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    Vermicomposting Made Easy

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    Guezmenot thoughts
    Vermicomposting utilizes earthworms and microorganisms to convert organic waste into a nutrient-rich humus called vermicompost. The red wiggler worm is well-suited for vermicomposting, as it can consume half its weight in food per day, requires moisture and temperatures suitable for composting, and reproduces quickly. Vermicomposting systems range from small home bins to large-scale operations that compost food or manure waste on-site. The nutrient-rich castings produced are an excellent organic fertilizer or soil amendment.

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    Vermicomposting Made Easy

    Uploaded by

    Guezmenot thoughts
    551 views28 pages
    Vermicomposting utilizes earthworms and microorganisms to convert organic waste into a nutrient-rich humus called vermicompost. The red wiggler worm is well-suited for vermicomposting, as it can consume half its weight in food per day, requires moisture and temperatures suitable for composting, and reproduces quickly. Vermicomposting systems range from small home bins to large-scale operations that compost food or manure waste on-site. The nutrient-rich castings produced are an excellent organic fertilizer or soil amendment.

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    Vermicomposting utilizes earthworms and microorganisms to convert organic waste into a nutrient-rich humus called vermicompost. The red wiggler worm is well-suited for vermicomposting, as it can consume half its weight in food per day, requires moisture and temperatures suitable for composting, and reproduces quickly. Vermicomposting systems range from small home bins to large-scale operations that compost food or manure waste on-site. The nutrient-rich castings produced are an excellent organic fertilizer or soil amendment.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    551 views28 pages

    Vermicomposting Made Easy

    Uploaded by

    Guezmenot thoughts
    Vermicomposting utilizes earthworms and microorganisms to convert organic waste into a nutrient-rich humus called vermicompost. The red wiggler worm is well-suited for vermicomposting, as it can consume half its weight in food per day, requires moisture and temperatures suitable for composting, and reproduces quickly. Vermicomposting systems range from small home bins to large-scale operations that compost food or manure waste on-site. The nutrient-rich castings produced are an excellent organic fertilizer or soil amendment.

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    Vermicomposting

    Made Easy
    Brian Rosa,NC Division of Pollution Prevention &
    Environmental Assistance
    Vermicomposting

    •Utilizing earth worms and microorganisms to


    convert organic waste into a nutrient-rich
    humus like material known as vermicompost
    (worm castings)
    •Eisenia fetida, commonly called ‘Red
    Wiggler’, ‘Manure Worm’, ‘Tiger Worm’
    Vermicomposting
    Characteristics of garden variety 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.
    Vermicomposting
    Characteristics of the Red Wiggler
    (Eisenia fetida)

    ~ Can consume half it’s weight of food per day


    ~ Requires 70% moisture – to breath
    ~ Temperature – 60 - 85 Degree F
    ~ Acidity – pH 6 – pH 8
    ~ Aeration – Good ventilation and drainage
    ~ Bedding and Food
    ~ Surface area
    ~ Darkness
    Vermi Reproduction

    ~ Cocoons ~
    Vermicomposting

    Worm Bin Types


    Small Scale
    Vermicomposting
    Home Made
    Can-O-Worms
    Worm Friendly Bin
    Vermicomposting
    Mid-Scale
    Vermicomposting
    Mid-Scale
    The Building Formally
    Know as Parker Lincoln
    Vermicomposting
    Mid-Scale
    Vermicomposting
    Large Scale
    ~ Large Scale vermi systems are being
    utilized to:
    ~ On-Site composting of food and/or
    manure
    ~ Housing/containing the worms
    ~ Control and maintain the
    temperature and moisture
    ~ Mechanically harvest the castings
    Vermicomposting
    Large Scale
    Benefits Disadvantages
    • On-site, no transportation • Floor space
    • Staff available to operate • Staff time
    • Recycling- collection, • Permitting
    processing & utilizing • Expensive
    • Creating a product from a • Long Term Commitment
    waste
    • Utilizing the castings to
    reduce fertilizers
    • Reduces disposal costs
    EPM Worm Wigwam
    EPM Flow Through System
    Vermitech Food/paper Digester
    Worm Composting - Hog
    Waste Lagoon
    Worm Composting Windrows
    Worm Composting Windrow
    Beds
    Worm Composting – Casting
    Production
    Large Worm Screen
    Small worm Screen & Diverter
    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, and 1 ½ times more calcium than found in good
    top soil

    Good stuff !!
    Vermicomposting
    Castings

    • Used in potting soil blend (10% max.)


    • Used to inoculate soils with beneficial microbes
    • Excellent source of beneficial bacteria,
    fungi, nematodes for compost tea brewing
    • Sales potential - $ 16 per pound (2 oz pouch)
    – $ 320 – 800 Pound tote
    Vermicomposting
    Castings Utilization
    Vermicomposting
    Resources

    NC DENR, Div Of Pollution Prevention and Environmental


    Assistance
    http://www.p2pays.org/compost/

    Rhonda Sherman, Extension Specialist


    NC State University
    http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/sherman/

    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

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