Vermicomposting: Transform Waste into Garden Gold
Is it just me, or does composting seem like something everyone *else* is doing right? Let’s be honest: most of us in Brown County don't have acres of land. So, we feel a little silly considering turning our food waste into 'black gold.' What if I told you there was a way to start making amazing soil with just a small plastic bin and some worms? It’s called vermicomposting, and it might just be the perfect fit for your home, business or institution.
Table Of Contents:
-
Why Vermicomposting is the Answer
- Materials Needed for Vermicomposting Units
- How to Assemble a Vermicomposting Worm Bin: Step-by-Step
- How to Actually Feed Your Vermicomposting Worms
- Maintaining the Bin for Future Harvests
- What *Not* To Put In Vermicomposting Area: Problem Foods and the Harm They Cause
- Types of Worms To Use With Vermicompost and Vermiculture Practices
- The Advantageous Benefits of the Right Vermicompost and Vermiculture Practices
- Troubleshooting Common Vermicomposting Issues
- FAQs about vermicomposting
- Conclusion
Why Vermicomposting is the Answer
You might be thinking, 'Okay, yet another way to deal with solid waste.' But, this one is truly worth your attention. Vermicomposting transforms kitchen scraps into a super-rich compost, all thanks to our wriggly friends. I like to tell people that vermicomposting vermiculture can be easy and inexpensive. Vermicomposting can even be done inside because the entire system is odorless, when implemented correctly.
The main objective is to provide all Brown County residents and tourists with an efficient and enjoyable method for turning kitchen food scraps into a rich compost. You can even manage your vermicompost area indoors.
I should probably clarify vermicomposting vermiculture first and foremost. We all know it relates to composting; however, rather than allowing organic matter to sit and decompose over the course of months, the time can be shortened to weeks via this powerful, but accessible technique.
Materials Needed for Vermicomposting Units
Getting started is easier than you might imagine. You probably have most of these materials sitting around already. Here’s what you'll need for building your own vermicompost unit:
- Two plastic bins: One to sit inside the other.
- The bottom bin does not need a top, but the top tub should have a top to keep the worms from getting out. The EPA recommends a taller bin nested inside a shorter bin for optimal drainage.
- A drill: To create ventilation and drainage in your top bin.
- Screening material: To cover the holes and prevent worm escapes.
- Waterproof glue: To secure the screens.
- Shredded paper: Non-glossy paper is preferred.
- A little bit of dirt: From your garden. Make sure it does not have chemicals in it, this is where soil testing is vital.
- Water: To moisten the bedding.
- Red wigglers: The stars of the show. These earthworms for vermicompost eat waste quickly, with recommendations to be about one pound per sq. foot.
- A food scraps container: To collect scraps for the worms. You need to use this each and every single week, if the materials are not prepared right.
By making use of these key points, you should have a great idea of how to use common earthworms for vermicomposting for yourself, school, or farm operation. A worm composting bin, known as a vermicomposter, can be fairly inexpensive and easy to maintain.
This could be in your basement or some other out-of-the-way space since you will be producing great compost. This is where EPA comes in and states you don't want the worms to freeze in the winter or get too warm in the hot summer.
How to Assemble a Vermicomposting Worm Bin: Step-by-Step
Want a quick 'how-to' so that you can set it up at home? Here are the steps I like to take with clients and tourists when setting up earthworms for vermicompost. These simple methods really increase the production of your vermicomposting worms.
Here’s my tried-and-true method:
- Drill holes for drainage and ventilation: In the taller bin, drill 1-inch holes near the top on opposite sides. Also, drill several 1/8-inch holes near the bottom corners for drainage. This helps the worms have a place to breath as mentioned by The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Attach the screens: Cover each hole with vinyl screening and secure it with waterproof glue. Allow the glue to dry completely.
- Nest the bins: Place the tall bin inside the shorter bin. No need to drill holes in the shorter bin; this catches the 'worm tea' (excess liquid)
- Prepare the bedding: Combine shredded newspaper, garden soil, and water until the mixture is damp, but not soaking wet. It is critical to consider that all food matters when you vermicompost for a sustainable yield.
- Introduce the worms: Add your red wigglers to the mixture and allow them a day or so to adjust before feeding them. This adjustment period gives your worms some to get their feet 'dirty' if you will.
Don’t overthink this. With vermicomposting with earthworms, the aim isn’t perfection but creation of new soil for future use. It's like setting up a tiny ecosystem. This ecosystem provides nutrients to microorganisms as described in vermicompost and vermiculture operations.
How to Actually Feed Your Vermicomposting Worms
It may be a surprise to hear how many things can go wrong in setting up one's initial vermicompost worms production site. Fortunately, Mother Earth News offers insights on how to manage feeding practices for 'red worm composting'.
So with your earthworms for vermicompost, what does it eat anyway? I tell people who I am showing around Brown County to only add more food to the worm bin after the previous scraps are consumed. The main things your red worms are going to chow down on include the following:
- Vegetable scraps.
- Fruit scraps.
- Tea bags (without staples).
- Coffee grounds.
Here's the next important caveat; the best way for the earthworms for vermicompost to survive requires that the scraps should be buried. When managing your vermicompost area, one thing is a matter of great import; you should note what scraps are getting eaten. Finally, there are a few kinds of materials for vermicomposting that your worms won’t appreciate, so leave those out.
This could mean smaller operations as well, because this allows you to remove any uneaten foods.
Maintaining the Bin for Future Harvests
Like any living setup, a vermicomposting unit needs check-ups and occasional cleaning. I advise to follow some steps to help your unit keep up to par and give those wigglers a thriving vermicomposting site:
- Every few months, pour out any extra fluid from the bottom tub. Worm tea may actually be one of my most favorite uses of my worm composter. I've been recommending people do soil testing and amend your gardens in your local community in an environmentally sustainable way.
- Once the worm bedding hits near the vent holes towards the top, draw worms on a side to harvest one side. You don't need to go for broke here, only what you can use in containers or pots in the local gardens. By removing and sorting what is happening in each soil system, we can assess the most viable route for Local gardens.
You should check on the moisture content of the vermicompost regularly. The worms thrive when their environment has a specific moisture level.
What *Not* To Put In Vermicomposting Area: Problem Foods and the Harm They Cause
Okay, let's address a common concern. Maybe the title should've said 'what not to' feed earthworms for vermicompost operations. Avoid feeding these as you scale your vermicomposting site:
- Meat & Dairy: They stink, attract unwanted critters and create anaerobic conditions (not enough oxygen).
- Oily Foods: Messy and hard for worms to process.
- Citrus: Oregon State University Extension mentions that citrus peels, onions and garlic should be avoided.
Do you want your worm bin to thrive or have worms fleeing the scene? Treat your worms to a balanced diet. Because when we don't take care of our vermicomposting area, what can occur could affect an entire environment and ecosystem as a whole.
It sounds simple to manage, but small factors can be extremely detrimental for large vermicomposting sites. Attract pests if you don't manage your waste. Worms don't consume food waste when the food isn't good for them.
Types of Worms To Use With Vermicompost and Vermiculture Practices
If there is one thing I know quite well, its dirt, and second is our wriggly little buddies of the soil. Not all worms are created equal, that’s right. The King of the Hill is of course, the red wiggler ( _Eisenia fetida_ ).
I also like to call them nature's miracle workers. So, with these tips on different types of species:
- European Nightcrawler: Another solid choice, especially if you're planning to use your worms for fishing bait too. European Nightcrawlers can also withstand and manage temperature and conditions in comparison to the rest. Many farms like these to be low maintenance.
- African Nightcrawler: Uncle Jim's Worm Farm notes the African Nightcrawler can hold their own and deal well in more warmer and humid regions. It takes a long time for them to grow, but are one of the best soil amenders around.
Avoid the temptation to toss in any old earthworm from your yard. You will only make all kinds of mistakes doing so. This is what my business' success hinges upon, as an integral part of the whole process is to decide on whether our local composting services work for you. Choosing wisely ensures a happy and productive worm colony.
These earthworms reproduce rapidly when in the right environment. When the worms hatch you will have many baby worms.
The Advantageous Benefits of the Right Vermicompost and Vermiculture Practices
I would know -- as the Soil Food Web Certified Lab technician and permaculture expert for my own small operation in Brown County. Many don’t truly understand the true importance of vermicomposting and vermiculture practices for home, commercial business, farms and municipality institutions; however, most important aspect, its not just soil enhancement, but what it does to increase our carbon sequestration as we solve our regional hog waste.
As I mentioned earlier in our talk, here's a short summary.
- Better plant growth: Vermicompost increases the rate in seedling development through out its life-cycle.
- Disease Suppression: Vermicompost eradicates all kinds of disease pathogens and gets rids of harmful pests.
- Boosts Pollination: I love how my food looks so nice on the vine due to vermicompost. Higher yielding crop outcomes helps me sustain more local consumers.
Do you have access to any of this information now with other composting systems or techniques?
Here is a simple breakdown in table format:
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth | Vermicompost speeds up seedling development throughout the plant's life cycle. |
| Disease Suppression | It eliminates disease pathogens and harmful pests, promoting healthier plants. |
| Pollination Boost | Vermicompost enhances food production, resulting in higher crop yields. |
Troubleshooting Common Vermicomposting Issues
You have set it up, have your species of choice set up... but your operation isn’t humming. These are issues commonly encountered and how to take action for any type of use of vermicompost.
- Foul Odors: Are things smelling off? Bins that are water-logged may have odor when it breaks down without any oxygen. You'll need some newspapers to soak up some excess liquids.
- Fruit Flies: More than usual flying around the vermicompost site? Stop leaving things uncapped to where the scraps cant be reached by the air. The air promotes flys.
- Worm Population Problems: Its rare that population isn't stable as red wigglers procreate within only a few short weeks. However this could also be over or under-feeding those wigglers.
Don’t feel discouraged if you run into these speed bumps. The long-term benefits make this so worth while. Especially when looking at small problems in small systems compared to medium problems in medium and small. It should have proportional balance.
This brings us to FAQs of worm composting.
FAQs about vermicomposting
What are the disadvantages of vermicomposting?
Vermicomposting might not be ideal for processing large amounts of waste because it is labor-intensive to scale, is vulnerable to temperature fluctuations, and can generate foul odors if not maintained correctly.
What are the 5 mistakes that people commonly make when composting with worms?
Five common mistakes in vermicomposting include: overfeeding, not properly maintaining moisture, improper temperature control, forgetting to provide adequate bedding, and neglecting to harvest compost, which can lead to a buildup of harmful conditions.
Do red wigglers eat banana peels?
Yes, red wigglers eat banana peels. They'll chow down, but its important that the pieces are chopped or sliced.
Is vermicompost better than compost?
Vermicompost often contains more plant-available nutrients and beneficial microbes. That said, its all dependent on what your local garden needs.
Conclusion
Whether you're new to soil like my team and I here, or been in the dirt, now is the time to vermicompost. Local resources even provide guides for vermicomposting and you could even ask them for sales. From diversion of solid waste to superior soil enrichment, the impact extends way beyond the bin.
Even residents and tourist to Brown County can find that, through the natural cycles of waste and rebirth, can all contribute to a healthier planet and more self-sufficient community. Now, that is what I like to call, “sustainable, all natural, growth”.