Vermiculture Worm Composting Vermiculture: the process of using - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Vermiculture

Worm Composting

Vermiculture:

the process of using worms to turn your household and kitchen waste into compost.

Three Methods of Composting

Cold Compost – not actively worked Hot Compost – actively worked – tumbled or stirred Worm Compost – cold compost that is actively worked - stirred

All 3 types of composting:

Use micro-organisms to break down material Require moisture Can be done outdoors

Worm compost:

Combination of worm castings (poop), decomposed organic matter that didn’t pass through the worm and partially decomposed

• rganic matter that is still somewhat

recognizable. It contains 5 times the nitrogen, 7 times the phosphate and 10 times the pot ash than

• ther types of compost.

It has 1 ½ times more calcium than average top soil.

Worm composting advantages:

• Less time required to manage
• Very high humus content
• Contains slow release natural fertilizers
• Concentrated water soluble nutrients

that plants can use immediately

• Produces compost quicker

Worm composting advantages (cont.):

• Helps bring soil particles together
• Enhance disease resistance
• Encourages strong and healthy root systems
• Produces strong healthy plants and crops
• Greater water absorption and holding capacity

Worm facts:

Over 4,400 species of worms in the world Originated in Asia , Europe and Middle

• East. Later introduced to Africa and the

Americas Can be found in all climates except for the harshest deserts and artic regions Many are hermaphrodites – have both male and female parts – but still mate Average population per acre in US is 53,767

Red Wriggler Worms

Red Wrigglers

• Disintegrate when they die adding more nutrients to

the compost

• Ferocious eaters. Can eat ½ their body weight every
• day. If you start with one pound of worms you need to

feed them 3 ½ pounds of food per week

• In confinement they can live up to 4 years and can

grow up to 3 inches long

• Can live in a wide range of temperature but are

happiest from 40 to 80 degrees

• Happy worms reproduce quickly in confinement. Their

population may double or even triple in one year

• Watermelon is their favorite food but will eat anything
• rganic except for citrus, dairy and meat

Managing a worm compost bin

1. Feed them 50% green (nitrogen) and 50% brown (carbon) foods 2. Carbon to nitrogen ratio ranging from 25:1 to 30:1 is the dividing line between green and brown foods 3. Greens: fruits, vegetables, pasta, crackers, coffee grounds 4. Browns : newspaper, cardboard, dried leaves from deciduous trees, junk mail, coconut coir 5. No grass clippings because they produce too much heat 6. Feed them extra before a long trip – 2 to 3 weeks 7. Moisture should be 60 to 75% 8. Ideal Ph level is 6-7 or neutral

Thank you!