Earthworms & Vermicomposting

In the animal kingdom, earthworms are the kings of composting. They simply eat all of the kitchen scrapes and garden waste that we give to them and excrete an amazingly rich form of compost and fertilizer as their "castings". In addition to building a compost heap to process massive quantities of plant waste and animal manures, building a worm bin is the next best addition to your garden.

Vermicomposting, or vermiculture, is the process of creating a comfortable home for earthworms; feeding them judiciously with rich succulent food, like kitchen waste; and harvesting the nutrient rich castings and liquid (worm juice) that they produce. Containing water-soluble nutrients and bacteria, earthworm castings, also known as vermicast, are perhaps the richest organic fertilizer and soil conditioner available.

Go Directly To: TROUBLESHOOTING A FEW GOOD WORM BINS

BENEFITS OF VERMICOMPOST

CLIMATE & TEMPURATURE

  The Worm Bucket

USES OF VERMICOMPOST

FEEDING YOUR WORMS

  Paired Plastic Boxes

TYPES OF EARTHWORMS COMPOSTING CONTAINERS

  The Wooden Bin

Vermicomposting is the easiest way to recycle food wastes and avoids the needless loss of vegetative food nutrients to the landfill or municipal dump. It is relatively easy, requires a simple setup and maintenance, can be employed indoors and out. Composting with earthworms is ideal for those who do not have the space or need for an ordinary outdoor compost pile. A small worm bin can be placed in your house or apartment, as well as in the garage, backyard, or garden.

Vermicompost contains not only earthworm castings, but also bedding materials and organic wastes at various stages of decomposition. It also contains worms at various stages of development and other microorganisms associated with the composting processing. A worm bin is a community of hundreds or thousands of small but mighty soil builders.

Only a few things are needed to make good worm compost: a bin, bedding, earthworms, moisture, and a constant source of food.

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BENEFITS OF VERMICOMPOSTEarthworms are accountable for a variety of soil elements including the amount of air and water that travels into soil. They break down organic matter and when they eat, they leave behind excrement that is an exceptionally valuable type of fertilizer. Worms, by simply eating, excreting, and living turn common garden soil into soil of superior quality.

Soil:• Increases soil fertility. Earthworm castings in the home garden often contain far more

   nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium than the surrounding soil.• Secretions from the intestinal tracts of earthworms, along with soil passing through   the earthworms, make nutrients more concentrated and available for plant uptake,   including micronutrients, such as calcium, zinc and boron.• Burrowing earthworms increase soil aeration and water transport. Worm castings    when mixed with garden soil create better texture and soil-enhancing properties    including increased porosity, aeration, and drainage.• Enriches soil with micro-organisms, adding enzymes such as phophatase and celluase,   and plant hormones such as auxins and gibberellic acid.• Earthworms stimulate microbial decomposition and improve soil structure by   encouraging aggregation of particles. Microbial secretions and growth of fungal   hyphae stabilize the worm castings. Microbial activity in earthworm castings is 10 to   20 times higher than in the soil and organic matter that the earthworm ingests.• Improves water holding capacity. Worm-worked soil is relatively water-stable and will   resist soil compaction and run-off due to rains.• Vermicompost offers plants disease-fighting properties; lower anaerobic rotting   odors; and enhanced microbial activity. Harmful organisms such as Salmonella   bacteria are destroyed at a higher rate.• Attracts deep-burrowing earthworms already present in the soil.• Earthworm activity decreases the amount of heavy metals present in the soil.   Experiments have shown that as earthworms ingest soil particles they absorb heavy   metals in their gut, decreasing bio-available metals between 35 percent and 55   percent in two months.

Plant Growth:• Enhances rates of seed germination. The germination rate was 65 to 70 percent   higher in controlled treatments with earthworm compost as compared with soil that   had no earthworms.• Increased availability of soil nutrients results in superior plant growth and crop yields.• Improves structure and growth of plant roots.• Reduces transplant shock.

Environmental:• Reduces the waste stream by recycling food waste, and closes the energy/nutrient   loop when used to grow food crops.• Reduces contamination of other recyclable materials collected in conjunction with   food waste.• Production reduces greenhouse gas emissions such as methane and nitric oxide,   which are produced in landfills and waste incinerators.• Reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions required by transport of   food wastes since waste products are consumed on-site.

Economic:• Conversion bio-wastes to saleable products creates new business opportunities.• Creates low-skill jobs at local level.• Low capital investment and relatively simple technologies make vermicomposting   practical for less-developed agricultural regions.

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USES OF VERMICOMPOST In addition to improving garden soil in general, vermicompost has a number of specific

and specialized uses in the garden. Earthworm compost is more concentrated than most other composts so use it sparingly for best results.Vermicompost can be mixed directly into the soil, or leached in water and made into a worm "tea" by mixing some vermicompost in water and steeping for a few days. The microbial activity of the compost is greater if it is aerated during this period, but mixing it with air using an aquarium or fountain pump. The resulting liquid is used as a fertilizer or sprayed on the plants.

• The dark brown waste liquid leachate, or worm "juice", that drains into the bottom   of most worm bins, can be applied back to the bin when added moisture is needed,   or it can be made into a very rich "tea" for watering fertilizing, or foliar feeding.   Since it is very strong, it MUST be diluted before use.• The pH, nutrient, and microbial content of these fertilizers varies upon the inputs   fed to earthworms, but tends to be acidic. Test the acidity with a litmus paper and   add lime to adjust the pH within a range of 6.0 to 7.0.• Vermicompost can be used in potting soil mixes. For healthy seedlings, mix one part   worm compost with three parts potting mix, or three parts sand and soil combined,   or equal parts of peat moss, Perlite and earthworm castings.• In the garden mix earthworm compost into the bottom of seeding trenches or   transplanting holes.• Earthworm castings can be used as a top dressing for house plants. Lay a thin layer   around the plant stem covering the surface of your potting soil. Each time you water   the nutrients will percolate into the plant roots.• Vermicompost also makes an excellent mulch and soil conditioner for the home   garden. Apply a one-inch layer to the soil around plants. Be sure not to pile it against   plant stems.• To amend soil, earthworm compost can be spread one-half to two inches thick over   garden soil and mixed in before planting.• Worm juice tea is an excellent booster for seedlings, and young transplants.• Earthworm casting and worm juice teas are superior foliar feeds.

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TYPES OF EARTHWORMS The best earthworms to use are Red Wigglers, also called brandling worms (Eisenia Foetida or Eisenia Andrei), or European Nightcrawlers (Eisenia Hortensis). The three species are completely compatible with each other and can coexist nicely in the same worm bin.

These earthworms are commonly found in organic-rich soils throughout Europe and parts of North America and live in rotting vegetation and manures. As they are shallow-dwelling and feed on decomposing plant matter in the soil, they adapt easily to living on food or plant waste in the confines of a worm bin. They will eat up to three times their body weight in food scraps per day.

Do not attempt to use Canadian Nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris) or the common fieldworm (Allolobophora caliginosa), the types found throughout North America, because they are essentially vagabonds by nature and do better in open spaces with lower density populations.

Vermicompost can be mixed directly into the soil, or steeped in water and made into a worm tea by mixing some vermicompost in water, bubbling in oxygen with a small air pump, and steeping for a number of hours or days.The microbial activity of the compost is greater if it is aerated during this period. The resulting liquid is used as a fertilizer or sprayed on the plants.The dark brown waste liquid, or leachate, that drains into the bottom of some vermicomposting systems as water-rich foods break down, is best applied back to the bin when added moisture is needed due to the possibility of phytotoxin content and organic acids that may be toxic to plants.[9]

The pH, nutrient, and microbial content of these fertilizers varies upon the inputs fed to worms. Pulverized limestone, or calcium carbonate can be added to the system to raise the pH.