1. Vermicompost

2. What is vermicompost?
Vermicompost is the end result of worms decomposing organic matter to produce a usable fertile source of worm castings, that supply vital nutrients and beneficial microbes to soil, and plants.

3. The Red wriggler Eisenia foetida
This species has an appetite for decaying organic waste material such as vegetable, newspaper, manure, grain hull, and almost all plant matter, along with non chemically processed papers, pet hair, drier lint.
It can eat ½ of its body weight in one day.
Doubles in population in 60 days, (depends on the size of vermicomposting space.

5. Worm+composting Why? On site fertilizer/compost. Low maintenance
Rapid rate of decomposition
No loss in nutrients, to the atmosphere
No waste!

6. Food chain of vermicomposting

7. Castings, are 50 % higher in organic matter than soil that has not moved through worms.
CEC- castings create a greater amount of charge-holding surface area.
Other nutrients have the ability to attach to the organic matter that passes through the worm.
Worms digestive enzymes (also the bacteria in the worms intestines) unlock many of the chemical bonds that other wise tie up nutrients and prevent their plant availability.
Castings are 7 times richer in phosphate, 10 times the available potash, 5 times the available nitrogen, 3 times the usable magnesium,
1 ½ times higher calcium.

8. Vermicomposting and plant pathogensQ
A practical application of vermicomposting will be with greenhouse cultivation of transplants.
Do to the oxygen rich environment the worms produce, plant pathogens, and human pathogens find it difficult to survive.

9. Commercial applications
-can be used for seed bedding
-transplant mix
-organic fertilizer
-Organic disease management practices
-potential business -

10. Biostead applications
On site fertilizer
Nutrient rich organic matter
Used for greenhouse production
-transplants, raised beds, rice paddies, zero agricultural waste, zero food waste.
Compost tea
No Oder!
Low physical maintenance

11. How to Vermi farm! You need a structure to hold the worms
Worms need a moist, cool, dark environment
Hence: “Earth”-Worm..
temperatures between 55 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit and are suited to living in a worm bin
Under a kitchen sink, in a garage, in a basement, under shade outside. Underground in greenhouse.
Make sure there is enough space for the worms to reproduce.
Let them eat there meal before adding more!
Do not let them loose into your garden!

12. 1 lb. per 1000 worms
1/2 lb. of kitchen scraps/green waste/ carbon is eaten each day.
Average person in America throws .6 lbs. of food waste each day. Over 20 lbs. per month
30-40% of our food is ending up in landfills annually.

13. Making a change, is too make the system in play obsolete

14. Worms are woman/mans best friend!

15. Diverse ways of vermicomposting

17. tips Very small amounts of citrus fruits
No meat, To avoid pest problems, and rodents, and smell. Don’t waste meat, that animal will be shaking its head in the spirit world.
Egg shells are really important for adding grit to the worms digestion.
Make an effort to dry them out, and crush them before placing them into the bin.
Eggs shells help lower acidity, due to the calcium in the shells.
do not add excess applications of eggshells though. Let the worms eat the eggs shells before adding more, Add around ½ cup of eggs per month, per 1 lb. of worms. (may vary)

18. More tips
Making bedding- fill the bin ¾ the way with newspaper scraps, cardboard, coconut husk, rice hulls.
Make sure to soak the bedding before hand.
Worms eat their bedding
Avoid glossy newspaper or magazines. Only soy based ink, or other plant based colors are acceptable.