Vermiculture , or worm compost , is a method acting for transforming food wastefulness into nutritious - deep compost and soil conditioner . If you do n’t have way for a compost raft or if you desire to stay compost through the cold winter months , worm compost is a perfect solution .
If you ’re not convinced that vermiculture is for you , just remember that worm composting reduces your garbage , which means there are fewer scraps trucks on the route and less penury for landfill . Plus , worm composting improves your soil whether you garden in pots or in the ground . Besides being easy and captivating , worm composting is a terrific educational task for kid .
Just take these steps to get started :
1 . Container : discover or establish a wood or charge plate container that is eight to twelve inches in high spirits and a sizing you may easy move and lift . recitation eight to twelve one - stern - inch holes in the bottom for ventilating system . Raise the bin on blocks or bricks to get supererogatory liquid run out ; put a tray underneath to capture the liquidness , which you could employ for fertilizer . The container will need a cover to preserve moisture and keep the light out .
2 . Bedding : Fill the bin three - quarters full with a variety of bedding materials such as rip up newspaper publisher ; chop up leaves , straw , and plant component part ; seaweed ; aged manure ; compost ; or sawdust . And a fistful each of soil and sand . wash the bedding so it ’s as pissed as a wrung - out quick study . Leave the bedding loose — don’t take it down — to check that there ’s honorable air circulation .
3 . worm : Purchase crimson wriggler worms or garner them from a manure pile . Red squirmer are more probable to exist than the large louse found in the stain , so stick with them . You ’ll demand about two pounds ( 2,000 ) of worms for every Egyptian pound of food waste you plan to add each day .
Feed the worms the same type of food fighting you would put in a regular compost hatful : eggs shells , tea traveling bag , burnt umber grounds , and fruit and veg . To keep away flies , rodents , and odors , nullify fats , meats , dairy , and grains . Bury the food for thought waste under the bedding , choosing a different topographic point for each feeding .
4 . locating : dirt ball compost needs temperatures between 40 and 80 academic degree F. Keep the bins out of hot sun and weighty pelting . nomadic or portable bank identification number are ideal because you may move them indoors or out when the conditions changes .
5 . charge : If the ABA transit number begin to give off an unpleasant odour , the bedding is too lactating , probably because there ’s too much food for the worms to offend down speedily . Withhold food until the worms trance up . Stir the contents to increase airflow . verify the drain cakehole are n’t clogged , and exercise more gob if necessary .
If the worm lead off crawl out of the bedding , they ’re not happy with their environment . It could be too wet or too acidic . If it ’s not too wet in there cut back on citrus tree Sir Robert Peel or add eggshells to concentrate the acidity .
In about ten weeks the bedding will turn into compost . Separate the worms from the compost and apply them to begin a new bin ( with a fiddling compost mixed in with the young bedding ) .
6 . Use : Mix your worm compost with potting land for a rich and well - drained commixture for container plants . Use it as mulch or add it to the garden soil .
Vermiculture is more popular than you might think . The follow websites are among many informative sites about worms and worm composting :
Canada ’s Office of Urban Agriculture boost louse composting with aphoto guidebook and other resources .
Find insect composting information and ware from theWormWoman .
Worm Compostingfrom the City of Vancouver .
Worm Composting Tipshas a keen deal of worm compost information as well .
Lynne Lamstein gardens in Maine and Florida and is presently work out on a sustainable landscape . She has a level in cosmetic gardening from Temple University .
