-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
1/17
Vermicomposting
September 10, 2011
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
2/17
Environmental Problems
A great deal of household waste currently goes to
landfills.
The organic materials in this anaerobic
environment, produce methane gas, which is a
more harmful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
Another effect of the organic breakdown within
landfills is the contamination of fresh watersupplies.
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
3/17
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
4/17
Expectations
Goal: large worm population
Maintenance level: high
Goal: finer compostMaintenance level: low
Goal: continuous worm supply plus
compostMaintenance level: medium
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
5/17
Getting Started
Supplies
Bin
BeddingOne to two handfuls of soil or compost
Worms
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
6/17
Worm Home
The size of your bin will depend on yourhousehold size and waste
output.
The bin should be wide and shallow, asopposed to deep and
small.
The most commonly used bins are made ofeither wood or
plastic.
If using plastic, holes must be made forventilation.
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
7/17
Where Do I Put the Worm Bin?
Indoors or Outdoors?
Aesthetics
FunctionThings to Avoid:
Heat sources
Direct sunlightFreezing temperatures
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
8/17
Possible Bedding Materials
Hand-shredded newspaper
Shredded printer paper
Leaves
Animal manures
Coconut fibers (coir)
Wood chips
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
9/17
Preparing the Bedding
No single material is best, but rather, a
combination of materials works best.
Dry bedding should be moistened and mixed with
either a handful of soil or previous compost.
Bedding should be of a minimum of six inches
deep.
Beds should be prepared prior to worms beingadded. (cooked worms
= bad)
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
10/17
Types of Worms
Composting:Eisenia fetida
Often known as Red Wiggler
Live in the top 12 inches of soilEarth worker:Lumbricus
terrestris
Often known as Earth Worm or Night Crawler
Live within several feet of top-soil
Not all worms are suitable.
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
11/17
What Do I Feed Them?
Anything that was once living.
Exceptions include: highly acidic foods (such
as oranges), spicy, salty, oily foods, dairyproducts, onions, or
meats
Gourmet worm cuisine includes: soft-flesh
fruits, moldy breads, vegetable and fruit
peelings, cardboard, melon rinds Worms are primarily
vegetarians!
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
12/17
How Much Do I Feed Them?
Generally, it is a 2:1 worm to garbage ratio.
One pound of worms can eat half a pound
of garbage a day (on average)!Your nose is the best tool to
gauge how
much to feed them.
If it smells really bad, youre feeding them toomuch. The bin
should have no odor other than
an earthy one.
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
13/17
How Do I Feed My Worms?
The two basic methods are:
Bury it
Throw it on topThe worms in the bin will get most of their
water needs from the foods you dump in.
If bin becomes too dry, additional water can beadded.
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
14/17
Harvest Methods
Dump and Hand-Sort method
Most labor intensive
Let the Worms Do the Sorting methodTakes a long time
Divide and Dump method
Easiest and most straight-forward
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
15/17
Trouble-Shooting
Worm bin too dry? Add water.
Worm bin too moist and stinky? Add dry
bedding.Too many worms? Divide your bin and
share with friends!
Too many leftovers in bin? Reducefeedings.
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
16/17
Additional Resources
Applehof, Mary. Worms Eat My Garbage.
Flower Press, Michigan: 1982.
www.vermicomposters.ning.com
-
8/3/2019 Worms Eat Your Garbage
17/17
Contact Information
Sajeemas (Mint) Pasakdee Ph.D.
Soil Scientist/Agronomist Adviser
CSU Fresno Student Operated OrganicFarm
Tel: 559-278-2828, Fax: 559-278-4849
