Vermicomposting Overview
- 2. Overview a. Background b. Definition of Vermicompost c. Materials d. Suitable species e. Procedure f. Harvesting of worms and compost g. Harvesting of vermicompost h. Using of vermicompost i. Comparison between normal compost & vermicompost j. Benefits of vermicompost
- 3. Vermicomposting is as old as life on planet Earth Michigan biology teacher Mary Appelhof arrived at the idea of home vermicomposting. In 1972, she realized she wanted to continue composting in winter months despite living in a northern climate, and ordered 1 pound of red wiggler worms, or Eisenia fetida. She created a shallow bin in her basement, loaded it with bedding and added her food scraps. By the end of the winter, they had consumed 65 lbs. of garbage and produced worm compost that resulted in impressive vegetables in her garden. Background
- 4. What is it? Vermicompost is the product or process of composting using various worms, usually red wigglers and other earthworms to create a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste and vermicast (worm castings or worm manure, is the fecal matter of an Earthworm). This process of producing vermicompost is called vermicomposting. Vermicompost is an excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner.
- 5. Materials Required 1) Worm Bin 2) Bedding 3) Water 4) Worms 5) Food Scraps 6) Temperature- 12`c to 25`c, ideally
- 6. Suitable Species Eisenia fetida Eisenia hortensis Lumbricus rubellus Eudrilus eugeniae Perionyx excavatus
- 7. Procedure of vermicomposting Select a location for your worm bin Prepare bedding. It should be very damp, spread evenly and filling three-quarters of the bin Sprinkle a couple of handfuls of soil (from outdoors or potting soil) into it to introduce beneficial microorganisms and to aid the worms' digestive process Gently place worms on top of the bedding. Leave the bin lid off so worms will burrow into the bedding. Add food scraps, once they settle
- 8. Dig a hole in the bedding, place food scraps and cover with at least an inch of bedding. Wait a week before adding more food Leave untouched to get worms used to new surroundings Bury food scraps in a different area of the bin each time (any time of the day) Other creatures may be observed
- 9. Harvesting Worms & Compost After about six weeks, worm castings seen In three or four months, harvest the castings. Partially decomposed bedding, food scraps and worms will be seen with castings This mixture is Vermicompost
- 10. Harvesting Vermicompost Two Methods: Place food scraps on only one side of worm bin for several weeks, most of the worms will migrate to that side. Remove the Vermicompost from the other side of the bin and add fresh bedding. Repeat process on the other side of the bin
- 11. Empty contents of worm bin onto a plastic sheet where there is strong sunlight/artificial light. Wait 20-30 minutes and scrape off top layer of compost Pick up worms that get scattered in groups and gently return them to the bin in fresh bedding Worm eggs contain two to ten baby worms. Place the eggs back inside bin
- 12. Using Vermicompost Either use immediately or after storing For outdoor plants, mulch/mix material into soil. Can also be used as a top dressing on outdoor plants or sprinkled on your lawn as conditioner For indoor plants mix with potting soil. For top dressing, remove decaying bedding and food scraps from the castings. No worms or eggs in the castings, as they will not survive "compost tea" to feed plants
- 13. 1. Heat of regular compost kills many beneficial microbes 2. Vermicompost is aerobic thus may have up to 1000 times the microbial activity of normal compost 3. Increased microbial activity in the soil means better disease resistance 4. Vermicompost can be generated in 1/3 the time of regular compost 5. Vermicompost contains more nutrients than other forms of compost. 6. A traditional compost pile may require less of an investment than vermicomposting. 7. Vermicomposting does not require as much space as traditional compost piles and can be done indoors or outside Comparison Between Normal Compost and Vermicompost
- 14. Benefits of Vermicomposting 1) Recycles waste in an environmentally-friendly way 2) Keeps more garbage out of landfills 3) A sustainable way to produce low-cost nutritionally-valuable organic fertilizer 4) Very little time or labor is required 5) Can be done year ‘round in Chicago
- 15. 6) It can be done indoors odorlessly 7) Can be done by all ages who will dig in 8) Income generation through sale of worms and vermicompost or both! 9) Materials available to everyone 10) The system is easily reproducible by others once you learn how to do it
- 16. Vermicompost Production in BADC