11 4 Vermicomposting
- 1. Waste Management Term: Vermicomposting Website: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/Worms/
- 2. Vermicomposting Using worms to make compost
- 3. Industrial Size Movie: http://www.wormpower.net/worm-castings/worm-power-news.php
- 4. http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/Worms/ Go to the Fact Sheet What kinds of worms are used for composting? What do worms need? What do worms eat? Where should you keep worms? How do you harvest the compost?
- 5. Vermicomposting Worms: Red Wigglers – not nightcrawlers or local earthworms Environment – Moist – not wet Bedding Temp between 55 – 77 Darkness Eat - Food scraps – no meat or dairy Harvest – Allow the worms to crawl up by only feeding on top layer. Harvest the bottom layers
- 6. Compost Research What is the appropriate moisture level for compost? What are the carbon ingredients What are the nitrogen ingredients What is the correct ratio of C to N? How do you make a hot pile? What is the difference between a hot pile and a cold pile?
- 7. Passive or Cold No special requirements Pile it up and let it sit Add more material at any time Takes 6 mos – 1 year
- 8. Active or Hot Compost Fast or "active" composting can be completed in two to six weeks. This method requires three key activities 1) "aeration," by turning the compost pile, 2) moisture 3) the proper carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio Raise the temperature to around 130 -140
- 9. Steps to hot compost Build the pile Layer brown & green – chopped up is best Don’t add anything after it is built Store until you have enough to build a pile Turn every 3-5 days Or when temp drops below 120 4-5 weeks in summer 6-8 weeks in fall ? In winter
- 10. Today Build a 3 stage pile Make a sign to begin collecting wastes Need volunteer to take a bucket to the cafeteria for lunch every day Make a poster/sign to go with it Why collecting What to/not to add