Global Worming Composting With Worms The Metropolitan Environmental Trust Shelley Umezawa

What is Vermicomposting? The process of using red wigglers and microorganism to convert food scraps into dark earthy smelling, nutrient humus.

Why Vermicoposting? Red Wigglers can consume their own weight in organic matter each day. Red Wigglers can consume their own weight in organic matter each day. Reduces household waste Reduces household waste Provides a year round composting activity for home and/or school. Provides a year round composting activity for home and/or school. Great option for apartment dweller. Great option for apartment dweller. Amazing Fertilizer – (Black Gold) Amazing Fertilizer – (Black Gold) Fun Fun

Your Worms Expect: Moderate Temperatures Moderate Temperatures 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit Moisture Moisture Breathe through their skin Breathe through their skin Ventilation Ventilation Oxygen Oxygen Darkness Darkness To keep them focused on eating and reproducing To keep them focused on eating and reproducing

Feeding Your Worms Organic Matter / Non processed food Organic Matter / Non processed food Fruits & Vegetables, Breads & Grains, Leaves and Bedding, Coffee Grounds, Egg Shells, Tea Bags Fruits & Vegetables, Breads & Grains, Leaves and Bedding, Coffee Grounds, Egg Shells, Tea Bags Food to Avoid Food to Avoid Meats, Dairy, Oils, Salty Food, Sauces, Garlic, Tomatoes, Onions, Fruit pits, Meats, Dairy, Oils, Salty Food, Sauces, Garlic, Tomatoes, Onions, Fruit pits,

Using Your Castings Enrich Potting Soil Enrich Potting Soil Transplanting Seedlings Transplanting Seedlings Worm Tea Worm Tea Fertilize Mature Shrubs and Trees Fertilize Mature Shrubs and Trees Lawn Fertilizer Lawn Fertilizer

Harvesting Worms Dump and Sort Dump and Sort Newspaper or plastic Newspaper or plastic Light Light Container for castings Container for castings Migration Migration Feeding on different sides of your worm bin Feeding on different sides of your worm bin Divide and Dump Divide and Dump Remove about 2/3 of your worm bin Remove about 2/3 of your worm bin

Reproduction Hermaphrodites Hermaphrodites They reach maturity in 2 to 3 months They reach maturity in 2 to 3 months They produce 3 or 4 Cocoons a week They produce 3 or 4 Cocoons a week Cocoons take up to 11 weeks hatch Cocoons take up to 11 weeks hatch Cocoons average 3 hatchlings each Cocoons average 3 hatchlings each

What else lives in my bin? mite centipede millipede fruit fly isopod (sowbug) springtail mold sporeswhite or pot worms