1. Vermicomposting: Letting worms do the dirty work
Anne Kolaczyk
Purdue University Master Gardener

2. Vermicomposting
Composting worms eat decaying organic matter and turn it into worm castings (worm feces). The result is vermicompost, a mixture of worm castings and composted material such as the bedding in bin.

3. Why do it Ecologically responsible Saves you money Worms for fishing
Reduce waste in landfills and sewage treatment plants
Provides valuable additives for your plants
Saves you money
Worms for fishing
Cost efficient

4. Composting bins
Ready made
Layers
Drainage
Homemade
Depth
Surface area

5. Getting Started
Bin
Style
Moisture control
Aeration

6. Bedding
Cardboard
Newspaper
Coconut fiber
Old leaves
Wood chips

7. Seeding Need a microbial rich substance to start the bin off.
Compost
Vermicompost
Manure
Dirt
Nothing too fresh though! You don’t want to generate heat from the seeding substance.

8. Worms Not all worms are equal! Redworms Eisenia foetida
Composters, not earthworkers
Redworms Eisenia foetida
Full density is 1 lb per sq ft of surface area

9. Worms, worms Worms become mature at 10 weeks
Will produce 2 to 3 cocoons a week
Each cocoon holds 2-5 babies
Cocoons take 3 weeks to hatch

10. And more worms
In 6 months, 8 worms will multiply into 1500 if conditions are right
They will stop breeding if there is not enough food or space.

11. Food scraps
1/2 lb of food per sq ft of surface area (assuming full worm density) per day
kind
Vegetable scraps
Egg shells
Coffee grounds
Bread
Plant waste
No meat or bones
No pet waste

12. Second course
Worms eat the microbes that feed on the decaying food, not the food itself.
Food won’t attract them until it starts to spoil.
Consider pre-composting food

13. Yum, yum: week 1
A shell of a watermelon added to the bin

14. Yum, yum: week 2
That same shell after 10 days

15. Yum, yum: week 3
Same shell after 20 days

16. Care
Add food
Maintain moisture
Harvest castings

17. Harvesting Methods For compost and restocking For compost only
Hand Sort
Halving
Bag trap
For compost only
Dumping
For fishing worms
Hand sort and remove largest

18. Points to remember
Composting worms don’t do well out in your garden unless your soil is rich in humus. They need compost for food!

19. Inside or outside? Inside: Outside Space limitations Bugs Smell
Weather
Animals
Size

20. Outside for me I bought a Rubbermaid deck bin. Holds 10 cubic feet.
Placed on north side of house where it got very little sun.
Positioned near electrical outlet.

21. Preparation Assembled bin Placed on styrofoam insulation sheet
Drilled holes in sides for ventilation
Covered holes with screening using glue gun to keep out bees

22. Winterizing
Place large covered bucket or container in middle of bin. Fill 2/3 with water.
Put birdbath heater into water. Cut hole in cover for the cord. If extension cord is needed to reach outlet, wrap joint securely with plastic.
Fill worm bin with bedding so it almost reaches top.
Wrap sides with sheets of styrofoam insulation.
Cut piece of foam insulation to lay on top of bedding.
When temperature falls below freezing, plug in heater. It should create a core that is not frozen where the worms will gather.

23. Winter feeding
They should keep eating
Less amount perhaps

24. What makes worms THRIVE?
T temperature
H H2O
R recycle organics
I invertebrates
V ventilation
E environment and pH

25. What makes worms CRAWL? C change of habitat R rain A absence of air
W water
L lack of food

26. Let’s get real Concerns Solutions Worms in the house
They stay put, honest!
Bugs, extraneous
Fruit Flies
Soldier Fly Larvae
Slugs
Freeze scraps
Bury in bedding
Vinega or wine traps
Don’t bring in yard waste
Bugs, part of process
Spiders
Mites
Micro-organisms
They help the decomposition process. No way to eliminate them, but they stay with the composting material.
Wear gloves if they bother you.
Mold
May mean bin needs better aeration.
Won’t hurt process or worms.

27. More reality Concerns Solutions Mushrooms Come from wood chip bedding.
Just bury into bedding.
Smell
Properly maintained bin has little smell.
Stop feeding for a week.
Change some of the bedding.
Remove uneaten food.
Time
Except for harvesting, it takes less than 1/2 hour per week
Children/Pets
Great learning tool for kids.
Closed bins keep pets out.

28. Uses On house plants In outdoor gardens Very high in nutrients
Compost tea

29. Let’s compare — Bin composting Vermicomposting Space limitations
No outdoor space available —
Large quantity of waste to compost
Limited time to spend
Pathogen control
Ewww! factor
Ecologically responsible

30. Just do it!