Vermicomposting? What Even is That?
Wiggle this way to learn about worm composting
You may already be aware that, here at The Worm Farm Portland, we dig worms. We think that every gardener should work with worm castings, and we support you making your own right at home. Truth is, the worms do much of the heavy lifting; all you need is a few initial supplies and a little free time to feed them and collect the garden gold they provide in return. This project is a great way for children to get involved with the home garden, as it provides hands-on education in biology, ecology, and sustainability. It’s easy to get your vermicomposting going, just follow our handy guide!
Why We Compost
Everyone can agree that organic matter belongs in the garden, not the landfill. By composting your food scraps, you are not only going to reduce the bulk of your waste, but you will save money normally spent of amendments for the garden. While we always have worm castings available for purchase in the event that you run out, we want to encourage everyone to live sustainably and do what you can to be kind to the Earth. So, turn a problem into a solution by utilizing the power of the worm to produce some garden gold! You will be surprised by just how efficient they are at what they do, and you’ll feel good too, knowing that you are contributing positively to the world around you.
Types of Worm Composting Setups
There’s a way to vermicomposting for everyone! It can be as simple as an upcycled coffee can stuck in the ground or as fancy as a pre-constructed worm hotel with multiple “floors” for the worms to occupy. Choose the setup that works with your lifestyle and budget.
Prefabricated Bins
Prefabricated bins should come with detailed instructions that guide how to operate and maintain the product. Because of this assumption, I will not be discussing prefab options in further detail. For best results, follow the instructions that came with your bin. Check that the company provides support for any issues that may arise.
DIY Freestanding Bins
A quick search on the internet or video host service will populate more DIY worm bin designs than you’d need in an entire lifetime. Some factors to consider when choosing a design are:
Durability of Materials: Wood may seem like the easy eco-conscious choice, even better if you can utilize chemical free pallet wood in your design. However, moisture from the composting process can degrade the wood over time, and will need replacement every 2-5 years. Plastic, on the other hand, is far longer lasting, and assuming you are keeping your worms out of frost and direct sunlight (like a good worm parent), you will not have to worry about replacement for at least 5 years or more.
Cost of Materials: As mentioned above, heat-treated pallet wood is both eco and econ-conscious. If you are repurposing someone else’s trash in order to turn your trash into garden gold, you have officially reached eco-warrior status. Plastic totes with a damaged handle or cracked edge are perfect for worm bin conversion. Totes, even new, can be far more affordable than a prefab unit, yet just as effective.
Tools Required for Construction: Building an attractive wood worm bin will require wood working tools, whereas plastic tote bins and coffee can in-ground setups may only need a drill with a drill bit.
In-Ground DIY Worm Composting
For in-ground DIY worm composting, the name of the game is reuse and recycle! Inground DIY setups can utilize any vessel with a removable lid that you can drill holes in. Coffee cans/tubs and the perfect size to use in garden beds, where you’ll be creating fertilizer right where you need it! Alternatively, you can use open-bottomed composting towers to host your worms, which will handle larger amounts of scraps in a single location. Note however, that these bins are designed to heat up in direct sunlight, and so should be placed out of direct sun for vermicomposting use.
The do’s and don’ts of vermicomposting
There’s no one right way to vermicomposting, though there are some “rules” you should follow in order to keep your garden friends happy and healthy.
The Do’s of vermicompost
Provide these kinds of scraps to your worms: fruit and vegetable scraps and peels; eggshells; coffee grounds, filters, and tea bags with staples removed; plain cereal, bread, and pasta; dryer lint (natural fibers only, such as cotton, linen, or wool); carbon sources such as napkins, compostable takeout containers, cardboard, and non-printed paper, all shredded or torn into small pieces.
Keep your worms out of direct sunlight, as well as protect against extreme temperatures.
Provide the worms with bedding to keep them cozy; they cannot reside in scraps alone.
The Don’t’s of vermicompost
Leave these scraps out of the vermicompost: meat, poultry, or fish (bones, skin, or drippings); oils (such as butter, salad dressing, or mayonnaise); dairy products; highly acidic or spicy foods, such as citrus (especially peels) or onions; Pet feces.
Don’t forget about your friends! Check on the worms regularly to catch issues as soon as they arise, before they have a chance to impact the health or the life entirely of your colony.
How to harvest your worm castings
To gather your worm castings and finished compost, you’ll need to separate out the worms using the sorting method. This method utilizes the worms’ aversion to light. Empty the contents of the bin onto a plastic covered table in the sun or under a bright light. Form a number of small cone-shaped piles out of the materials. Wait 20 minutes. This is a great time to clean the bin and add fresh bedding. With each mound of material, scrape the vermicompost off the top and pick out any worms that have not migrated away from the light. Mound up again and repeat the process. As the worms move down to avoid the light, they will collect at the center of the pile and you’ll be left with a pile of garden gold on one side and a mass of worms at the bottom of the original pile. Relocate the worms back in the bin with fresh bedding and begin anew the process of vermicomposting.
