Vermicomposters

Information

Vermicomposting is the use of Red Wiggler worms to recycle your food scraps. Worm castings are superb as a soil conditioner and fertilizer. They contain very little salt and hold up to nine times their weight in moisture.

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The worm bin picture displayed above is an example of how to separate your worm castings and your red worms. By adding new bedding and introducing food in this new area, you are able to attract most of the red worms to the new area. It is best to give the worms about 1 - 2 weeks to move to the new area and then remove the worm castings from the other side of the bin. Be sure you do not add any food to the old area and that you cut off the food supply to encourage your red worms to move to the new area. You may find a couple of worms in the old castings after a week or two. Just help them out and move them over if you wish.

Red worms must be removed from their bedding; which is full of castings, in about 3 - 4 months. The castings become toxic to the worms and will affect their eating and reproduction if they are not moved out of their old area. If the worms are not moved out of the castings after 3 - 4 months the worms will digest the old bedding etc. Then you have vermicast, which is not as healthy to plants because there is less nitrogen, potassium and phosphate in the mix. Also, your worms will probably become part of the compost if they are left in toxic bedding.

Worm castings can be mixed in with your soil or used as top dressing for your plants. One word of caution: If castings dry out, they may blow away due to their light weight. I recommend mixing it in the soil to avoid problems. Enjoy the benefits that vermicompost offers: improved conditioned soil, better aeration in your soil, antifungal properties, improved moisture holding (holds up to 9 times its weight in moisture), less salt in this fertilizer/soil conditioner, faster germination of many seeds, improved vegetable/fruit production, and healthy plants.

Discussion Forum

Worms in winter 1 Reply

Started by Diane. Last reply by Mandy Wildman Jan 12, 2010.

want to start vermicomposting 8 Replies

Started by Shanna. Last reply by Shanna Apr 17, 2009.

Vermicomposting information

Started by GardenThymeGirl Jun 30, 2008.

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Comment Wall

Comment by GardenThymeGirl on December 10, 2008 at 5:10pm: I will be teaching a workshop on vermicomposting on Jan 22, 09 at the Bullington Center in Hendersonville. The class will be offered from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. and the cost is only $10.00 Please check out http://www.bullingtoncenter.org for more information.

Comment by Becky Mojica on December 28, 2008 at 10:30am: Hey Dawn

I am considering purchasing a vermicompost "villa" I saw on Gardener's Supply website. It has several tiers and a spigot. What is your opinion? I know worm composting can be totally inexpensive but I like the convenience of the spigot and the tiers.

Thanks for your great advice yesterday!

Comment by GardenThymeGirl on December 29, 2008 at 10:40am: Go for it Becky--it's a good product. You pay for convenience and it's definitely easier to manage your vermicomposting. You will have to post your experience after you get one.

Dawn

Comment by GardenThymeGirl on December 29, 2008 at 10:55am: If you are interested in vermicomposting, check out Mary Appelhoff's "Worms Eat My Garbage" book. The book is available in some libraries and is about $15.00 on Amazon.com Mary's book is the best book on vermimposting I have read and is very easy to follow. Of course you can also learn more by visiting reputable sites on the internet and contacting your Extension Service for more info.

Comment by Shanna on February 14, 2009 at 11:44am: I have looked through the book you recommended "Worms Eat My Garbage", gotten all of the necessary materials together to get started but wanted to know where I should get the worms?? The book and the video I watched on this website recommend Red Wigglers so is there are local Asheville place I can get them or do I need to order online?? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! My six year old is stoked to get started - the worms are our only hold up at this point

Comment by Mandy Wildman on June 22, 2009 at 1:52pm: My family and I have been composting with worms for a number of years now - we love being able to throw our non-meat kitchen scraps into the compost bin. We use a cheap trash can punched with holes. We order our worms online from Jim's Worm Farm (don't have link - sorry) and we start up the compost with that. Fun!