Vermicomposting: Letting worms do the dirty work Anne Kolaczyk Purdue University Master Gardener.
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Transcript of Vermicomposting: Letting worms do the dirty work Anne Kolaczyk Purdue University Master Gardener.
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!