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Vermicomposting Custom Search Vermicomposting is a method of composting, using certain species of earthworm to produce a product called worm compost, worm castings, worm humus or worm manure, which is a nutrient rich natural fertilizer and soil conditioner. This process is called vermicomposting. It is a very efficient method for recycling waste food into a dark rich smelling soil conditioner. The advantage of worm composting is that it can be done either indoors or outdoors at any time of the year. Vermiculture is extremely simple; all that is needed is a container filled with moist bedding and Red worms. By adding food waste to the bedding the worms and microorganisms will eventually convert the entire contents into extremely rich compost. The primary piece of vermicomposting equipment you will require is a bin, which needs to be only 8 to 16 in. deep. You can build your own bin or use a commercially available worm bin. Items such as a wash tub and old shipping crate or a wooden dresser drawer can be adapted as a bin. It will also require a lid to keep out flies and rodents, and some holes in the bottom approximately a quarter inch in diameter for ventilation and drainage. The role of thumb for bin size is two square feet of surface area per person. Locate your bin in a cool location where it will not freeze or overheat such as in a corner of the kitchen, your garage, your basement, or your laundry room.
Black-and-white newsprint is a good material to use for the bedding material, just tear it into strips about an inch wide and moisten it so that it as damp as a wrung out sponge. Toss in a small amount of sand for grit, and then add the worms and the food. Eventually the worms will eat the bedding and food and those materials will be turned into dark earthy compost.The worms used in vermicomposting are not the usual earth worm, they are “red worms”: or “red wigglers” and can be bought online. They have huge appetites, reproduce rapidly, and love a dark damp environment. When starting out, one pound of worms should be enough. A rule of thumb is one pound of worms for each pound of food waste daily. Feeding the worms is basic, vegetable scraps, fruit peels, bread, coffee grounds, crushed egg shells and tea bags. Do not feed them meat, bones, fat or greasy foods, twigs, or animal feces. When feeding, pull some bedding aside, and bury the waste, moving from spot to spot on a daily basis. If uneaten scraps are found, just cut down on the portions for a period of time.
Because vermicomposting worm compost is so rich, use it sparingly. Use as a mulch or a top dressing and mix in with the soil; to use as a starting medium mix one part worm compost with four parts potting soil, peat moss, or a mixture of sand and soil. If your worms are dying, there are several possible causes.
Common vermicomposting problems
See Organic fertilizer
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