Composting With Red Worms or European Nightcrawlers
Worm Composting With Red Wigglers or the European Nightcrawler
Indoor composting with worms is great fun for all ages. There is NO smell and in return you get wonderful organic fertilizer, all made by these great little worms. Worms have been called ” the Intestines of the earth”. The bacteria breaks down all the organic matter, and the worms eat the bacteria. Isn’t it great that we could keep all our organic waste out of the land fills, and in turn we get all the fertilizer we need to grow our great organic food.
Since we live in the north, our bins would need to be indoors for all, or part, of the year. As far as bins, there are a lot of options available at our finger tips, from rubber made containers to old wash tubs. The more surface area the better, as long as there is a lid to keep the worms in the bin. There are a couple of breeds of composting worms that can be used here in the north. One breed is called the red wiggler (Eisenia fetida), this little red worm is the most popular composting worm in the world. The other breed is the European nightcrawler (Eisenia hortensis) that is fast making a name for itself as a great composting worm and as fishing bait. Both these breeds require NO refrigeration. If you make a bin with the European nightcrawler, you will have an endless supply of bait worms for fishing.
This is a handful of European Nightcrawlers.
When setting up a worm bin; First decide on the kind of bin of your choice. It will need a lid to help keep your worms within the bin. You will need to have some air flow, but not too much. Too much airflow will dry the bin out too fast. We have drilled holes about 1/8 ” in diameter so that the worms do not crawl out. Start with a small amount of holes that would be good. Remember you can add more if it looks necessary. This takes alot of observing at first. When buying plastic bins (recyclable ones are most ideal for the environment), you can often find bins which already contain holes.
Next you can add bedding to your worms new home. Get a bin ready before buying your worms. This will make it easier and food scrapes can start decaying and becoming food before they arrive. Add some food scrapes, in different sections of the bin. Then add the shredded paper on top. Before you add the paper, will need to soak it in some water and wring it out by hand. You should be able to squeeze hard and only get 2 or 3 drops of water out of it. If there is more, then it is too wet. Then spread it all over the bin. Fill it about half full. Always put the scrape food underneath the bedding, this will keep any odour of the decaying foods from escaping. Once the worms eat all the remains of the food it will then become odourless. Burrying the food will also help the scrapes to heat up and rot faster. I suggest using small portions of different types of food at first, to experiment and observe how fast the worms eat the food and how much to put in the bin. Once you have observed the bins enough you will know just by looking. You get to know your worms just like getting to know any pets diet. There is lots of learning as you go, but it is fun!
Time to add your worms. Find a reputable supplier and start with at least half a pound, or a pound of worms. When they arrive add them to your bin. The arrival is the fun part, especially when you are waiting for them to come. Leave the lid on when not observing. Leaving a light on in the room will help to settle them down into the bedding. Some worms will crawl up the sides. That is alright, do not worry. Worms will stay in the bin, as they don’t like light for long periods of time. They may just want to explore their new environment.
Taking care of the conditions of a worm bin environment is alot like taking care of a plant or a pet. If you notice it is too wet add more dry shredded paper so that it is damp not wet, or add a spritz of water from a water bottle when it is too dry. Add food to bin as it is getting eaten. The more variety the better, and given at different intervals. This gives the worms a good food supply and choice. The bacteria will produce faster in some areas than others and leaves them with a constant supply of food. Shredded cardboard is a great thing to add to the bin, just rip it up into many small pieces.
Egg shells will help the worm in digesting it’s food, as they have no teeth. So,dry and then crush egg shells into your bin in fine bits. Add things like fruit and vegetable food waste, such as banana peels, apple cores, potato skins, grains( including rice, stale cereal), tea bags, coffee filters, and coffee/tea grounds. Do NOT add things like onions, acidic fruit (eg.oranges, lemons), meat or poultry, bones, milk or milk products (no chesse,yogurt,etc.), or anything that is not organic(eg. plastic, cans, glass, cleaners). When you become more experienced in vermicomposting you may add SMALL amounts of acidic fruit.
Now you are ready to help keep the earth green. After everything is turned into worm castings (poop) in about 4-6 months, it can be used to fertillize your soil for house plants, garden crop and for starting your seeds. You may want to make a big drum of worm tea for your garden or your lawn. This could be done by adding water in a large container, or barrel, and soaking a bag of castings in it, for 2 days. Using an aerator (like a fish Bubbler for instance) will help the microbial count (which is better for your plants) is a bonus and will further develop the growth of your plants. Applying this to each plant from a watering can is easy. Worm tea will improve the growth of small trees, flowers and shrubs, vegetable gardens and house plants.
For starting seeds, a teaspoon of vermicompost castings added to each hole with the seed is a great boost to the plant. This will ensure all the nutrients needed for good growth along with a sufficient amount of water on a regular basis. If you want, experiment in the garden with the vermicompost. Plant seeds with it and some seeds without. Compare the difference. We find the extra experiments add some more excitement with watching the garden grow.
For house plants, you may want to top dress the vermicompost or use worm tea. You may also want to do this for trees and shrubs or in your garden. A gardeners choice. Whatever works best for each person.
You now have a good idea how to start this project. The Friendly Worm Guy
Written by Jeff on March 2nd, 2008 with
2 comments.
Read more articles on Composting with composting worms and Worm Stories.
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#1. March 3rd, 2008, at 3:38 PM.
I’m learning to vermicompost so I can give away kits at Muskogee’s Earth Day Celebration.
You just gave me the information I needed to improve my vermicompost project.
Thanks so much.
Martha