I ’ve Got Worms!and that’s a Good
Thing!
Why Compost ? Why Compost ?
Approximately 70% of the garbage we send to the landfill could be food for worms (organic waste)
It’s a good source of nutrients for your garden
Save money on fertilizers
ResourcesResources Renewable resource = things that don’t run out
or that can be replaced or re-grown
Nonrenewable resource = non-living things that don’t re-grow and there are fixed amounts.
When they are gone we can’t make more.
StewardshipWe are responsible for the resources
in our world
Home composting food scraps eliminates the need to spend non-renewable resources:
Vehicles to pick it up
Space to sort it
Fuel to transport it
Land to bury it
Decompose (Decay, Rot)
Compose = to make or form by combining things, parts, or elements
Decompose = to separate into constituent parts or elements
Food scraps decompose in a compost system leaving a collection of plant nutrients that can be used again to benefit more plants and grow more food. Nitrogen
Sulfur Phosphorus PotassiumIron
Calcium
From Garbage From Garbage to Fertilizer!to Fertilizer!
Close the loop!Close the loop!
What comes from What comes from the earth the earth
can go back to the earth.can go back to the earth.
The Original The Original Master Composter/Recycler!Master Composter/Recycler!
Worms get their nutrition from decomposing organic material and the microbes - bacteria and fungi –that grow in compost
Vermicomposting
Use worm castings to enhance soil by RECYCLING nutrients.
Worms do it best!Worms do it best!
Close the loop Close the loop
using natureusing nature’’s model.s model.
Darwin never met a worm he Darwin never met a worm he didndidn’’t like …t like …
No civilization without No civilization without worms??worms??
How hard does an earth worm How hard does an earth worm
work? Check out these amazing work? Check out these amazing
facts …facts …
Scientist say that if you were to pile up all of the topsoil that worms have made over the past million years in one place, it would be five times as tall as Mount Everest.
WOW!
Can you imagine being buried under a mountain of dead leaves and organic waste? Earthworms spend their entire lives breaking down this organic matter, so if we lived in a world without worms, we would be living under a mountain of waste.
Why Worms?Why Worms?
Recycle kitchen scraps
Suited to apartments and households
Castings are great
for plants
Worms can eat ½ their weight in scraps daily
ItIt’’s fun and great s fun and great science for children!science for children!
Let’s first take a look at worms in general …
Kinds of WormsKinds of Worms
More than
4000 species of earthworms
Very diverse group
Wow!Wow!
Queensland Turquoise Earthworm
YUCK!!!!!
Oh my!Oh my!
Giant Australian Earthworm
Found in WashingtonFound in Washington
Giant Palouse Earthworm, Driloleirus americanus Large, pinkish-white earthworm up to 3 feet long! Researchers say it spits saliva that smells like lilies when handled! Noted in late 1800’s as numerous in the PalouseThreatened by habitat loss (Palouse bunchgrass prairie) During summer droughts, the worms dug burrows as deep as 15 feet
Kinds of WormsKinds of WormsEarthworms are divided into 3 categories,
based on the soil layer they live in.
based NightcrawlersNightcrawlers go go deepdeep
Compost worms live in Compost worms live in leaf litter and top layersleaf litter and top layers
Earth workers -- sidewaysEarth workers -- sideways
Anecic Worms (Nightcrawlers)Anecic Worms (Nightcrawlers)Lumbricus terrestrisLumbricus terrestris
Deep permanent burrows, up to 4 – 6’ deep Cycle HUGE amounts of organic material deep into soil Coat burrow w/ mucus, recognize own burrow! Anchor with tail and forage in a circle Won’t reproduce in a bin
Endogeic Worms Endogeic Worms (Earth workers)(Earth workers)
Live in the top 12 inches of soil -rarely come to the surface
Create extensive horizontal burrows in upper layers of soil
Feed on mineral soil particles and decayed organic matter
Aerate and mix soil
Epigeic WormsEpigeic WormsYour Worm- The Red WrigglerYour Worm- The Red Wriggler
Live in forest litter, duff, loose topsoil layer
Build no permanent burrows
Reproduce rapidly
Eisenia fetida Red wiggler
Tiger worm
Manure worm
Fish worm
Your Worms’ Needs
1. Water (Moisture)
2. Air
3. Decaying organic matter (food scraps)
4. Darkness, quiet
5. The right temperature
Moisture and AirMoisture and Air A worm’s body is 70- 90 water
They breath through their skin
Water standing in the bin can reduce available oxygen- anaerobic conditions AaK! Gasp!
The worms will drown too much water.
Earthworms and LightEarthworms and Light
Worms don’t like light
Your Worms and Your Worms and TemperatureTemperature
Worms feed most rapidly and convert food waste best at temperature between 60-78°
They like same temps we like!
If the bin freezes, or gets too hot in the summer, the worms will die
ClimateClimate The worms need to be kept between 50 and 80
degrees to continue to feed on your garbage.
The worms may survive in the 40’s but will not survive below freezing temperature.
The worms are also at risk of dying at temperatures above 86 degrees.
Obviously this means that your worm bin may need to be moved during different seasons.
A perfect place for the bin is in the basement, laundry room or in the kitchen during extreme temperatures.
A Comfortable Worm Bin A Comfortable Worm Bin Has it All!Has it All!
Bedding moistened to provide air and water
The lid keeps it dark
A cool/warm place With yummy food
scraps to eat Lots of microbes
for company
Earthworms have 5 Earthworms have 5 heartshearts
Well, not really hearts, but enlarged blood Well, not really hearts, but enlarged blood
vessels.vessels.
How Earthworms MoveHow Earthworms Move
Using muscles -- hydrostatic
and setaeand setae
The clitellumThe clitellum
Earthworm Earthworm ReproductionReproduction
Earthworms are both boy and girl -- hermaphroditic.
Two worms join with mucus from their clitella.
Then, a cocoon forms on the clitellum of each worm. The worm backs out of the hardening cocoon which contains the egg.
Earthworm BiologyEarthworm BiologyIn about 30 days 1-5 babies will hatch from the cocoon.
They will mature in about 3 months.
How Earthworms EatHow Earthworms Eat Worms have no teeth
Gizzard, sort of like a bird
Food moves down to the crop No teeth - a flap of skin called a prostomium.Food moves down to the crop where it is stored.Food moves to the gizzard where is ground up.Creating castings (ok, its worm poop!)
Let’s Eat!!!
Can a worm be cut in half Can a worm be cut in half and survive?and survive?
So, you know you need
red wigglers, but how
many?•Some vermiculture experts recommend a 1-1 ratio—one worm for every pound of garbage.
•Mary Appelhof, also know as the Worm Woman, and author of Worms Eat My Garbage, recommends two pounds of worms for every pound of garbage.
Feeding Your WormsFeeding Your Worms
Yum! Red worms like to eat decaying organic matter, they also eat the little bacteria and fungi that live in the compost with them …
Red worms eat ½ their weight per day.
One pound of worms will eat ½ pound of food per day.
Worm DeliWorm Deli Yummy Fruit Peeling Vegetable Peelings Egg shells Coffee grounds
(including filter) Tea bags
(string, staple and all) Bread Lettuce Watermelon rinds Banana peels
Yucky Bones Mayonnaise Salad Dressing Meat Cheese Butter Oil
Open a hole in bedding in a corner
and deposit food…
Feed from a different corner
each time…
Voila! Finished vermicompost in 3-4 months
How to HarvestHow to Harvest
Dump and sort
Screen method- plastic mesh
Vertical or horizontal migration method
Dump and Sort
Dump and separate in light method
Remove your gentle friends from the bedding and start again
Drain Drain ““compost teacompost tea”” and and dilute for houseplantsdilute for houseplants
Worm TeaWorm Tea Fill 1 gallon bucket with water
Let it sit overnight
Dissolve 1 cup of worm castings in water
Stir thoroughly
Let sit 12 – 36 hours
Apply tea to plants with watering can
Best to use tea right away
Worm Castings Worm Castings
Mix with soil to aid plant growthTry a handful in the bottom of hole when transplanting Add in with seed starting mix
The Finished ProductThe Finished Product
Worm castings - the manure of the earthworm - RICH STUFF!
Contains humus, a complex mixture of nutrients stored in a form that is readily available to plants.
Stimulates plant growth
Helps control harmful pathogens, bacteria and fungi
A valuable resource -- use it selectively and sparingly.
Other Harmless Critters in the Other Harmless Critters in the BinBin
Fruit flies come on the peel or rind of fruit. You can avoid them by freezing the peels, or putting wet newspaper on top.
Other decomposers you might see: potworms, springtails, black soldier fly larve, mold, rolypolys
Pot Worms
Mold and Fungi
Springtails
Fruit Flies
Mites
Pillbug/Sowbug
Soldierfly larvae
Avoid the problem…
Cover bin
Don’t overfeed
Bury food
Cut food up
Control moisture & acidity
Fruit Fruit Flies?Flies?
Get rid of them… Vinegar trap Vacuum bin When all else
fails, change bedding
Too much food
Not enough air
Too wet
Too acidic
Stinky foods
Wrong food: no meat, dairy or oily foods
ODORS?
Carrot Growth Study:Carrot Growth Study:
Incorporated 20% vermicompost into the propagation media
Calcium, Nitrogen, Phosphorous
Closing the LoopClosing the LoopCastings are like concentrated plant fertilizer
Sprinkle some in the row when planting seeds
Add a handful to the hole when transplanting young plants (2 tablespoons per 4” pot,
1/4 - 1/2 cup for one gallon transplants)
Mix into the top soil of potted plants
Work it into the soil during the growing season
Don’t let it dry out!
Lets make a worm binLets make a worm bin
Questions?
Now You Are Ready Now You Are Ready
Sources for more information:
www.urbanwormgirl.com www.theunitygardens.blogspot.com http://earthdaysbcsc.weebly.com
Top Related