Vermicomposting Sierra Club January 12, 2005 Brian Rosa,NC Division of Pollution Prevention & Environmental Assistance Welcome to this session on Vermicomposting or worm composting. We will cover the characteristic and differences in the garden variety worms and the Red Wigglers Reproduction and life cycle Small medium and large scale worm bin/digesters, other type of worm operations and equipment. Talk about the uses of castings. And if time we will set up a small bin. Later we are going to introduce some worms into to curing pile at UNC

Vermicomposting Utilizing earth worms and microorganisms to convert organic waste into a nutrient-rich humus like material known as vermicompost (worm castings) Eisenia fetida, commonly called ‘Red Wiggler’, ‘Manure Worm’, ‘Tiger Worm’ The process of utilizing worms and microorganism to consume/convert organic waste into a nutrient-rich humus like material known as vermicompost. Actually it is worm castings or worm poop !

Vermicomposting Characteristics of garden variety worm. Knightcrawler or dew worm. ( Lumbricus terrestris). ~ Not a composter. ~ Garden variety worm are soil- dwelling species that tunnel & borrow. ~ Do not consume large volumes of organic material. ~ Will not reproduce well while being confined. ~ Live several feet below surface. ~ Feed on the surface at night. ~ Require cool (45 F) temperature. Characteristics of garden variety worm. Knightcrawler or dew worm. ( Lumbricus terrestris). ~Not a composter. ~ Garden variety worm are soil- dwelling species that tunnel & borrow. ~ Do not consume large volumes of organic material. ~ Will not reproduce well while being confined. ~ Live several feet below surface. ~ Feed on the surface at night. ~ Require cool (45 F) temperature.

Vermicomposting Characteristics of the Red Wiggler (Eisenia fetida) ~ Can consume half it’s weight of food per day ~ Requires 70% moisture – to breath ~ Temperature – 60 - 85 Degree F ~ Acidity – pH 6 – pH 8 ~ Aeration – Good ventilation and drainage ~ Bedding and Food ~ Surface area ~ Darkness ~ Can consume half it’s weight of food per day ~ Requires 70% moisture – to breath ~ Temperature – 60 - 85 Degree F ~ Acidity – pH 6 – pH 8 ~ Aeration – Good ventilation and drainage ~ Bedding and Food ~ Surface area ~ Darkness

Vermi Reproduction ~ Cocoons ~ A worm is sexually mature when they develop that band about ¼ - 1/3 the distance back from the head. This band is called the clitellum's and it contains the reproduction organs. Worms are asexual (do not need a partner)but as a rule they do use a partner. What happens is that the worms find each other, then crawl facing each other and line up the clitellum's side by side. They each excrete a mucus like substance that encompasses them both. They both will then exchange both egg and sperm into this material. After the exchange has taken place, the worms then separate and the mucus like material then starts to harden. The worms then crawl out of this material, which creates a cocoon. This cocoon is a fertilized egg sac. 3-6 weeks after being deposited in the bedding, 1 – 7 worms can hatch. Within 6 weeks of hatching those worms are capable of reproducing. Limiting factors on population growth are food source, temperature, pH, moisture and living area. Pretty much the same parameters as a adult ~ Cocoons ~

Worm Bin Types Small Scale Vermicomposting Worm Bin Types Small Scale Small woprm bins samples

Vermicomposting Home Made Home made version – drill a few holes for air and drainage Works, inexpensive – a better way would be to drill 2” holes and use 2” soffet vents

Can-O-Worms Can-o-Worms Expensive Unique ladder type system Caution about the legs and drain

Worm Friendly Bin I like this bin, great areation and drainage

The Worm Factory Same thing as the Can-o-Worm except designed to provide a worm bin that could be distributed at large bin events – simular to EM -TLS

Vermicomposting Mid-Scale Above ground bin that could be easily insulated and green house heater cables installed to maintain a comfortable environment for the worms. Manual and labor intensive to harvest. .

Vermicomposting Mid-Scale Capable of consuming about 15 Lbs of waste a day Mechanical harvesting and can be heated with a greenhouse heater cable

Vermicomposting Mid-Scale VermiScience System – U of M, An Arbor, MI – 6’ x 8’ 4’ deep – Insulated, thermostatically controlled with heaters and blowers to maintain 65 F – 85 F. Harvesting is done by a drawing a rack across the grate, which agitates the bottom castings. The castings then fall through the grate into a auger tube. The auger is then cranked to draw all the castings into a collection tub.

Vermicomposting Large Scale ~ Large Scale vermi systems are being utilized to: ~ On-Site composting of food and/or manure ~ Housing/containing the worms ~ Control and maintain the temperature and moisture ~ Mechanically harvest the castings Large Scale vermi systems are being utilized to: ~ On-Site composting of food and/or manure ~ Housing/containing the worms ~ Control and maintain the temperature and moisture ~ Mechanically harvest the castings

Vermicomposting Large Scale Benefits On-site, no transportation Staff available to operate Recycling- collection, processing & utilizing Creating a product from a waste Utilizing the castings to reduce fertilizers Reduces disposal costs Disadvantages Floor space Staff time Permitting Expensive Long Term Commitment Benefits On-site, no transportation Staff available to operate Recycling- collection, processing & utilizing Creating a product from a waste Utilizing the castings to reduce fertilizers Reduces disposal costs Disadvantages Floor space or foot print Staff time Permitting Expensive Long term Commitment

EPM Worm Wigwam Worm Wigwam I believe this unit can consume 50 – 100 Lbs Food Waste/day This particular unit is in NC Mechanical harvester

EPM Flow Through System EPM manure handling system, 4’ x 32’, capacity of about 125 Lbs per day

Vermitech Food/paper Digester Vermitech System – Metro Hall , Toronto – 150 Lbs/Day Food & Paper Several units of this size are being utilized Arnold AFB, Tellehoma, TN , moved to Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton OH College of DuPage, Glen Ellen, IL, Each of these units have stories that will make a point Long term commitment – 1 year after set up the supervisor was transferred, it too k a few months to get somebody in it’s place – that person was either too busy or not that interested. They ended up finding a new home (WP AFB) College of DuPage – no supervisor, Shamili didn't get the cafeteria involved – they refused to separate no food for the worms, Onion story 1 ½ years later the unit is in storage because of building expansion Building Permits were a problem U of M, the coordinator left just a month after the unit was installed – nobody to take over the project- sat idle for 6 months 100 Lbs of dead worms

Vermitech Project in Scotland All the vermitech systems utilize the same practices. A enclosure to house the worms, A grate to support the castings A harvesting scraper to agitate the castings – which then fall through the grate to be harvested Thermocouples to monitor the temperature and control the heater & blowers and/or a/c. Some units have a misting and spray option that maintains optimum moisture in the beds

Vermitech Grinder/Mixer Blower The grinder is the red thing on the left. When feeding food residuals and paper to worms it is recommended that the materials should be shredder and mixed. This gives bacteria more surface area to start breaking down the feedstock, speeding up the rate that the worms can consume

Worm Composting Windrows Sonoma Worm Farm, CA – Process tons of organic per day

Large Worm Screen Large scale worm screener

Small worm Screen & Diverter Smaller scale screener can 2 screen system 1st screen is 3/8” to allow particially consumed material, egg cocoons and immature worms to be seperated 2nd screen is 1/8” – 3/16” for castings only All other larger materials (overs) will then fall of the end of screen The worms tend to ride up on the bell shape housing and then hit the diverter which then scoops the worm into a collection tub

Vermicomposting Castings ( worm poop) Good stuff !! ~ Rich in plant nutrients ~ Contain a high percentage of humus ~ Biologically active containing thousands of bacteria, and enzymes ~ 5 times the available nitrogen, 7 times the available potash, and 1 ½ times more calcium than found in good top soil Good stuff !! Castings are rich in plant nutrients, high percentage of humus, biologically active and has 5 x available nitrogen, 7 x potash

Vermicomposting Castings Used in potting soil blend (10% max.) Used to inoculate soils with beneficial microbes Excellent source of beneficial bacteria, fungi, nematodes for compost tea brewing Sales potential - $ 16 per pound (2 oz pouch) $ 320 – 800 Pound tote Used in potting soil blend (10% max.) Used to inoculate soils with beneficial microbes Excellent source of beneficial bacteria, fungi, nematodes for compost tea brewing Sales potential - $ 16 per pound (2 oz pouch) $ 320 – 800 Pound tote

Vermicomposting Resources NC DENR, Div Of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance http://www.p2pays.org/compost/ Rhonda Sherman, Extension Specialist NC State University http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/sherman/ Adventures of Vermi the Worm http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Kidstuff/  Worm Woman – Mary Applehoff – Worms Eat My Garbage http://www.wormwoman.com/acatalog/index.html If you are going to handle waste in NC, you are required to have a permit. Please contact Mr Ted Lyons Div of Waste Mgt, Solid Waste 919-733-0692 Email: ted.lyon@ncmail.net