Post on 19-Aug-2020
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Vermicomposting
Presented by: Barb Webb Master Gardener, Master Recycler/Composter Dakota County Fair - August 11, 2015
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MASTER GARDENERS IN DAKOTA COUNTY
Mission: Educate and assist the public by answering
questions and solving problems about horticulture and related environmental topics.
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MASTER GARDENERS IN DAKOTA COUNTY
What We Do: Extension Master Gardeners use up-to-date University information to provide education and horticulture resources by Teaching classes to youth and adults Speaking to groups Participating at community events and projects Writing articles Conducting research Answering online and telephone questions Partnering with other state and county organizations
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OVERVIEW What is vermicomposting and why do it? Getting started
– Container – Bedding – Worms – Food / Organics
Harvesting Worm Castings Troubleshooting Let’s get real Outdoor vs. Indoor Composting Questions
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VERMICOMPOSTING IS…
“using earthworms and microorganisms to convert organic waste into black, earthy-smelling, nutrient-rich humus.” - Mary Appelhof
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WHY VERMICOMPOST? Can be done year round and indoors Requires less space Not very labor intensive Faster than outdoor composting Converts kitchen scraps into a 100% plant fertilizer Worm castings are completely organic Nutrients in earthworm compost are very easily
absorbed by the roots of plants Retains water Creates a product that improves soil condition and
long term exposure to nutrients
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GETTING STARTED
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GETTING STARTED
The six components for creating a happy and healthy worm bin. Containers – Buy or DIY Bedding Worms Temperature Grit Food / Organics
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CONTAINERS - BUY OR…
Can-O-Worms
Worm Factory
Worm-A-Way
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DO IT YOURSELF
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BEDDING
Shredded Cardboard Shredded Newspaper Coconut fiber Shredded dry leaves Sawdust Shredded computer paper Wood chips
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WORMS
A worm is not a worm is not a worm! Nightcrawlers found in
backyards and in bait shops are not necessarily good composters.
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WORMS Best worms for vermicompost bins: Redworms
– aka Red wigglers Manure worm Red hybrid worm Fish worm Dung worm Brandling worm Apple pomace worm Tiger worm
Latin name is Eisenia fetida (foetida)
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WORMS Live in the top 12” of soil Can eat more than ½ their body weight in food
every day Generate 75% of body weight in
castings each day Lay one cocoon every week or so Each cocoon produces 3 to 4 baby worms Begin breeding at 4 to 6 weeks of age Worms can double population every 90 days Can live up to 2 years
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FUN FACTS ABOUT WORMS
Can worms see? Where is their mouth? Do they have teeth? How do they grind food?
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FUN FACTS ABOUT WORMS
If a worm is cut in two, will it grow back?
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BIN TEMPERATURE
A cooler bin … Stays moist Worms more active Bedding is thicker Easier to maintain
consistent conditions
Recommended: 59-77° F A warmer bin … Dries out quickly Worms more lethargic Bedding more settled Harder to maintain non-
ambient temperature Additional moisture
required
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GRIT
Rock dust Crushed Oyster shells Soil Pulverized eggshells
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ORGANICS DO’s Fruit & vegetable scraps Grains & cereals, pasta Tea bags & leaves Cooked eggs & shells Coffee grounds & filters Potatoes Pancakes Banana bread, cake Leaves Plant cuttings
DON’Ts Non-Biodegradables Bones Oily or strongly flavored
foods Pet feces (cats) Toxic materials
– Ex: orange peels – Plant cuttings treated with
herbicides or insecticides
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ORGANICS How Much? 1/2 lb of food per sq ft of surface
area (assuming full worm density) per day
The more vegetable matter and the more variety of organics, the better the worm bin
To reduce chance for fruit flies, use fruits in moderation
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ORGANICS
Use “smelly” vegetables (i.e. onions, broccoli) in moderation Bury food under bedding Don’t overload system
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HARVESTING
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HARVESTING Migration Method Photosensitivity Method Sift and Shift Free for all or Meditative Method (aka
Dump and Sort)
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HARVESTING Migration Method
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HARVESTING Photosensitivity Method
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HARVESTING Sift and shift
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HARVESTING Free for all (aka Dump and Sort)
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WORM CASTINGS
Benefits Contains 5 times more nitrogen, 7 times
for phosphorus and 11 times more potassium than ordinary soil. Rich in humic acids, which condition the
soil, have perfect PH balance and contain plant growth factors similar to seaweed.
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TROUBLESHOOTING
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TROUBLESHOOTING Fruit Flies
– Avoid putting rotten food in bin – Cut food scraps into small pieces – Don’t overfeed worms – Bury food – Keep bedding moist but not wet – Feed varied diet – Place newspaper on top of bin content – Limit citrus fruit
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TROUBLESHOOTING Odor problems
– Bin is too wet – Bin does not get enough air – Food in bin is naturally smelly – Bin contains non-compostables
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TROUBLESHOOTING Other critters in worm bin
– White worms, springtails and millipedes living in your bin are normal and won’t hurt worms.
– Centipedes do pose a threat to worms and should be removed.
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TROUBLESHOOTING Worm death
– Bin is too wet – Bin is too dry – Bin does not get enough air – Worms aren’t getting enough food – Bin is exposed to extreme temperatures
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LET’S GET REAL
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THE REALITY
Concerns Reality Worms in the house?? They stay put, honest!
Bugs, extraneous Fruit flies Soldier Fly Larvae Slugs
• Freeze scraps • Bury in bedding • Vinegar or wine traps • Don’t bring in yard waste
Bugs, part of process Spiders Mites Micro-organisms
• They help decomposition process. • No way to eliminate them but they stay
with composting material. • Wear gloves if they bother you.
Mold • May mean bin needs better aeration. • Won’t hurt process or worms.
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THE REALITY
Concerns Reality Mushrooms • Come from wood chip bedding.
• Just bury into bedding. Smell • Properly maintained bin has little smell.
• Stop feeding for a week. • Change some of the bedding. • Remove uneaten food.
Time Except for harvesting, it takes less than 15 minutes per week.
Children / Pets • Great learning tool for kids. • Closed bin keep pets out.
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OUTDOOR VS INDOOR COMPOSTING
Outdoor composting Vermicomposting
Space limitations No outdoor space available Large quantity of waste to compost
Limited time to spend Manual turn Worm Churn Time to finished product 6 – 9 mos. 3 – 6 mos Temperature 130 – 160 degrees 55 – 70 degrees Ewwwww! Factor Ecologically responsible
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QUESTIONS?
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RESOURCES University of Minnesota Extension Yard and Garden http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/index.html Purdue University Cooperative Extension www.extension.purdue.edu Apelhof, M. 1997. Worms Eat My Garbage. Flowerfield Enterprises, Kalamazoo, MI. Journey to Forever http://journeytoforever.org/compost_worm.html Master Gardeners in Dakota County www.dakotamastergardeners.org