vermicomposting: letting worms do the dirty work

Vermicomposting:

Letting worms do the dirty work

Anne KolaczykPurdue University Master Gardener

VermicompostingComposting worms eat decaying organic matter and turn it into worm castings (worm feces). The result is vermicompost, a mixture of worm castings and composted material such as the bedding in bin.

Why do it Ecologically responsible

Reduce waste in landfills and sewage treatment plants

Provides valuable additives for your plants

Saves you money Worms for fishing

Composting bins Ready made

Layers Drainage

Homemade Depth Surface area

Getting Started Bin

Style Moisture control Aeration

Bedding Cardboard Newspaper Coconut fiber Old leaves Wood chips

Seeding Need a microbial rich substance to start

the bin off. Compost Vermicompost Manure Dirt

Nothing too fresh though! You don’t want to generate heat from the seeding substance.

Worms Not all worms are equal!

Composters, not earthworkers

Redworms Eisenia foetida Full density is 1 lb per sq ft of surface area

Worms, worms Worms become mature at 10 weeks Will produce 2 to 3 cocoons a week

Each cocoon holds 2-5 babies Cocoons take 3 weeks to hatch

And more worms In 6 months, 8 worms will multiply

into 1500 if conditions are right They will stop breeding if there is

not enough food or space.

Food scraps 1/2 lb of food per sq ft of surface area

(assuming full worm density) per day kind

Vegetable scraps Egg shells Coffee grounds Bread Plant waste No meat or bones No pet waste

Second course Worms eat the microbes that feed on

the decaying food, not the food itself. Food won’t attract them until it starts

to spoil. Consider pre-composting food

Yum, yum: week 1

A shell of a watermelon added to the bin

Yum, yum: week 2

That same shell after 10 days

Yum, yum: week 3

Same shell after 20 days

Care Add food Maintain

moisture Harvest

castings

Harvesting Methods For compost and restocking

Hand Sort Halving Bag trap

For compost only Dumping

For fishing worms Hand sort and remove largest

Points to remember Composting worms don’t do well out in your

garden unless your soil is rich in humus. They need compost for food!

Inside or outside? Inside:

Space limitations Bugs Smell

Outside Weather Animals Size

Outside for me I bought a Rubbermaid

deck bin. Holds 10 cubic feet.

Placed on north side of house where it got very little sun.

Positioned near

electrical outlet.

Preparation Assembled bin Placed on styrofoam

insulation sheet Drilled holes in sides for

ventilation Covered holes with

screening using glue gun to keep out bees

Winterizing Place large covered bucket or container in middle of bin.

Fill 2/3 with water. Put birdbath heater into water. Cut hole in cover for the

cord. If extension cord is needed to reach outlet, wrap joint securely with plastic.

Fill worm bin with bedding so it almost reaches top. Wrap sides with sheets of styrofoam insulation. Cut piece of foam insulation to lay on top of bedding. When temperature falls below freezing, plug in heater. It

should create a core that is not frozen where the worms will gather.

Winter feeding

They should keep eating Less amount perhaps

What makes worms THRIVE?T temperature

H H2O

R recycle organics

I invertebrates

V ventilation

E environment and pH

What makes worms CRAWL?

C change of habitat

R rain

A absence of air

W water

L lack of food

Let’s get realConcerns SolutionsWorms in the house They stay put, honest!

Bugs, extraneous

Fruit Flies

Soldier Fly Larvae

Slugs

Freeze scraps Bury in bedding Vinega or wine traps Don’t bring in yard waste

Bugs, part of process

Spiders

Mites

Micro-organisms

They help the decomposition process. No way to eliminate them, but they stay with the composting material.

Wear gloves if they bother you.

Mold May mean bin needs better aeration.

Won’t hurt process or worms.

More realityConcerns SolutionsMushrooms Come from wood chip bedding.

Just bury into bedding.

Smell Properly maintained bin has little smell.

Stop feeding for a week. Change some of the bedding. Remove uneaten food.

Time Except for harvesting, it takes less than 1/2 hour per week

Children/Pets Great learning tool for kids. Closed bins keep pets out.

Uses On house plants In outdoor gardens Very high in nutrients Compost tea

Let’s compareBin composting Vermicomposting

Space limitations

No outdoor space available

—

Large quantity of waste to compost

—

Limited time to spend

Pathogen control

Ewww! factor —Ecologically responsible

Anaerobic

Vermi

Sheet

Pail

Tumbler

Bin

composting

Just do it!