Hey everybody! December is worm composting month and this is one of the best times of the year to start planning your indoor worm composting operation. Vermi-composting, also known as, worm composting, is the art and science of using worms to break down waste (such as, food scraps/newspaper) into useful compost (soil amendment). Vermi-composting is much easier to maintain than your typical outdoor compost bin system.
In a worm composting bin, the worms do the work for you. They rapidly eat the food waste, mainly fruit and vegetable peelings, and turn the materials for you. I start out with a ten gallon size, dark container with lid. I drill about 50 -1/8” holes into the lid for air circulation. Next, I moisten shredded newspaper so it feels like their home - soft, airy, a little wet, and comfortable. Then, I add 1 pound of red-wigglers (1000 worms) and a handful of earth (soil). The soil's particles and microorganisms help pull food through the worm’s gizzard.
In a worm composting bin, the worms do the work for you. They rapidly eat the food waste, mainly fruit and vegetable peelings, and turn the materials for you. I start out with a ten gallon size, dark container with lid. I drill about 50 -1/8” holes into the lid for air circulation. Next, I moisten shredded newspaper so it feels like their home - soft, airy, a little wet, and comfortable. Then, I add 1 pound of red-wigglers (1000 worms) and a handful of earth (soil). The soil's particles and microorganisms help pull food through the worm’s gizzard.
TIP: The moisture level of the newspaper should be like wrung out sponge. You can use a paper shredder to shred the newspaper or just use your hands to tear the newspaper into ½ inch strips. Tear with the grain of the paper. DO NOT use glossy paper. The worms cannot digest the glossy-wax coating.
The amazing thing about composting worms is that they not only use the newspaper and soil for their bedding, but they eat it too! You might have to add newspaper every once in a while. The real key to keeping your worms happy is feeding them a variety of raw kitchen waste regularly. A list of proper food is posted below. I like to feed my worms 1 pound of waste every other day.
DO FEED
fruit peelings
vegetable peelings
raw oatmeal and cereals
cornmeal
crushed egg shells
coffee grounds with the filter
tea bags
newspaper
DON'T FEED
animal bones
meat, fish and poultry
cheese
butter
salad dressing
mayonnaise
glossy colored paper
greasy foods
Be sure to stay tuned for worm bin trouble shooting and harvesting methods.
For a complete step by step guide on how to make your own bin please visit: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms
If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach me at nkreith@gmail.com
Happy Composting!
Nancy Kreith
DO FEED
fruit peelings
vegetable peelings
raw oatmeal and cereals
cornmeal
crushed egg shells
coffee grounds with the filter
tea bags
newspaper
DON'T FEED
animal bones
meat, fish and poultry
cheese
butter
salad dressing
mayonnaise
glossy colored paper
greasy foods
Be sure to stay tuned for worm bin trouble shooting and harvesting methods.
For a complete step by step guide on how to make your own bin please visit: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms
If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach me at nkreith@gmail.com
Happy Composting!
Nancy Kreith
1 comment:
It was a very good article and very informative, I raise and sell red worms and euro nightcrawlers and all related items, here in Maine ( THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE)
THE BERWICK WORM FARM see my blog at Today.com The Wormguy or visit my website at www.berwickwormfarm.com
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