Vermiculture for the Permaculturist or, How To Set Up A Worm Composting System By Nancy Shannon January 2015

What is vermiculture? Vermiculture is the raising of worms. Vermicomposting is using worms and microorganisms to produce nutrient-rich humus from organic waste.

Why vermicomposting? Turn kitchen scraps into food for your houseplants and garden Reduce landfill Raise worms for fun and profit – Worm castings – Bait Large scale applications

NPR: “One airports trash is 2 million worms treasure” million-worms-treasure

Pedal to Petal

Home vermicomposting systems (“worm bins”) Purchased or homemade Located: – Under the sink – In the basement – Indoor/outdoor depending on the season – Piece of furniture

Small bin under the sink

Large bin outdoors or in the basement

Disguised as a piece of furniture ,00.html

Worms Composting Worms **Red wigglers** European night crawlers Tunneling worms Common garden earthworms

Red Wigglers (Eisenia fetida)

What worms need to thrive Moist bedding Good air circulation Comfortable temperature (optimal 68 to 77 degrees) Food Grit

Bins Wood or plastic Lots of surface area (one square foot per pound of garbage per week) Well-ventilated

Bedding Shredded newspaper Coconut fiber Peat moss Composted manure Moist, not wet-- approximately 75% moisture content Add a little soil to provide grit

Food Waste Okay Vegetables Fruits Grains and grain products Coffee grounds, tea bags Egg shells Careful with these Meats and bones Dairy Citrus fruits

References Apelhof, Mary. Worms Eat My Garbage, second edition. Kalamazoo, MI: Flowerfield Enterprises, LLC, Comprehensive illustrated book that’s also entertaining U-LUA&list=PLL-ewab6SFFd6GyMY- Jbms8FSM7dlxbvg&index=1 U-LUA&list=PLL-ewab6SFFd6GyMY- Jbms8FSM7dlxbvg&index=1 – Series of 7 videos by Larry Hall