Discover the two best compost worms for transforming kitchen waste into powerful plant fertilizer

Compost Home

It is called vermiculture or vermicomposting. It is, of course, the use of compost worms to create vermicast, or worm manure, in order to use it as the most nutrient rich, completely organic fertilizer or soil conditioner.

There are two types of worms most typically used, the Redworms, referred to in their Latin names as the Eisenia foetida, and the European nightcrawlers, or the Eisenia hortensis.

However, before you buy the compost worms, be aware that they will need a place to call home, which you will supply. You may, of course, purchase your vermiculture environment called bins, or you can fabricate it yourself.

If you decide to make it yourself, you can use any container made of wood or plastic. Metal containers retain heat too much and may injure your worms, and Styrofoam has been known to possibly release toxins.

Wooden bins seem to work the best, such as perhaps ones made of plywood, for example. You will need to put escape proof drainage in the bin, as well as numerous holes for aeration.

Any vermiculture bin will need a cover for a number of reasons. It will allow you to keep the direct sunlight out and also will prevent your compost from suffering through a drying out process.

The cover needs to be removable if you are going to introduce your kitchen waste in it for composting, and also in case you need to dry out the compost due to over watering.

Because Redworms are top feeders, do not bother to make your bin any deeper than 24 inches. Part of keeping your vermiculture bin aerated will be the bed of shredded newspaper, or shredded corrugated cardboard you place at the bottom, as worms also need fiber to survive. Add dirt or peat moss, and wet it thoroughly allowing it to sit about a day before adding worms.

You will sprinkle the contents of the bin every other day to give the worms water. At least once a week, you’ll need to feed them raw vegetable scraps.

They will also eat greens, such as green grass, beet and carrot tops and such. The worms also thrive on coffee grounds along with the filters, and tea bags if you remove the staple. Moldy bread is excellent food, and even some fruit peels.

Your notification that it is time to harvest your bin will be when there is no food left, and if the bedding you have provided seems to be almost completely gone.

Generally a gloved hand is used to sort out the Compost Worms and keep the rich fertilizer for use. You should then have a new bed ready for the red wigglers to renew their efficient composting.

Keep in mind that meat, greasy foods and pet feces will not be eaten and may result in a bin that smells and attracts flies. A final reminder is that you do need to keep the bin moist, and out of the sun, as your worms may be cooked, otherwise, which is a terrible waste of our friends the earthworms whose job it is to make soil richer in order to feed us!

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