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

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

3. 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

4. NPR: “One airports trash is 2 million worms treasure” http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/12/20/167529920/one-airports-trash-is-2- million-worms-treasure

5. Pedal to Petal www.pedaltopetal.com

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

7. Small bin under the sink

8. Large bin outdoors or in the basement

9. Disguised as a piece of furniture http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20 796654,00.html

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

11. Red Wigglers (Eisenia fetida)

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

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

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

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

17. References Apelhof, Mary. Worms Eat My Garbage, second edition. Kalamazoo, MI: Flowerfield Enterprises, LLC, 1997. --Comprehensive illustrated book that’s also entertaining https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dxMdH U-LUA&list=PLL-ewab6SFFd6GyMY- Jbms8FSM7dlxbvg&index=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dxMdH U-LUA&list=PLL-ewab6SFFd6GyMY- Jbms8FSM7dlxbvg&index=1 – Series of 7 videos by Larry Hall