Vermiculture

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Vermiculture

• Aaron Turner
• Master Composter

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Why Vermicomposting for urban situations?

• EASY!!
• Helps meet the goal of decreasing organic waste
  from entering the waste stream
• Excellent for small spaces and for those without
  a yard
• Increase knowledge of living cycles
• Decomposition
• Reuse of materials
• Create a useable product that is beneficial to
  plant life

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Why its really important to be knowledgeable of
vermicomposting

• As a Master Composter, our goal is to entice
  individuals to do their part of diverting organic
  waste from the landfill. The number one reason
  people say they cant compost is because they
  dont have space. You then show them your travel
  bin and how easy it is to use voila!

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Definitions

• Vermiculture
• The use of worms to break down organic material
  in either an enclosed or open composting
  situation.
• Vermicompost / Worm Castings
• Compost made primarily by the activity of a
  concentrated population of worms.
• Bedding
• Material which is used to cover the mass of worms
  and the organic material that they are breaking
  down.
• Organic material
• Material broken down by worms.

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Worms, Worms, worms

• Types of worm
• Large worms
• Earthworms / Nightcrawlers Lumbricus terrestris
• Medium worms
• Red Worm Lumbriscus rubellus
• What is usually used in closed bins
• Small Worms
• Compost worm Eisenia fetida
• Author believes that these are the most common in
  closed bins

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Reproduction

• Hermaphroditic Have both male and female
  reproductive organs.
• Takes two to tango
• Exchange liquids produced in clitellums the
  ring-like structure
• After fertilization, the secretions form into a
  tube
• The tube hardens and the worm wriggles backward
  until the tube is released as a lemon shaped
  cocoon.
• They change color during their development, first
  white, becoming yellow, later brown. When new
  worms are ready to emerge, the cocoons are
  turning red. It takes at least three weeks for
  the worms to develop in the cocoon. Temperature
  and other conditions are factors in the
  development of the hatchlings.
• Cocoon may contain up to twenty eggs, but only
  two or three will hatch into small worms.

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Worms Habitat

• Earthworms move nutrients through the soil
  profile down to 6 feet deep and create aerate
  soil.
• Red Worms live in the top few inches of soil
  where decomposing organic matter is found like
  leaf litter or kitchen/manure compost piles.
• Compost worms are found mostly where compost
  piles are present, for instance farms or stables.

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Worm Bin Habitat

• Creating a beneficial habitat for red worms to
  thrive and break down organic matter into a
  usable form for plant life.
• Temperature
• Light
• Airflow
• FOOD!

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Design of vermiculture bins

• Dozens of different types of worm bins
• Stacked Containers
• Plastic containers modified for drainage and
  airflow.
• Multi-level worm bins
• Wriggly Ranch
• All have aeration and drainage

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What to feed worms

• Decaying organic matter
• Kitchen scraps
• Be cautious of seeds going into your bin
• Egg Shells rinsed and crushed
• Bread / Pasta
• Coffee grounds
• Tea bags
• Shredded paper

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What you shouldnt feed worms

• Pet waste
• Cabbage family scraps
• Garlic, onion, hot pepper scraps
• Citrus
• Salty foods
• Meat/Dairy products
• Remember experiment and observe what you put in
  and how worms react. You be the judge.

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Where can I keep my bin?

• Kitchen
• Outside - out of the sun and out of the cold
• Patio
• Under desk at work
• In car when traveling (as long as the temperature
  is kept in mind)

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Maintain

• Add Organic matter
• Keep bedding on top of scraps to keep fruit and
  common flies out of bin
• especially important if maintaining bin indoors.
• Maintain even moisture levels
• Not too wet or dry just right
• Feed smaller scraps
• Move your deposits around the bin

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When to Harvest?

• Depends on your needs and the size of your bin
• Smaller bins need to be harvested more frequently
  than large bins
• When you have lots of worms and want to create
  another bin for a friend!

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Harvesting Methods

• Volcano Method
• Drop through screen
• Tarp Method
• Slurry Method

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Troubleshooting Bin issues

• Worms are dying or trying to escape
• Too wet or too dryor too hot. Balance.
• Bedding is used up
• Add more bedding
• Bin Bin stinks!
• Not enough air
• Too much food slow down adding organic matter
• Too wet -
• Drill more ventilation holes
• Add more bedding  
• Fruit Flies - Increase amount of bedding
•  

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Uses of Vermicompost

• Add to potting soil 50
• Use as a disease control spray on plants
• Use in gardens once sifted
• Add to shrubs around apartments, buildings.
• Share with friends
• Post on Craigslist.org garden section
• The goal is to keep material out of the landfill!!

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Questions or comments?