Bugs Redux: Vermicomposting (Worm Composting)

In our last post we talked about attracting bees to your garden to give your pollination efforts a boost. Today, we continue on our “insect kick” by letting you in on one of your best compost tips: vermicomposting.

Vermicomposting is the use of worms in your compost in order to speed breakdown time and increase nutrients in the finished compost. Why add worms to your compost pile? Well, because vermicomposting:

• Speeds the rate of decomposition, as the worms are eating through particles in your heap.
• Helps increase the temperature of your compost pile due to the movement of the worms, as well as the speeded decomposition.
• Increases nutrients due to worm castings (leavings).

Once you’ve gotten started on vermicomposting, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it. Here’s the quick and dirty on how to use worms in your compost heap.

Step 1: Create or Purchase a Container (or Containers)

Vermicomposting bins won’t be like your standard bins, which are normally either vertical or in a cylinder. For worms, you’ll want something more shallow, as worms feed near the top.

You can either create or purchase vermicomposting bins. Your bins should be about 12″ deep. The length will depend upon the total amount of waste you’ll be composting. A quick rule of thumb is to weigh the garbage you intend to use for your compost for one week if possible. Then provide one square foot for each pound of waste you plan to compost.

You can purchase vermicomposting bins, which will come with aeration, drainage and will be the appropriate depth for your little wrigglers. However, if you wish to make your own, keep these tips in mind:

Step 2: Provide Bedding for Your Worms

Your worms need a place to live, so provide bedding for them. The bedding should retain moisture and should also encourage the worms to thrive.

Making bedding for your vermicompost bins is easy. Fill the bins 2/3 of the way to the top with any of the following:

• shredded newspaper
• commercially prepared worm bedding
• shredded corrugated cardboard
• peat moss
• shredded paper (non-glossy)

Different worms may work well for composting, but the “gold standard” for vermicomposting is the red wiggler (Eisenia fetida), also known as the red hybrid, tiger worm or manure worm. Use about a pound of worms to each half-pound of garbage you plan to add (total) to your bins.

You can obtain worms the old-fashioned way – digging them up in your yard – or you can order them online or even try a bait store.

Step 4: Start Composting!

Add compost materials SLOWLY to your bins so as not to accidentally crush or unduly disturb your worms.