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Worm Composting

Learn about the process of using worms to recycle organic material and food scraps into nutrient-rich compost. Discover the benefits of vermicomposting, including environmental advantages, soil health improvement, and plant growth enhancement. Find out where and how to set up your vermicomposting system, and how to harvest and use vermicompost effectively. Explore the impact of vermicomposting on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and landfill waste. Get insights on the dos and don'ts of feeding redworms, as well as valuable Q&A on vermicomposting practices.

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Worm Composting

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  1. Worm Composting

  2. Vermicomposting WHAT –Process of using worms to recycle organic material and food scraps into castings (waste) or compost (vermicompost) (vermiculture)

  3. Vermicomposting WHY Advantages Easy to do year-round SEVEN times richer in nutrients than regular compost No turning, no odor, & little watering – worms do the work Benefits Environmental Economic Soil health Plant growth and vigor Fun and educational

  4. Vermicomposting WHERE – Almost anywhere Indoors, Outdoors Dark, Warm, Moist, Ventilated

  5. Vermicomposting HOW Container (can be aerated) Bedding such as shredded newspaper Moisture and proper temperature Redworms & food waste

  6. VermicompostingHome Made

  7. Can-O-Worms

  8. Worm Friendly Bin

  9. VermicompostingMid-Scale

  10. EPM Worm Wigwam

  11. EPM Flow Through System

  12. Vermitech Food/paper Digester

  13. Worm Composting - Hog Waste Lagoon

  14. Worm Composting Windrows

  15. Worm Composting – Casting Production

  16. Large Worm Screen

  17. Vermicomposting in Action Bedding

  18. Vermicomposting in Action Moisture & Temperature

  19. Vermicomposting in Action Redworms

  20. Vermicomposting in Action Redworms (Eisenia foetidaie & Lumbricus rubellus) Live in the top 12 inches of soil Feed on organic decaying matter Can eat their body weight in food every day Generate 75% of body weight in worm poop (castings) each day Lay one cocoon every week or so Each cocoon produces 3 to 4 baby worms Begin breeding at 4 to 6 weeks of age Worms can double population every 90 days Live up to 2 years

  21. Vermicomposting in Action Food Waste YES Most fruits and veggies Coffee grounds and filters Tea leaves and bags Egg shells Most cereals and grains (oatmeal, pasta, rice, cornmeal, pancakes, breads) MAYBE Onions Garlic Ginger

  22. Vermicomposting in Action Food Waste NO Meat, fish, dairy, oil, or bones Potato chips, candy, oils Citrus NO-NO's Plastic Rubber bands Sponges Aluminum foil Glass

  23. Vermicomposting in Action Harvesting Vermicompost

  24. Vermicomposting in Action How to Use Vermicompost Excellent fertilizer; will not burn plants Use as mulch or soil conditioner in home garden Use in potting soil mixes for houseplants Use as top dressing for lawns Combine with potting soil mixes and use as medium for starting young seedlings

  25. Vermicomposting in Action Compost Tea Liquid produced from vermicomposting Protects plants from disease Improves nutrient retention Decomposes harmful chemicals Transforms compacted soil into healthy soil Reduces water usage Decreases run-off and leaching

  26. Composting vs. Landfilling Some Numbers to Consider Food and yard waste account for at least 25% of landfill materials AA dining halls generate 700 pounds food waste each week 12% of total greenhouse gas emissions generated from growing, preparing, and shipping food Eating 1 pound of food daily generates 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually CO2 impact from edible food waste per person equates to taking 1 to 4 cars off the road CO2, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) generated as organic waste decays in landfills CH421 times worse and N2O 300 times worse than CO2 Proper composting minimizes greenhouse gas emissions and extends life of landfills by saving space

  27. Q & A Prize Patrol TRUE or FALSE Redworms consume almost all types of waste, including bones, glass, and plastic

  28. Q & A Prize Patrol TRUE or FALSE If you can’t find redworms, use earthworms in your worm bin

  29. Why won’t night crawlers work… Not a composter. • ~ Garden variety worm are soil- dwelling species that tunnel & borrow. • ~ Do not consume large volumes of organic material. • ~ Will not reproduce well while being confined. • ~ Live several feet below surface. • ~ Feed on the surface at night.

  30. Q & A Prize Patrol TRUE or FALSE Besides being beneficial to plants and the soil, compost tea can be applied to the scalp to reverse male pattern baldness

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