1. Vermicomposting
Wendy Hanson Mazet

2. What is Vermicomposting?
•Utilizing worms and microorganisms to convert
organic waste into a nutrient-rich humus like material
known as vermicompost (worm castings).
•Vermicompost does not need to be turned because
worms "turn" the organic matter in their digestive tract,
eliminating work for gardeners.

3. Why do worm composting?
• Easy winter composting
• Great teaching tool for the family
and kids
• Manageable size
• Great for people with small yards or
not yards
• New kind of pet….
• Worm castings are fantastic
compost!
• No screening needed and a small
amount goes a long way

4. Earthworms
• 3000 species of earthworms worldwide
• Common Species for us
• Lumbricus terrestis – Night crawler
• Lumbricus rubellus – Red worm, Manure Worm
• Eisenia fetida - Red Wiggler, Manure Worm,
Tiger Worm

5. The garden 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.

6. Vermicomposting
Characteristics of the Red Wiggler
(Eisenia fetida)
• Can consume 50 to 80% of it’s weight of food per day
• Requires 70% moisture – to breath
• Temperature – 60 - 80 Degree F
• Acidity – pH 6 – pH 8
• Aeration – Good ventilation and drainage
• Bedding and Food Pistils Nursery
• Surface area
• Darkness

7. Vermi Reproduction
• Yes, the are hermaphrodites, but they are not self-fertlizing
• Worms are asexual (do not need a partner)
but as a rule they do use a partner.
• Mutual exchange of sperm
• Fertilize in cocoons
– 4 eggs per cocoon
– Egg incubate about 3 weeks
Katemessner.com

8. Worm Bin necessities
• Must be convenient
• Easily accessed
• Well-ventilated
• Covered and protected
from wind, sun, and
animals
• Must staff with in the safe
temperatures for worm
health (60 – 65 degrees
Fahrenheit)

9. Worm Bins
• Size
– What do you need?
• Track your food waste for a week
• You need 1 square foot of surface per pound of
waste
• Example:
– 5 pounds food waste = 5 square
feet of surface needed
– Bin should measure 1’ x 2’ x 3’
(6 square feet) Trinity Ranch

10. Vermicomposting
Home Made

11. The Wald Effect

12. Queenlee
Coupons
• YOU’LL NEED:
• Red worms – about
one pound
• Two (2) 8-10 gallon
Rubbermaid totes
• Power Drill
• A couple good size
rocks or wood
pieces for spacing
• Newspaper and
cardboard

13. Can-O-Worms
• Most popular
• Enclosed tier system
• Easily moved
• Bottom catch tray and
spigot
• Stackable mesh trays
• Worms migrate vertically
• Easy to harvest castings

14. More Bins
Worm Factory Tumbleweed Worm Cafe VermiHut Worm
Compost Bin

15. Vermicomposting
Outside
Red wigglers – can not tolerate temperatures below 40
degrees Fahrenheit and will die if temperature become
hotter than 90 degrees Fahrenheit

16. Care…..

17. Tips
• Food – provide a variety
• Bury foodstock under bedding
• Don’t overload the system
• Keep thinking like an
outdoor system
• maintain a safe
Carbon to Nitrogen
ration

18. What to feed worms
- (No meat, dairy products or oils and fats)
- veggie and fruit scraps
- Bread and grains
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Tea bags
- Experiment and monitor what your worms like, they are
finicky. Many times they may not eat:
- citrus fruits
- Eggplant
- Avocado skins

19. The Do’s The Don’ts
• Fruit & (non greasy) • Orange peels (can be
Vegetable scraps toxic)
• Banana peels • Plant cuttings treated with
• Grains & cereals, clean herbicides or insecticides
pastas • Meats
• Tea bags & leaves • Dairy products
• Cooked eggs & Shells • Foods coated with oils or
• Coffee grounds & filters fatty high acid solutions
• Potatoes
• Breads
• Leaves
• Plant clippings

20. Trouble Shooting
Symptoms Problems Solution
Worms are dying Not enough food Bury the food in bedding
Too dry Moisten until slightly damp
Too wet Add bedding
Too hot Put bin in shade
Bedding is eaten Harvest worm compost,
add fresh bedding
Bin smells rotten Not enough air circulation Add fresh bedding
Non-compostables present Remove rotting materials,
etc.
Flies in bin Food exposed Secure lid, cover food
scraps with bedding, cover
worms and bedding with
plastic sheet.

21. Vermicomposting
Castings ( worm poop)
• 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
• 1 ½ times more calcium than found in good
top soil
Good stuff !!

22. Thank You
As little as 5% worm castings
added to plants can increase there First with 0% worm castings
vigor and flowering. Plants on left added as well as two additional
without. Plants on right with. bins with 10 and 20% worm
WormsEct
castings. (WSU)

23. Vermicomposting
Resources
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’
The Eathworm Book: How to Raise and Use Earthworms
for Your Farm and Garden, by Jerry Minnich
Worm Digest
www.wormbigest.org
The Compost Resource Page
www.oldgrowth.org/compost