Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting - composting with red wiggler worms

by Laura Witzling

Vermicomposting is a kind of composting that uses red wiggler worms. It's different than composting in a pile in the backyard. While worms do play a part in traditional composting, with vermicomposting, the species Eisenia Fetida are the stars! They recycle food scraps into useful material for your plants.

Vermicomposting is ideal for:

*Apartment dwellers without yards
*Parents with children that like to play with worms
*Gardeners that want to experiment with different organic amendments

What can you do with the vermicompost?

*Include in a potting mix (needs to be mixed with something for airation)
*Top dress potted plants
*Add as an amendment outdoors
*Make "worm tea" to spray on plants
*Give to neighbors

Worm Bin Directions:

1. Make a wooden bin or buy a plastic tub. If you buy plastic, wash with soap and water. Bins should be at least 10 inches deep with a tight fitting lid to keep out pests.

2. Drill ventilation holes - should be 1/4-inch or smaller to keep out pests. Recommendations vary, but about 30 holes on top of a 10 gallon bin is good, with a few rows of holes spaced about an inch apart along the sides. You can always add more. Some sources suggest holes on the bottom for drainage.

3. Tear black and white pages of newspapers into 1-inch strips. Spritz the newspapers with water, then wring out excess water in your hands. This is the worm bedding, where the worms will live and mate. Fill the bin three-quarters full with it.

4. Add food scraps by digging a hole in the paper. Add about a pound when you first set-up the bin. Cover scraps with paper or a little potting soil to prevent fruit flies. Eventually, when you add scraps you can cover them with compost in the bin.

5. Add worms and place the bin where it's not too hot or too cold. Garages and basements are ok, but a kitchen is great because you will remember to feed your worms. A bin at the office lets you recycle with coworkers.

Worm Care

Feeding: Feed your worms about a pound of food scraps per square foot of surface area in your bin per week. Don't add dairy, meat, or cooked food. Chop or blend trimmings to make it easier for the worms to access. You can add used coffee grounds and rinsed eggshells. If your worms have been neglected and you need to "jumpstart" them - make them a snack of mashed banana and raw oatmeal.

Harvesting compost: Harvest two to three months after you set up the bin. There are lots of methods to harvest. If you're using the compost outside and have worms to spare, you don't have separate out the worms (but - these worms won't survive in mineral soil, so this method is not for real worm lovers). To separate the worms, only put new bedding and food scraps on one side of the bin. In about three weeks the worms will migrate to that side of the bin and you can harvest on the other side. Another method is to dump the finished compost out on a table with a bright light over it. Make a little dome of compost in the middle and spread the rest thinly. The will migrate to the dome. Also consider enlisting children to handpick out the worms!

Bedding: Add fresh bedding every couple months.

Smell: If the bin starts smelling, you may be adding too much food or the bin is too wet. Add dry paper strips on top of the soil to absorb moisture.

Winter: Don't let your worms freeze if you were keeping the bin outdoors!

How to get worms?

*From friends
*From schools
*From bait shops (Bait-N-Stuff, 217-359-4436‎)
*Worm farms - order online, they come in the mail!

Resources

*Chicago Home Composting Rotline: (773) 265-9587
*Illinois Cooperative Extension: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/homecomposting/worm.html
*Washington State University Extension: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Easywormbin.htm
*Diary of a Compost Hotline Operator by Spring Gillard
*Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof