Worm your way into composting
Ready to take your home gardening to the next level? Want to compost but don’t have room? Looking for a year round source of fertilizer? Vermiculture, or worm composting, may be the answer for you. By recycling your kitchen scraps you can make them a valuable resource for your garden and potted plants.
Worms produce a product (castings) that is considered an especially good soil amendment and nutrient source, and if sheltered from the cold, can maintain production year-round. The result of the vermicomposting process can be a granular substance with a high moisture holding capacity that slowly releases nutrients and is rich in plant-growth hormones, as well as humus and humic acids. Humus and humic acids are the waste products of microorganisms that are present in vermicompost, but are usually only found in very old, healthy soils.
Various benefits to plants from vermicomposting can range from accelerated plant growth, to the suppression of various pests and diseases, and even increased levels of anti-oxidants in food grown in amended soils.
All you need to get started is:
• A shallow container – 12” deep with a cover.
• Red Wiggler worms (Eisenia fetida) which can be found at Wal-Mart. (Note: Do not use night crawlers or earthworms)
• A controlled temperature between 54-84 ̊F.
• Moisture to keep their skin moist, but not so much that they drown.
• Air to breath.
• Shredded newspaper and food scraps such as, fruit, grains, vegetables, egg shells, coffee grounds, and, tea bags. Avoid meat, fish, milk, fats, oils and pet droppings.
Use the following as a guide to make your worm bin:
A wooden or plastic (not clear) container two feet square and one foot deep with a lid will accommodate one pound of worms. Remember, worms like it dark! Provide drainage and aeration by drilling about a dozen 1/8′′ holes in the bottom and upper sides of the container. Soak or spray shredded black and white newspaper with water. Squeeze any excess water out. Fluff the shredded newspaper and use to line the bottom of the worm container. Add a couple of handfuls of garden soil, sand, leaf mold or finished compost to the newspaper. This worm bedding should be kept moist. Finally, add the worms. Feed the worms small amounts at a time, at first. For a comprehensive guide we highly recommend this Oregon State Extension resource!
In about three months, the worms will have doubled their population and it will be time to harvest the compost. Worm castings can be used as an ingredient of potting soil (as plant nutrients). It can also be used as a planting additive for trees, vegetables, shrubs and flowers.
