Vermicompost - Worms make sweet soil

Many of you may have grown up thinking of worms as either the objects of dares or as bait for fishing. Their role in our ecosystem and more specifically in Composting is much more important, in fact it is vital! 

With Thanks to cityfarmer.org

A. CONTAINER -

• wood or plastic, wood is better for moisture absorbtion
• depending on household food waste - one square foot per one pound of waste
• drill holes in the bottom of a bin and raise it above a tray to hold excess liquid (compost tea, which is good for plants)
• a lid will help keep in moisture and bad smells 

B. BEDDING

• shredded newspaper and cardboard, shredded fall leaves, chopped up straw and other dead plants, seaweed, sawdust, compost and aged manure.
  
• cover the food scraps with bedding to keep the smell in!

C. WORMS

• redworms: Eisenia foetidaLumbricus rubellus T(commonly known as red wiggler, brandling, or manure worm)

How Many Worms Do I Need?

• experimentation is important here. "rule of thumb" is that 1 pound of worms can consume 1 pound of "food" per week, depending on temperature and types of food.

What Do I Feed My Worms?

• food scraps such as fruit and vegetable peels, pulverized egg shells, tea bags and coffee grounds
• NOT meats, dairy products, oily foods, and grains because of problems with smells, flies, and rodents. No glass. plastic or tin foil, please.
• AVOID fly and smell problems, always bury the food waste by pulling aside some of the bedding, dumping the waste, and then cover it up with the bedding again. Bury successive loads in different locations in the bin.

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