Vermicomposting

Presentation by MacKenzie Nold and Jessica Connell

from Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful

What is Vermicomposting?

• Vermicomposting?

– The use of earthworms to aerate soil and convert organic matter into compost.

• What is Compost?

Composting

• Decomposition of plants and other once-living material.

• Nature’s Recycling process

What about the Worms?• What do we

already know about worms?– Where do they

live?– What do they

eat?– What do they

have to do with composting?

Let’s see if you’re right…The Truth about Red Worms

– Red Worms live in the soil.– Red Worms are decomposers that

break down organic material into rich soil that is full of nutrients.

– What do they eat? Organic Material?• Potato peelings, carrots, lettuce, cabbage,

celery, apple peelings, banana peels, orange rinds, grapefruit, cornmeal, oatmeal, crushed eggshells, coffee grounds with the filter, tea bags…

Worms and Composting

1. Worms help to deliver Nutrients and Vitamins to the soil by eating organic material and breaking it down into rich Compost.

2. Worms Aerate the soil as they make their way through the land.

• Aerate = Worms tunnel through the soil which allows air to circulate through the soil.

• Why is it important for air to circulate through the soil?

• DECOMPOSTITION requires AIR!• Breaking things down!

Let’s take a closer look at how Worms tunnel through soil…

• Take a look at the Worm-Tunnel Jar!• What do you see?• Why is this good for the soil?

Parts of a Worm

• Worms are broken up into Segments.– Adult worms have 120-170 segments.

• Worms have Setae on each segment.– Setae are tiny hairs that allow the worm to feel and move through

the soil. • WORM PARTS ACTIVITY and WORKSHEET

Fun Worm Facts• Worms have No Arms, Legs, or Eyes.• There are over 2,700 kinds of

Earthworms.• In One Acre of Land, there can be over

1 million Earthworms!• The largest earthworm ever found was

in South Africa and measured 22 feet from its nose to the tip of its tail.

• Worms are Cold-blooded animals.• Worms can grow a new tail, but not

grow a new head if they are cut off.• If a worm’s skin dries out, it will die.

Making your own Vermicomposter

• What do you need?– Two Plastic Bins– One Lid for the Bins– Soil– A few dozen Red Worms to begin with– Left over food for your worms!

• Fruit, veggies, coffee grounds

– Newspaper– Water to spray in the Vermicomposter to keep it

moist, but NOT WET. – A tool to poke holes into the Lid.

Let’s do it Together!

Things to Remember!

• What types of food should you NOT put in your vermicomposter?– Meat, Bones, Fatty Food Wastes, Chemically treated

Woods and Plants, Human or Pet Waste…

• Keep the Soil MOIST but NOT WET.• Feed your worms in certain sections.

– Change sections each week to get the worms to move throughout the ENTIRE bin.

• Worms are not gross or dangerous, they help to create the soil that is great for our gardens and crops!