Vermicomposting


For much of the past decade, homeowners, farmers, and solid waste managers have looked with greater interest at the potential of worms to transform "wastes" into beneficial resources. "Vermicomposting" refers to the controlled degradation, or composting, of organic wastes, primarily by earthworm consumption.

Simply throwing worms into the pile after more active composting by bacteria and fungi will no doubt improve the quality of one's compost, but this is not vermicomposting. Bacteria and other microorganisms do contribute to vermicomposting processes, primarily as food for worms. However, it is this deliberate attempt to grow and maintain a large population that distinguishes vermicomposting from other composting methods.

Vermicomposting sounds like a great combination of recycling and soil building. What are the benefits? How do I get started? What do I need for vermicomposting at home or on the farm? If you've been asking yourself these questions, you've come to the right place for the answers.

Benefits of Vermicomposting
· Recycle kitchen scraps, landscape residuals, soiled papers
· Redworms need very little care
· Keeps smelly stuff out of household rubbish bins
· Redworms naturally aerate compost keeping it odor-free
· Produce large quantities of rich vermicompost
· Inoculate soils with beneficial microbes
· Increase plant health and yields
· Improve plant taste and freshness
· Constant supply of fishing worms
· Protein for chickens
· Also food for turtles or lizards

Vermicomposting at Home Recent years have seen a tidal wave of interest in all things "recycling." Worm boxes have gained enormous popularity as a method for safely composting food scraps at home.

Worm bins for homes, schools, and offices divert thousands of tons of food scraps and other organic debris from landfills and incinerators and are an important tool of solid waste managers.

Getting Started
1. Start with a worm bin: It doesn't have to be expensive or fancy - a plastic bin from your local D.I.Y store will do fine.

2. Add "Bedding" and food to the bin: We recommend wet leaves, newspapers, rabbit manure, straw, coarse sawdust, or aged horse or dairy manure. Then bury the vegetative food scraps in the bedding material.

3. Add Worms: You'll need one kilo of worms for each kilo of scraps that you produce each day.

What do I need?
Checklist of the items you'll need for "soil":

- Worm Bin
- Bedding
- Worms
- Worm Food

You can order your worms here .

---

HOME | ABOUT OUR WORMS | FISHING | ORDER FORM & PRICE LIST

---