Whether you like compost or worms or both, vermicomposting is an easy, affordable way to grow your own compost at home. Don\u2019t worry, you don\u2019t have to have land as with traditional compost. City and country folks alike can turn food waste into rich castings that will amend and add nutrients to your soil.<\/p>
Vermicomposting is the process where worms take everyday kitchen food scraps and turn them into beneficial organic matter for your garden. How do they do it? The process is simple: Worms eat the food waste and excrete worm castings. This waste material is called vermicompost<\/em>, worm compost<\/em>, or worm castings<\/em> and is rich in nutrients and microorganisms. <\/p> These castings, like traditional compost<\/a>, act as a soil amendment to improve soil structure, add bacteria and nutrients, and help soils retain or drain water (depending on the soil type). Castings are a natural form of aeration for clay soils and help sandy soils retain water. Well-structured soils are a key component of healthy plant growth.<\/p> It\u2019s a good idea not to rely solely on worm castings for nutrition if you have specific nutrient deficiencies in your soil. You may need to add other fertilizers<\/a> based on your soil test results.<\/p> Worm composting, like so many garden activities, is both useful and fun. Vermicomposting appeals to people with a wide spectrum of goals:<\/p> Green-thumbed city dwellers: <\/strong>If you\u2019re a city dweller who pines for a little more dirt underneath your fingernails, vermicomposting may be just the thing for you. It\u2019s perfect for apartment dwellers who want a homegrown supply of fresh organic material for their balcony garden or indoor potted plants. <\/p> Environmentalists:<\/strong> Did you know that in 2017, 75% of food waste<\/a> that could have gone to the compost pile went to the landfill instead? Environmentalists see a big opportunity in vermicompost bins. With a simple bin, everyone \u2014 apartment dweller or homeowner \u2014 can reduce the food waste that ends up in landfills by having worms do the work instead.<\/p> Vermicompost is also a form of organic fertilizer, which many environmentalists prefer over traditional chemical fertilizers.<\/p> Gardeners:<\/strong> If you\u2019re a gardener, you can’t have too much compost. What you might be short on is space. Not every lawn is ideal for regular composting bins, and some HOAs restrict their use. In any case, most people can find room underneath a sink, in the basement\/garage, or even a closet to fit a small worm bin. <\/p> If you\u2019re short on indoor space, you can put the bin outside as well. Keep outside bins between 55 to 85 degrees F<\/a>.<\/p> Insect, reptile, or worm-eating animal enthusiasts:<\/strong> Most enthusiasts use worms for gardening, but if you love insects or have worm-eating pets such as reptiles or chickens, this may be a hobby for you. Vermicomposting requires a small investment up front, but after your initial outlay, the only things you\u2019ll \u201cinvest\u201d are food scraps and bedding to dump in the bin. They do the rest! <\/p> If you are a reptile or chicken owner, this approach is much cheaper than continually buying new worms to feed to your animals.<\/p> A bin:<\/strong> Plastic tubs and styrofoam coolers are the most popular for a home setup.<\/p> Worms:<\/strong> Start with about 1,000 red wiggler worms, which is 1 pound or so. Most people buy them online or get some from a friend. Make sure the seller has a long track record of happy customers for the best results.<\/p> Bedding:<\/strong> Shredded newspaper is the most popular material. Coco coir and peat moss are other options.<\/p> Kitchen scraps:<\/strong> Anything you would put in a compost bin: vegetable and fruit scraps, peels, ends of potatoes, fruit cores, etc. No meat, dairy, oil, or fats.<\/p> There are many different ways to set up a vermicompost bin. The easiest way is to buy one already manufactured for you. If you\u2019re more of a DIYer, vermicompost bins are one of the cheapest, easiest types of compost bins to set up. We\u2019ll go the DIY route here.<\/p> Vermicomposting is not done in a pile of leaves and kitchen scraps outdoors like traditional compost. If you want to start a vermicompost bin, you\u2019ll need a tub to start.<\/p> Tub: <\/strong>Most people use a plastic or styrofoam tub or bin. Your tub should be a solid color (not clear) since worms like to live where it\u2019s dark. To maintain air circulation, drill pencil-width holes in the lid and around the sides of the bin near the top. <\/p> Note: If you keep the bin outside, don\u2019t drill holes in the lid. Holes on the lid of the bin could allow rainwater in, which you don\u2019t want. <\/p> The Rodale Institute<\/a> recommends a larger-sized home bin that is 24 inches by 18 inches by 18 inches. If you plan to start small, go with a more shallow bin; if you want room to grow, select a deeper bin.<\/p> Bedding material:<\/strong> Shredded newspaper, coco coir, and peat moss make good bedding materials for the worms. Composted manure and shredded office paper also work. Whichever material you choose, moisten it so it has as much moisture as a wet sponge. If you squeeze your bedding, you may have a few drops of water fall, but it should not<\/strong> be dripping. <\/p> Add 8 inches<\/a> of the moist worm bedding to the bin. Fluff it so there is plenty of room for air to circulate. Then, incorporate a handful of soil<\/strong> from the garden or some potting mix. This adds grit, which helps the worms digest their food. <\/p> Red wigglers (Eisenia fetida<\/em> or Eisenia foetida<\/em>) are the most popular composting worms. Experts recommend starting with 1,000 red wiggler worms<\/a>, which is about one pound. You can buy them online or look on an online marketplace for freebies.<\/p> Note: Don\u2019t try to dig up earthworms<\/a> from your garden. These worms prefer to live in the soil and don\u2019t process as much organic waste or reproduce as quickly as the red wigglers.<\/p> Feed your new worms the kitchen waste once per week. Start with one-half pound of food per pound<\/a> of worms. Don\u2019t overfeed<\/a>. The bacteria need time to grow. Too much food will result in a smelly bin. If you can\u2019t find any traces of food at their next feeding, gradually<\/em> increase the amount of food. <\/p> As you add food, bury it underneath the bedding material to discourage other insects and odors. Many people put the food on one side of the bin (left or right) one week and the other side the next week. This makes harvesting worm castings easier.<\/p> Benefits of vermicomposting<\/span><\/h2>
What you will need<\/span><\/h2>
How to vermicompost in 6 easy steps<\/span><\/h2>
Step 1: Set up your bin<\/span><\/h3>
Step 2: Fill your bin<\/span><\/h3>
Step 3: Drop in the worms<\/span><\/h3>
Step 4: Feed your worms<\/span><\/h3>