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.
• 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.
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.