Vermiculture, the fascinating world of worm composting, is a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to recycling organic waste and enriching soil. By harnessing the digestive power of worms, gardeners and environmental enthusiasts alike can convert their kitchen scraps into a potent fertilizer, known as vermicompost. This natural process not only reduces waste bound for the landfill but also creates a nutrient-rich addition for various types of gardens. Whether for traditional beds, innovative hugelkultur mounds, or vibrant wildflower gardens, vermicomposting is a simple yet impactful way to enhance soil vitality and support plant growth. Let’s delve into the simplicity and efficiency of this composting method and explore how it can revolutionize your gardening practices.
Many people, including myself, have an aversion to worms. They are wiggly and slimy and just plain gross. So when I was reading about worm composting bins in a book called, “Permaculture in Pots: How to Grow Food in Small Urban Spaces” by Juliet Kemp, I was surprised at my own willingness to take on the task.
I think the reason for my sudden change of heart was Kemp’s explanation of the benefits of a worm composting bin over the traditional compost bin. What really got my attention was when she said, “…Wormeries should be fairly odour-free, so you can even keep them inside if you have a suitable cupboard (p.33).” Odor-free is very appealing to me, especially now. We are planning a move and have our house for sale.
Why Have a Worm Bin
In preparation for the move, I dismantled my traditional compost bin, as it was unpleasantly smelly. I figured a potential buyer would not appreciate the smell and unsightliness of a compost bin, that is unless they are a fellow gardener. As a gardener, the problem with not composting is that you will spend more money on fertilizers. Our foodscape requires nutrition to grow and produce food. Not only for us but for our pollinator friends and other wildlife in the yard.
If you are planning to grow a garden, be it an herb garden for cooking or wellness tea blends, a foodscape to supplement your diet, or simply a wildlife garden to enjoy your backyard fur and feathered friends, you may want to set up some kind of compost system. Vermicomposting can be set up as a smaller operation for someone who wants a simple system. You may not be able to reuse all of your kitchen waste but, at least, you will keep some of it out of the landfill.
In the months that have passed, I have cringed as I threw perfectly good kitchen scraps into the garbage. This worm composting bin idea, gave me the perfect solution. It is small and hidden out of sight. The container itself is neat and tidy. In fact, it is quite discreet. Best of all, Kemp was right- it is significantly less smelly than my old compost bin.
Planning and Design
As you plan for your worm composting bin setup, consider that there are many different types of worm bins. You can buy a ready-made bin or construct your own. In this post, we describe a simple design made from large plastic tubs.
The basic design of this worm composting bin involves two bins stacked together. The top bin is for the bedding, food scraps, and worms. This bin must have air flow and drainage holes for liquid to seep through. The bottom bin is there only to catch liquid that seeps from the top bin.
There are various types of bedding you can use in the worm composting bin including straw, fall leaves, coconut coir, or my personal favorite, shredded paper. I love the idea of using shredded paper in the garden every chance I get. It’s a wonderful way to upcycle paper waste into something useful. That feels good doesn’t it?
How to Make Your Own Worm Composting Bin
Basic Structure
You will need two large plastic tubs that nest into each other. The top bin will need to have a lid and will act as the wormery. Food scraps and bedding will be placed inside for the worms to thrive. As they eat the food, they will process it into a substance called worm castings. The castings are an excellent source of nutrition for plants.
Create Ventilation
Here we are drilling holes around the top of the worm composting bin to allow air flow for our wiggly friends. This helps keep the bin from over heating which would spell disaster for the worms. By the way, keep your worm composting bin out of the direct sun if you do not want to cook your worms!
Drainage Holes
The bottom of the worm composting bin will need to have lots of holes to allow for liquid to filter through. Vermiculture enthusiasts call this “worm tea.” Dilute the worm tea with water in a sprayer and apply to potted plants as a nutrient-rich fertilizer treatment.
Drilling holes through plastic will create a raised area with plastic spurs. You don’t want that getting into your compost or worm tea so use a medium grit sandpaper to knock off those spurs.
Consider Aesthetics
We wanted the worm bin to be discreet and look tidy. This step is totally optional though. Moreover your bins may already be a solid color or perhaps you don’t care either way. Having said that, if you do wish to make your worm bins more discreet, a solid color is the way to go.
We spray painted the outermost bin using a bunch of old spray paint we had lying around. Don’t you just love using up supplies so you’re not wasting anything but also don’t have to look at a bunch of junk everywhere?
The top bin, that houses the worms, will nest inside the outer (bottom) bin. Notice the drain holes in the bottom which will allow fluid to drip into the outer bin.
Worms need Bedding
Add your worm bedding, in this case it was paper shreds. The larger the worm composting bin, the more bedding you will need. Our bin is relatively small only requiring a couple inches of bedding to start with.
Feeding Your Worms
Next, add some organic material that will act as food for your worms. Fruit and vegetable scraps, peels, rinds, etc., coffee grounds, tea bags, and egg shells are all acceptable worm food.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, worms are small. Cutting food into smaller pieces will help the worms to break it down faster, thus, keeping them healthy and cutting down on the smell. An example would be to cut a melon rind into chunks rather than throwing it in the bin whole.
Secondly, worms do not like citrus or alliums (things in the onion or garlic family). It’s best not to put these in the worm composting bin.
Soil Compost Starter
Mix in a little potting soil or garden soil to add some beneficial microbes and help start the decomposition process. Also, worms love dirt!
Water Your Worm Bin
Add some water to your bin. Even though this is vermiculture, it is still a type of compost bin and compost bins need moisture to function properly. Worms also enjoy a moist environment. Please note that the soil should not be dripping wet. If you were to grab a handful and squeeze, only a few drops of water should come out.
Sourcing Worms
Now you are ready to add your wiggly friends! Here are our red wigglers that we purchased on Ebay. For around $20.00 shipped, we received one quarter pound of worms (about 250 worms). They were a little lethargic from their initial journey, but after two weeks they are happy and healthy.
Periodically we gently turn the compost and there they are zipping around the bin. They are almost cute now…still won’t touch them with bare hands though.
Worm Composting Bin Maintenance
From time to time, you will want to add more bedding and empty the worm tea bin. Carefully turning the compost is not a bad idea either.
You will want to monitor the environment of the bin as well. Questions to ask yourself are: Is it too moist, too dry, too hot, or too cold? You can always add insulating material around the outside of the bin to keep it warm in cold weather. Conversely, you should place it in a shady spot to keep it from overheating.
In a way these are like working pets, only creepier. And pets need food right? Feeding your worms the right amount of food is important. Worms have a hearty appetite eating half their weight daily but you must be careful not to overfeed them.
How Much Do Your Worms Weigh?
Whether you purchase your worms or catch them in the wild, you should have a good idea of their weight. If you don’t know the weight, count your worms and try an online search query like: weight of 100 worms in ounces.
We bought a quarter of a pound of worms which was about 250 worms. If worms eat half their weight a day, these worms will eat an eighth of a pound per day or seven eighths in a week.
Keep in mind that worms will reproduce, adding to your population. As you see more and more wormlets in the bin, you can expect to increase the amount of food scraps you give them.
In conclusion, taking on vermiculture is an excellent step towards sustainable living, allowing you to convert your kitchen scraps into valuable compost for your garden with the help of industrious worms. It’s a simple and effective way to reduce waste and enhance your soil’s health. If you’ve followed the guidelines for creating a simple vermiculture system, you’re now on the path to becoming a proficient worm farmer. Remember, your experiences are invaluable, and sharing your journey can inspire and guide others in their eco-friendly endeavors. So, once you’ve embarked on this rewarding journey, don’t hesitate to reach out and share your stories. Happy worm farming!
References:
Kemp, Juliet. Permaculture in Pots: How to Grow Food in Small Urban Spaces. Permanent PUblications, 2014.
https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/make-worm-bin-ze0z11zhir/
So if you’re an avid fisherman, would this work for fishing worms, too?
Yes! Many people keep worms for just that purpose.