protect it thoroughly:

keep it sheltered from rain, which could get in through the lid;
never leave it in direct sun, and bring it inside during a heat wave;
cover it or bring it inside when temperatures drop below about 23 °F (-5 °C).

Worms are most comfortable between 59–77 °F (15–25 °C). Without solid shelter, keep the Urbalive indoors: many customers keep theirs in a pantry or kitchen, with no odor at all.

All our tips: How to protect your worm composter from cold and heat

To start your Urbalive, plan on 8.8 oz (250 g) of worms for 1 to 2 people, 1.1 lb (500 g, or about 1,000 worms) for 3 to 4 people, and 2.2 lb (1 kg) or more for larger households.

Place them all in the first tray on moist bedding, with the filter securely in place in the leachate tray. They will then multiply and move up into the Urbalive's additional trays as you add them. Their population regulates itself according to the space and food available. The more worms you start with, the faster your worm composter gets going.

All our tips: How do you set up your worm composter, step by step?

The Urbalive comes with a lid with a wooden handle, 2 or 3 trays, a leachate tray with spigot, an anti-drowning filter, 4 wooden legs, a scoop, our vermicomposting guide with detailed instructions, and a video training session.

Available separately if needed: the worms, bedding (coconut fiber or cardboard), and an oval hemp mat shaped to fit its trays. Made in the Czech Republic, designed by Jiří Pelcl, and winner of the Red Dot Design Award, the Urbalive worm composter comes with a 2-year warranty. Replacement trays, filter, and spigot are available.

In the Urbalive, your worms eat about half their body weight in food scraps every day, sometimes as much as their full weight. That means 1.1 lb (500 g) of worms digest about 8.8 oz (250 g) of scraps a day. Their population doubles every 3 to 4 months, then adjusts to the space available. With 3.7 gallons (14 liters) of usable space, the Urbalive's trays are among the most generous in our range, and with up to 4 trays, it offers great capacity in an elegant design.

Bonus: your cardboard, paper, and egg cartons get recycled too, in equal parts with your peels, and it's this balance that keeps odors away. Depending on the household, that means 30 to 50% less organic waste in the trash can.

All our tips: What can you feed the worms in your worm composter?

To get your Urbalive off to a great start, we recommend:

our Eisenia composting worms: 8.8 oz (250 g) for 1 to 2 people, 1.1 lb (500 g) for 3 to 4 people, and 2.2 lb (1 kg) or more for larger households;
a 9L coconut fiber block, as starter bedding;
our oval hemp mat, sized to fit and placed on the active tray;
extra trays for Urbalive, up to 4 in total;
our matching Urbalive 6L kitchen compost bin, to store your food scraps in the kitchen.

To get everything at once, our 5 Essential Accessories Pack includes 2 oval mats, WormFood, RegulaWorm, WORMboost, and a mini rake.

All our tips: Which accessories for your worm composter?

On the Urbalive, add a tray on top when the active tray is three-quarters full. There's no need to add new bedding: put your food scraps straight into the new tray and move the hemp mat up onto it. The worms will migrate up on their own, drawn by the fresh food.

When you have no empty trays left, harvest the bottom tray: move it to the very top under a light, without the lid, and scrape off the vermicompost in layers of 0.4–0.8 in (1–2 cm). The handles make it easier to move, but a full tray is still heavy, so don't hesitate to ask for help. The Urbalive worm composter holds up to 4 trays.

All our tips: How and when to harvest vermicompost and compost tea

The Urbalive worm composter produces two natural fertilizers for your plants:

compost tea (worm tea), after about 2 to 3 months: the Urbalive's anti-drowning filter keeps the worms up above; just open the spigot with a container underneath, and it drains out on its own. Dilute 1 part worm tea to 9 parts water;
vermicompost: first harvest after 3 to 6 months, then roughly every 1 to 2 months. Use 30% vermicompost to 70% potting soil; it keeps for 2 years.

All our tips are in our guide: How and When to Harvest Vermicompost and Compost Tea

Can't find your answer? Write to us. We answer every question by email.

Submit my question

Learn more: our guides

GuideHow does a tray worm composter work?GuideHow to protect your worm composter from cold and heat GuideHow to set up your worm composter, step by step

Mentioned in the answers

Worm Café2 or 3 trays, 3.7 gallons (14 liters) usable per tray

WORMbox2 to 4 trays with optional planter, 3.4 gallons (13 liters) of usable capacity per tray

Urbalive TrayAdd a tray, compost more

Composting wormsPacks from 8.8 oz (250 g) to 22 lb (10 kg) of worms

Customer reviews for Urbalive Worm Composter

4,7 /5

14 reviews · 14 % verified reviews
including 14 from other countries, translated

14 reviews

Rafal

Chilly-Mazarin

16/06/2025

Automatic translation from French

The worm composter is doing well and so are the little worms. They're suffering a bit from the heat these past few days (33° in the shade).
And the vermicompost is doing my plants good, both indoors and on the balcony. I can also give some to a few friends and family, and they're very happy with it.

Was this review helpful?

Bernard / Patricia

Ermont

15/06/2025

Location: Basement, utility room, garageUsed for: 3 to 12 months

Automatic translation from French

Completely satisfied! Placed in a utility room (in an apartment), it gives off no bad smell. Chosen for its looks and its size, which suits the spot we picked ;-) We put a tray underneath and the tap stays open

Was this review helpful?

Séverine

Paris

14/06/2025

Location: Indoors

Automatic translation from French

The Urbalive is very practical for a small apartment, it doesn't take up too much space and I think it looks nice. The trays are easy to handle thanks to the handles. With the hemp mat to keep the moisture in, the system works well and the Willies are thriving in it. In short, I'm very happy with this worm composter.

Was this review helpful?

Elisabeth

Sète

09/06/2025

Automatic translation from French

I find swapping trays and extracting the compost rather complicated and difficult for an elderly person. It's heavy, and the worms don't migrate easily to the new tray despite all the advice you give.

Was this review helpful?

Sabrina

Mandelieu

07/04/2024

Automatic translation from French

Perfect, except that I didn't know it was meant for indoor use, so it's a hassle when it rains..

Was this review helpful?

Xavier

Prevessin Moens

06/03/2024

Automatic translation from French

Top-notch, thank you!

Was this review helpful?

Catherine

St Etienne

02/03/2024

Used for: 1 to 2 years

Automatic translation from French

Very stylish and practical product

Was this review helpful?

Isabelle

Meaux

01/03/2024

Used for: 3 to 12 months

Automatic translation from French

Great product. The worms are very hungry and healthy! La Ferme du Moutta was fantastic right from the start of my purchase. I wanted to get into vermicomposting and knew nothing about it... with the kick-off video call where we could ask our questions, everything was very easy. I appreciate how available Laetitia was: she answered all my questions whenever I had them (and they kept coming as I went along) and she always took the time to reply!! Today, after several years of use... I have no more questions... everything is running smoothly!! My worms think of nothing but eating!!! Real gluttons!!!!!
For those who want to get started, go for it, because you will get all the help possible from motivated people!!

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Denis

Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire

29/02/2024

Used for: Less than 1 month

Automatic translation from French

Good, but the system supposed to prevent the worms from going down into the compost tea tray isn't very effective.
Several worms are in there, they're especially fond of the fixing "holes" for the feet, and even seem to be reproducing in them. Luckily, for now there's no tea...

Was this review helpful?

Estelle

Nantes

28/02/2024

Location: IndoorsUsed for: 1 to 2 years

Automatic translation from French

Our worm composter has been in use for 3 years now and we're very satisfied with it. My husband was skeptical at first, but he saw that there was no smell at all. Its design fits in very well in a kitchen. I highly recommend it!

Was this review helpful?

See all 14 reviews

Reviews are published after an automated check, with no filtering by rating. “Verified purchase”: review linked to a delivered order. Reviews may be rewarded with loyalty points, regardless of the rating. Reviews from other countries are automatically translated.

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Urbalive Worm Composter

2 trays - Ivory

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How it works & how to use it:

Your questions about the Urbalive

Customer reviews for Urbalive Worm Composter

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