Vermiculture: Promote Global Worming!

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VermiculturePromote Global Worming!

• Julie Weisenhorn, Extension Educator
• Director, Master Gardener Program
• Department of Horticultural Science
• University of Minnesota

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Darwin ? Earthworms

• The plow is one of the most ancient and most
  valuable of Mans inventions but long before he
  existed, the land was regularly ploughed, and
  still continues to be ploughed, by earthworms. It
  may be (doubtful) whether there are many other
  animals which have played so important a part in
  the history of the world as these lowly,
  organized creatures.
• - Charles Darwin, 1881

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Presentation Goals

• To understand the importance of the earthworm
• To understand the basic biology of the earthworm
• To become enthused about the prospects of home
  vermicomposting.

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Think about this

• How can I change from
• waste-ful to being waste-free?

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Earthworm Taxonomic Details

• Phylum Annelida (Latin for rings)
• Class Chaetopoda
• Order Oligochaeta
• Five families
• Most common to N. America Lumbricidae
• 3000 species worldwide

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Common Species

• Lumbricus terrestis Night crawler
• Allolobophora caliginosa Grey worm
• Allolobophora chlorotica Green worm
• Lumbricus rubellus Red worm
• Eisenia fetida Red Wiggler

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The Earthworm History

• Casts found in Nile River basin FERTILITY
• No earthworms native to Minnesota
• Exotics destroying understory vegetation
• Dr. Lee Gerlich, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife

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Lifespan of the Earthworm

• Lifespan
• Conservative estimate 4-8 years
• Barrett estimates 15
• Mortality by accident
• Primitive physiology is unchanged
• Body composition
• 70-95 water
• Balance protein, fat, minerals absorbed from
  soil

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Earthworm Biology 1001

• Segmented body somites
• Somites equipped with setae
• Five hearts
• Cold-blooded
• Peristonium mouth
• Prostonium for prying

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Earthworm Biology 1001

• Mucus is critical
• Holds in moisture
• Aids in respiration
• Protects body while burrowing
• Sperm carrier during reproduction

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Reproductive System

• Hermaphrodites, but not self-fertilizing
• Mutual exchange of sperm
• Ova are fertilized in cocoons
• Clitellum light-colored band - produces cocoons
• Cocoons contain 4 eggs
• Eggs incubate 3 weeks

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Regeneration

• Myth Cut a worm in half and youll have two
  worms
• Worm needs at least 13 segments
• Will re-grow body segments (equal number)

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Nervous System

• Brain a knot of nerves
• Ganglion serve as impulse centers
• Super sensitive to touch
• Allows worm to select food, avoid predators and
  objects, and reproduce
• Can feel birds footsteps
• Eyes are sensitive to blue light and skin to
  ultravoilet rays burrowing action

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Digestive System

• Eats weight in soil organic matter daily
• Processed in alimentary canal
• Muscular mixing with enzymes releasing amino
  acids, sugars, organic molecules
• Includes microorganisms
• Molecules absorbed through intestinal membranes
• Result CASTINGS

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The Internal Earthworm
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Vermiculture Vermicomposting

• Vermiculture is
• the culture of earthworms
• Vermicomposting is
• using earthworms and microorganisms to convert
  organic waste into black, earthy-smelling,
  nutrient-rich humus.
• - Mary Appelhof

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Why?

• Year-round compost organic plant fertilizer
• Reduce, reuse, recycle
• Non-polluting
• Profitable commercial business
• Interesting for all ages

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Comparison of Composting

• Organic Matter
• Temperature
• Compost bin 130-160 F 6-8 months
• Worm bin 59-70 F year-round
• Air circulation
• Compost bin vents turning
• Worm bin vents worm churn

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Comparison of Composting

• Moisture
• Compost bin rain, hose, organic matter
• Worm bin foodstock
• Microorganisms
• Compost bin bacteria fungi some worms
• Worm bin worm mass bacteria fungi, etc.

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Comparison of Composting

• Time
• Compost bin few months depends on weather
• Worm bin few months

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How can I vermicompost?

• Three Es
• Education
• Equipment
• Environment

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1st E Education

• Books
• Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof
• The Earthworm Book How to Raise and Use
  Earthworms for Your Farm and Garden, by Jerry
  Minnich
• Extension office bulletins
• Earthworm Biology and Production by the
  University of California Cooperative Extension,
  leaflet 2828

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1st E Education

• Resources on the Internet
• The Compost Resource Page
• http//www.oldgrowth.org/compost
• Worm Digest
• http//www.wormdigest.org
• Cityfarmer
• http//www.cityfarmer.org
• Worm Woman (Mary Appelhofs site)
• http//www.wormwoman.com

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2nd E Equipment

• Suppliers
• The Happy D Worm Ranch
• http//www.happydranch.com
• Biological Home Grown Farm
• http//www.worm-publications.com/biologicalhome.ht
  m
• The Worm Farm
• http//www.empnet.com/worms/welcome.htm

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Worm Bins

• Size
• Construction
• Plastic vs. Wood construction
• Commercial
• Can-O-Worms
• Worm-A-Way
• Worm-A-Roo

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Worm Bins

• Size
• Track food waste for a week
• Allow one square foot of surface per pound of
  waste
• Example problem
• Five pounds of food waste per week will require 5
  ft² of surface.
• Bin should measure 1 x 2 x 3 (6 ft²)

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Bin Construction

• Wooden Bin
• Organic
• Breathes
• Heavy
• Deteriorates faster
• Can be built as furniture
• No treated lumber or fragrant woods (ie cedar)

• Plastic Bin
• Lightweight
• Holds moisture
• Will not rot
• Requires more holes for aeration
• Inexpensive
• Many bins available

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Commercial Bins

• Can-O-Worms
• Most popular
• Enclosed tier system
• Bottom catch tray spigot
• Stackable mesh trays
• Worms migrate vertically
• Easy to harvest castings
• 130.00 incl. shipping

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Commercial Bins

• Worm-A-Way
• Plastic
• Ventilated
• Several sizes
• Lightweight
• 90-100 incl. Worms shipping

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Commercial Bins

• Worm-A-Roo
• Double bin system
• Plastic
• Migration device
• Lightweight
• 140-170 incl. Supplies, worms, and shipping

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3rd E Environment

• A worm bin must be
• Convenient
• Easily accessible
• In a well-ventilated location
• Covered and protected from wind, sun, and animals

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Bedding

• Various materials
• Shredded newspaper
• Sphagnum Peat Moss
• Manure
• Leaf litter
• Coir (Coconut fiber)
• Wood chips
• Dampen bedding with tap water
• Mix well

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Bedding

• Possible additions to bedding
• Calcium carbonate to control pH
• Do NOT use slaked or hydrated lime
• Rock dust for grit
• Zeolite for grit also balances pH, controls
  odors, absorbs ammonia

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Bin Temperature

• Recommended 59-77 F

• A cooler bin
• Stays moist
• Worms appear more active
• Bedding is thicker
• May have more mites
• Easier to maintain consistent conditions

• A warmer bin
• Dries out quickly
• Worms appear more lethargic
• Bedding appears to be settled
• Harder to maintain non-ambient temperature
• Additional moisture required

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Bin Care Maintenance

• Provide adequate bin and bedding mixture
• Maintain moisture level
• Maintain temperature 60-65 F
• Provide air circulation in bin via adequate holes
• Provides aeration
• Controls odors by eliminating anaerobic conditions

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Foodstock

• Variety
• Bury foodstock under bedding
• Dont overload system
• Maintain aerobic conditions
• C/N ratio

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Foodstock

• DOs
• Fruit vegetable scraps
• Banana peels
• Grains cereals, pasta
• Tea bags leaves
• Cooked eggs shells
• Coffee grounds filters
• Onions potatoes
• Pancakes
• Banana bread, cake
• Leaves
• Plant cuttings

• DONTs
• Non-Biodegradables
• Plastic
• Glass
• Rubber
• Pet feces (cats)
• Toxic materials
• Ex orange peels
• Plant cuttings treated with herbicides or
  insecticides

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Foodstock

• Meat Dairy products
• Worms will consume
• Not a good idea for indoor system (odiferous)
• May attract undesirables
• Can grind up bones (high nitrogen)
• High N!

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Other Organisms

• Mites flies
• Predatory planarians
• Centipedes millipedes
• Enchytraeids (white worms)
• Springtails
• Isopods (ie sowbugs)
• Bacteria, mold, fungi, etc.

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Harvesting Vermicompost

• Worm castings vs. Vermicompost
• Worm castings are deposits that have moved
  through the worms digestive system
• Vermicompost is a combination of
• Worm castings
• OM and bedding at various stages of decomposition
• Organisms such as worms and cocoons
• Microorganisms

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Harvesting Vermicompost

• Vermicompost supplies
• Nutrient-rich organic fertilizer
• Humus is beneficial to plant growth
• Humic acid
• Binding site for plant nutrients
• Increases soil texture and aggregation
• Improves permeability

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Harvest Methods

• Dump Hand Sort Method
• Lateral Method
• Vertical Method

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There is no such thing as waste, for one
organisms waste is anothers resource.How can
YOU be more waste-free?