TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Components: The similar plan view shape is square, rectangular or circular. The base further comprises a collection tray on its upper surface and at least three legs underneath the collection tray, where the three legs support and hold steady collection tray. The stacking tray and the lid are at horizontal orientation of 3-36 inches above the surface of ground, deck or floor. The collection tray further comprises: a set of sides; a bottom; and at least three support ribs, where the bottom is a horizontal member with similarly shaped perimeter to that of the set of sides, where each set of side is a vertical wall member joined at its lower edge to the perimeter of the bottom and at its side edges to the side edges of other sides, and each of the support ribs is a vertical member joined at its outer edge to the inner surface of one of the set of sides, so that each of the support rib is perpendicular to its adjoining side. The set of sides collectively forms a continuous polygonal or circular shaped wall member, where: each of the set of sides is contiguously joined to another side to surround the perimeter of the bottom of collection tray to form an open top container or well capable of holding liquid; or each of the set of sides is a vertical wall member joined at its lower edge to the perimeter of the bottom of stacking tray and at its side edges to the side edges of other sides, where the bottom of stacking tray is a horizontal member, the wall member is joined at the top edge to the wide brim of stacking tray, which is a flange member that has horizontal flange surface generally perpendicular to the set of sides of stacking tray, and the set of sides and the wide brim are solid members without holes or apertures. Each of the support ribs has a rectangular shaped void sectioned out of the upper inner corner and further comprises: a notch bottom surface; a notch side surface; a side vent distance; and a lower vent distance, so that, when the stacking tray is stacked onto the base, it is supported vertically by the notch bottom surface and horizontally by the notch side surface, and the vent distances are sufficient to allow natural thermal siphon airflow without appreciable restriction, resulting from heat generated by the composting process, through the air gaps created by the vents. The side vent distance is 0.125-2 inches and the bottom vent distance is 0.125-6 inches. The stacking tray further comprises: a wide brim; a set of sides; a bottom; and is open on the top. The wall member has height 3-12 inches. The bottom of stacking tray further comprises at least one aperture sized to allow the free passage of air while still keeping in tact bedding and food within the interior of the stacking tray. The aperture has hole or void cross-sectional area of 0.0156- 0.25 square inches. The bottom of stacking tray further comprises many apertures spread across the entire surface of the bottom of stacking tray. The light-tight air-permeable lid further comprises: a large dome area; a wide brim; a skirt; at least three vertical support ribs; and at least three lateral support ribs. The large dome area: spans above the brim; is joined to the wide brim; and is the upper most portion of the lid where the large dome area has an inner or lower surface, which forms a large general concave downward shape, and an outer or upper surface, which is the upper most portion of the vermicomposter. The wide brim is a horizontal member surrounding the large dome area, and the skirt is a vertical member surrounding the wide brim and joined to the wide brim, where the members are joined to form an overall solid structure without holes or apertures. The thermal siphon area comprises the large dome area on top, the upper surface of food and bedding loaded into the stacking tray on bottom, and the set of sides of stacking tray on the sides, where the warmest air and gases located inside the vermicomposter naturally collect. The thermal siphon volume is 0.25-3 times the volume contained by the interior of the stacking tray in empty condition. The vertical support ribs support the wide brim of lid above the wide brim of the stacking tray so that there exists an air gap (0.125-2 inches) between these members to allow natural thermal siphon airflow without appreciable restriction, resulting from heat generated by the composting process. The wide brim of lid extends outward beyond the wide brim of stacking tray to prevent light from shining vertically into the interior of the stacking tray. The skirt extends downward beyond the wide brim of stacking tray to prevent light from shining horizontally into the interior of the stacking tray. An air gap (0.125-2 inches) exists between the skirt of lid and the outer edges of the wide brim of stacking tray to allow natural thermal siphon airflow without appreciable restriction, resulting from heat generated by the composting process. The vermicomposter further comprises a worm ladder member which nests between the base and the stacking tray, where the worm ladder member sits completely within the top of the base, and the other members are then stacked on it as stated above. The ladder member comprises: a horizontal flange; at least one ramp; and a large void area. The horizontal flange: is the upper most portion of the ladder member and is a flat flange member with similar plan view shape as the stacking tray, with the same number of sides or circular; and has the large void area in the center to allow airflow through the worm ladder member. The ramp: is planar and coupled at one edge to the inner edge of the horizontal flange; and leads down from the horizontal flange to rest on the bottom of collection tray or slightly there above to allow a pathway for worms to travel from the collection tray to the stacking tray through the ramp member and the aperture on the bottom of stacking tray. The worm ladder member and the stacking tray, when stacked onto the base, are both supported vertically by the notch bottom surface and horizontally by the notch side surface, and the vent distances are sufficient to allow natural thermal siphon airflow without appreciable restriction, resulting from heat generated by the composting process, through the air gaps created by the vents.