What is vermicomposting?
A. Vermicomposting is the process of feeding of earthworms with organic waste and conversion of this waste material into vermicompost – organic manure by the earthworms. It is the accelerated and controlled decomposition of organic waste, using composting worms and mesophilic bacteria active in the temperature range of 20 degC to 45 degC.
Vermicomposting is simply composting with earthworms. Earthworms speed up the composting process, aerate the organic material in the bin, and enhance the finished compost with nutrients and enzymes from their digestive tracts. The best kind of earthworms to use are red worms, also known as “red wigglers” and “manure worms”. These worms thrive in decomposing organic matter such as leaf piles, compost heaps and old manure piles. They are smaller than nightcrawlers and are reddish brown in color. Red worms are native to Europe but have become naturalized throughout the U.S. Red worms are a good indicator of fertile soil because their presence indicates high organic matter content and a lack of toxic substances in soil. Red worms make composting indoors feasible because they are very efficient processors of organic waste; they eat and expel their own weight every day. Even a small bin of red worms will yield pounds of rich compost, also known as worm castings. Finished compost can be harve
Vermicomposting is a composting technique which uses red worms to accelerate the composting process. Three to six months of vermicomposting will create thick, rich soil to spread on plants and flowerbeds, depending on the container and the amount of household scraps generated. In addition to being an excellent composting tool for regular gardeners, vermicomposting can also be undertaken in small spaces, like city apartments, and it is sometimes used as an educational tool in classrooms. The process starts with the worm box, which can vary widely in size but should always be shallow and properly aerated, so that the worms can breathe while they eat. The worm box is seeded with moistened bedding materials such as shredded newspaper, peat moss, and corrugated cardboard. A small amount of soil or sand is added to encourage digestion, along with a minimal amount of powdered limestone. Finally, the worms themselves are introduced: most vermicomposting households use Eisenia foetida or Lumbri
Vermicomposting is simply composting with earthworms. Earthworms speed up the composting process, aerate the organic material in the bin, and enhance the finished compost with nutrients and enzymes from their digestive tracts. The best kind of earthworms to use are red worms, also known as “red wigglers” and “manure worms”. These worms thrive in decomposing organic matter such as leaf piles, compost heaps and old manure piles. They are smaller than nightcrawlers and are reddish brown in color. Red worms are native to Europe but have become naturalized across the United States. Red worms are a good indicator of fertile soil because their presence indicates high organic matter content and a lack of toxic substances in soil. Red worms make composting indoors feasible because they are very efficient processors of organic waste; they eat and expel their own weight every day. Even a small bin of red worms will yield pounds of rich compost, also known as worm castings. Finished compost can be
