Vermicomposting in New Ipswich

October 26, 7:36 AMNew Ipswich Community ExaminerJohn Poltrack

Previous Next

2 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the New Ipswich Community Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Eisenia foetida munching on newsprint

John M Poltrack

Vermicomposting is a process of using worms, especially  the "red wriggler" variety (Eisenia foetida) to decompose organic material into compost for the garden.

I became a "worm farmer" 14 years ago after seeing a worm bin in my son's science class and deciding that this might be a great way to continue my composting efforts throughout the winter months.

The Red Wrigglers will not survive a New Ipswich winter, they thrive in the temperature range of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (15 - 25 Celsius) which makes them ideally suited as a basement project.

Worm Bin:

When I started this venture in the mid nineties, I was unaware of any commercial home worm bins, so I used large plastic storage bins to house the worms. I drilled holes in the bottom of the bins and had a collection pail underneath to catch the "worm tea" which can be used as a liquid fertilizer.

After a while it became apparent that a plastic bin full of worms and compost was unwieldy because of it's weight and the difficulty of separating worms from their vermicompost.

I solved this problem by purchasing a bin called "The Worm Factory" which consisted of a stack of interlocking trays with holes that allowed worms to migrate to the upper trays as the food supply became exhausted (see slide show).

Worm Bedding:

The Worm Factory product included a Coconut coir brick which is an ideal worm bedding material. After being soaked in warm water it is distributed in the bottom of the container. Shredded newspaper and crushed dry autumn leaves (not pine needles) can also be used.

Worm Sources:

The internet is a great resource for vermicomposting information and materials. Visit the site http://www.findworms.com to locate a local seller.

Food:

Worms have food preferences. Some suggestions for food items include coffee grounds, crushed eggshells (for minerals and their gizzards), melon rinds, corn cobs (they will consume just the kernels), lettuce, dry bread slices, avocado peels, banana peels. Oil, citrus, onions, salty food and meat items should be avoided. It is important not to overfeed the worms, the excess food will simply rot and become an odor problem. A well balanced worm bin should smell like soil.  Shredded newspaper on top will keep down the fruit fly population. Non-coffee drinkers can locate coffee grounds from businesses such as Starbucks Coffee (which even provides composting information).

Harvesting:

The Worm Factory design of interlocking trays favors an upward migration of worms to the top tray. As a result the bottom tray is almost completely devoid of worms and contains the finished compost. That tray is emptied and placed on the top with fresh bedding and food. This rotation process ensures a continual production of compost.

In addition a drainage spigot allows the collection of "worm tea", a potent liquid fertilizer.

Problems:

I experienced a major die off when the bottom tray was blocked and the bedding of the working tray became waterlogged.  The herd has since recovered, but it is important to monitor the bin and avoid extremes. Too much water, too much food, too dry conditions can all be detrimental.

Interesting Fact:

The worms can be heard as they munch on their food. It's a bit creepy.