Vermicomposting Methods

Worm in dirt, vermicomposting.

Vermicomposting, a form of natural recycling, involves the use of earthworms to

decompose organic waste. Vermicomposting offers numerous benefits to gardeners,
including increased microbial activity in the soil, improved water retention in the soil,
increased humus levels and less soil compaction for enhanced aeration.
Vermicomposting, also known as vermiculture, is used for medium-scale on-site
institutional composting, such as for food waste from universities and shopping
malls. It is selected either as a more environmentally friendly choice than
conventional methods of disposal, or to reduce the cost of commercial waste
removal.

Methods of Vermicomposting

a) Bins
The simplest form of vermicomposting involves a bin made from plastic or untreated,
non-aromatic wood. Some form of bedding, such as shredded paper or composted
animal manure or decaying leaves, fills the bin and mixes with a few handfuls of soil
to provide the worms with material through which to burrow. The bedding also
requires water to stay moist and allow the worms to breathe. Feed the worms organic
food scraps such as vegetables, fruits, tea bags and coffee grounds. Never compost
meat, fish, or other fatty, oily foods, otherwise the bin will produce a foul odor. And
the best worms for bin vermicomposting are redworms or wigglers.

b) Windrows
Most commercial farm vermicomposting involves windrows, which are long rows of
cow manure. Farmers typically stack the manure in rows 3 feet high and 3 feet wide,
with rows often stretching more than 100 feet long. Farmers seed the windrows with
worms, making certain to keep the rows moist. Fresh manure added to the ends of the
existing rows draws the worms forward to keep the process moving.

c) Troughs
Cement troughs can also host vermicomposting. Usually the troughs hold only
manure, which is aged for at least a week before being placed in the trough. This
composting method begins with only a few inches of manure spread across the bottom
of the trough. Farmers then add the worms, allowing them to feed on the manure for a
few days before adding another layer of manure. More manure layers are added every
10 days until the worm compost reaches the top of the trough.

d) Pits
Some farmers opt for vermicomposting pits, digging a large hole in which to bury the
worms and organic waste material. Of course, before adding the worms and bedding,
farmers must line the pit to prevent worms from escaping into the surrounding soil.
Canvas feed bags make a good lining, preventing worm passage yet still allowing for
suitable water drainage. Farmers fill the lined pit with organic materials, such as
straw, grass clippings and manure, and then cover it with soil. After about a week,
during which time the pit is watered to maintain its moisture, farmers add worms. The
worms immediately burrow into the pit, beginning the vermicomposting procedure.

Uses of Vermicompost
Worms add nutrients to soil.
Vermicomposting uses worms to transform organic waste into high-quality compost.
Worms can continually process small additions of waste, whereas the addition of new
scraps to a small composting bin can easily throw standard composting systems off
kilter. Worms add nutrients to soil. The “casts” that have passed through a worm
contain up to eight times as many nutrients as their feed.

Garbage Disposal
School lunch programs have had significant success with diverting waste to
vermicomposting programs. This saves the school money. According to "The Worm
Guide," a resource on vermicomposting distributed by the state of California, schools
that were part of a vermicomposting test project saw savings of about $6 per student
thanks to the waste-conversion benefits of worm farms. The farms convert waste into
vermicompost that can be sold.

Nutrient-Rich Fertilizer
Using the vermicompost as a rich compost fertilizer is a great way to grow
extraordinarily healthy garden without having to purchase chemical or manufactured
fertilizers. City dwellers who don’t have the space to have a large compost pile can
use vermicomposting to generate concentrated compost for themselves.

Compost Tea
Using vermicompost as the base of compost tea--a way of enriching soil by spraying
nutrient-entriched water on gardens, organic gardens and large farms. Compost tea
distributes protozoa to rejuvenate the soil by eating bacteria and producing nitrogen,
which plants can use. Fungus distributed by compost tea brings additional nutrients to
the soil, and beneficial organisms coat leaf surfaces to act as a barrier shield to
pathogens. In composting, raw organic matter is broken down into a usable product
that can amend soils to make them more fertile. This method uses earthworms, which
actually compost organic matter by eating their way through it. In turn, they leave
behind excrement castings which, when added to soil, can improve its physical,
chemical and biological properties.

Advantages of vermicompost
Recycles Waste
Vermicomposting helps to recycle many different kinds of organic wastes. The raw
materials for a vermicomposting project are readily available in most homes. They
can include kitchen waste, paper products, leaves and other yard waste, and manure
and other organic waste materials. The only organic wastes that worms cannot
compost are bones and oily or fatty substances.

Has Low Costs

After initial outlay for the proper equipment, producing vermicompost is relatively
inexpensive, compared to its value as a soil amendment. Production processes are
scalable and can range from a simple vermicomposting box for home use to larger
production operations that manufacture vermicompost for commercial sale. Also, the
worm species required for vermicomposting are readily available, and care and
upkeep is minimal.

Helps the Environment

Vermicompost is a renewable and environmentally friendly resource. A totally natural
product, vermicompost can help reduce the need to apply chemical fertilizers, which
is a less sound practice from an ecological standpoint. Vermicomposting can also help
to reduce the amount of organic waste disposed of in landfills.

Contains More Nutrients

Vermicompost provides high amounts of plant nutrients, including nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium. Typically, vermicompost has more than twice the average
amounts of these nutrients, compared to commercial potting soil. Vermicompost may
also contain plant growth regulators that improve plant growth. The nutrients in
vermicompost can help plants grow more vigorously, produce bigger blooms and both
increase and improve the quality of crop yields.

Provides Other Benefits

Vermicompost is a fine, peatlike humus that is easy to add to soils by either working it
directly into the topsoil or applying it to the surface as a mulch. Screened
vermicompost makes a good ingredient for potting soil mixtures. Vermicompost is
also a much more available and plant-friendly fertilizer. The nutrients within it will
not burn sensitive plants, as chemical fertilizers are prone to do when heavily applied.
Vermicompost also contains beneficial microbes that are essential to healthy soil.

Disadvantages of Vermicompost
Vermicomposting systems contain earthworms that speed of decomposition of organic
materials. These worms feast on items such as produce, kitchen scraps and coffee
grounds, transforming the waste into an eco-friendly fertilizer called humus. While
vermicomposting offers substantial environmental benefits, it also is associated with a
number of potential problems that users should be aware of before setting up a new
compost system.

Environmental Requirements
Earthworms in vermicompost systems can stay alive only when temperatures range
from 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, This may prohibit vermicomposting efforts in very
cold or hot climate zones. Many homeowners prefer to keep compost units outdoors,
making vermicompost impracticable in many areas. Even if you're able to maintain
the required temperature, it’s mandatory to keep an eye on moisture and ventilation to
avoid additional problems. Inadequate ventilation or excess moisture leads to sour
odors in the bin, and can kill the worms.

Limited Media
Earthworms require a controlled diet to survive and produce humus. These worms
have gizzards instead of teeth, making them unable to break down some materials.
Worms also have difficulty digesting meat, dairy or greasy foods, so these items must
be placed in a standard compost bin or a regular garbage receptacle. Worm-friendly
foods such as fruit, vegetables, bread or coffee should be added twice a week and
mixed with the bedding to keep the worms alive and maintain the system.

High Cost
Engineered units feature easy-to-use trays and openings that allow for the addition of
waste or removal of worm castings and humus. Homemade units often have poor
ventilation and moisture control, which makes it difficult for worms to thrive and may
cause odors or encourage fruit flies. Pre-manufactured vermicompost units cost as
much as $25,000, depending on size and features.