Vermicomposting - Rainier Garden Club

Vermicomposting
Composting With Worms 101
By Tom Welch
WSU Cowlitz Master Gardener
WSU Cowlitz Master Composter / Recycler
What is Vermicomposting?
Vermicomposting is the process of having
redworms and other decomposer
organisms process our organic waste and
turn it into a great natural fertilizer (called
vermicompost).
Some Famous Worm Quotes
”It may be doubted whether
there are many other animals
which have played so important
a part in the history of the world
as these lowly organized creatures”
CHARLES DARWIN ON EARTHWORMS
1881
“Without the work of this
humble creature, who knows
nothing of the benefits he
confers upon mankind,
agriculture as we know it,
would be very difficult,
if not wholly impossible”
CHARLES DARWIN ON EARTHWORMS, 1881
“Worms are the Intestines of the Earth”
ARISTOTLE
What is Vermicompost?
I have a tendency to use the terms “worm
castings” and “vermicompost”
interchangeably when speaking on the
subject, when technically speaking they
are not quite the same thing.
Vermicompost
Vermicompost is a
mixture of worm
castings, partially
composted wastes,
and any resistant
materials that
won’t readily break
down.
Worm Castings
Worm castings are
the actual worm
poop that leaves
the body of the
worm.
Why Do We Vermicompost?
Reduce and re-use our organic wastes.
Keep valuable resources out of the
landfill.
Grow better veggies.
Having fun looking at tiny critters in
the worm bin.
Feeling good at recycling nutrients that
don't need to be wasted.
Make a little extra cash selling worms.
Worms Used to Vermicompost
Red Wiggler
Eisenia fetida
This is the most common worm
used for vermicomposting
European Nightcrawlers
Eisenia hortensis
European Nightcrawlers (E.
hortensis) do best in an
environment with a higher
carbon to nitrogen ratio.
This makes them well suited to
compost pits high in fibrous
materials commonly known as
browns.
Earthworm Lifecycle
Earthworms are amazingly prolific
breeders. In the right conditions a
thousand mature breeders may give
you half a million or more breeders,
growing earthworms, and egg
capsules within a year.
Each worm produces egg capsules, but
must first be fertilized by contact with
another worm.
Each healthy worm, under favorable
conditions, will produce an egg capsule every
7 to 10 days.
These incubate in 14 to 21 days, each
hatching 2 to 20 young worms, with
an estimated average of 4.
The new worms thus hatched will reach
breeding age in 60 to 90 days, as indicated
by the formation of a clitellum...the thick
ring about 1/3 the length of the worm
from its head.
The domesticated earthworm will continue to
grow after reaching the breeding stage for
perhaps six months or more before reaching
its full size.
Worm Requirements
• Bin or containment system.
• Oxygen
• Moisture
• Bedding
• Food
• Temperature
Types of Bins
Bins can be made of wood,
plastic,
and other materials.
Bins MUST Be Ventilated!
• Redworms need oxygen to live.
• They produce carbon dioxide.
• Air circulation is a must in and
around a worm box.
Moisture
• Redworms need a moist environment.
• Worms breathe through their skin.
• Skin must be moist in order to breathe.
Bedding
Newspaper
Cardboard
Coconut Coir
Peat Moss
Leaves
Compost
Animal Manures
(Well composted)
Feeding Your Worms
Worms Love
Worms Hate
Breads & Grains
Meat
Cereal
Fats / Oils
Coffee grounds &
filters
Dairy
Products
Fruits
Feces
Tea bags
Vegetables
Manures
Other Food Sources
Worms can also subsist on:
• Compost
• Composted manures such as horse,
rabbit, llama and poultry.
• Leaf Mold
Temperatures
• Ideal temps are from 55 degrees F to 77
degrees F.
• Worms can survive down to 36 degrees
F but become inactive.
• At 85 degrees F, worms become stressed
and at 90 degrees +, they will begin to
die off.
Stressed Worms
Other Decomposers in Your Bin
Pot Worms
A collection of soil mites extracted
from a soil sample.
Springtails
Black Soldier Fly
BSF Larvae
Other critters in the worm bin.
• Beetles
• Millipedes
• Sow Bugs
• Spiders
Harvesting Worms and Vermicompost
Use Your Vermicompost!
In your veggie garden:
And your landscape:
Plants on left were grown
with vermicompost
and plants on right were
not.
Carrots With and Without
Vermicompost
Corn
Tomatoes wo/w Vermicompost
Top Dress With Your Vermicompost
Or Amend Your Soil
And finally, make a compost tea.
Benefits of Vermicompost
• Vermicompost improves the
structure of soil.
• Vermicompost increases drought
resistance.
• Vermicompost can reduce
irrigation cost up to 50% by
retaining moisture in the soil.
• Vermicompost may be applied to
phosphate sensitive plants.
• Vermicompost promotes beneficial
microbial activity that result in healthier
plants.
• Vermicompost causes no ground water
contamination.
• Vermicompost reduces carbon in the
soil and increase the nitrogen levels in a
form that plants can more readily &
easily use.
• Worm Castings are completely safe to
use around children and pets.
• Worm Castings have no harmful
chemicals.
• Earthworm castings / vermicompost are
100% non-toxic.
• Vermicompost will never burn your
plants, no matter how fresh it is, unlike
other animal manures.
• Worm Manure helps draw out toxins,
harmful bacteria and fungi from the soil.
• Vermicompost helps prevent extreme
pH levels.
• Nutrients found in vermicompost last up
to 6 times longer than the nutrients
found in ordinary potting soil.
• Earthworms act as a natural filter,
filtering out any impurities, chemicals,
etc. leaving their castings 100% organic.
And Finally……
Worm Castings and vermicompost are a
perfect organic and naturally balanced
fertilizer with high levels of minerals,
nutrients, enzymes and plant growth
hormones for your garden.
Resources
Vermiculture Technology: Earthworms, Organic Wastes,
and Environmental Management by Clive A Edwards,
Norman Aroncon and Rhonda Sherman
Composting with Redworms
http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/redwormsedit.htm
The Science of Vermiculture
http://www.slocountyworms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/THE-SCIENCE-OF-VERMICULTURE.pdf
For vermiculture support
You can contact us at:
• cowlitzmastercomposters@gmail.com
or
WSU Cowlitz Master Composters