Trail to Earth Day #9: Composting with worms
A garden in early spring. This bed needs compost!
The Trail to Earth Day, a series of simple tips to help the environment (with music at the end), will run through the 50th Earth Day, April 22. We’d be happy to send you one a day via text. Sign up here.
April 9, 2020 — This series is based on suggestions that we solicited from Connecticut Audubon staff. Osprey Nation coordinator Paige Heins responded: “I have been vermicomposting for years and know a bit about gardening so I would be happy to help if needed with that.”
We took her up on it. Here’s what she wrote (pro tip: don’t drink the tea):
Vermicomposting is composting utilizing worms. The root vermi- refers to worm, but you may also recognize that root from the worm shaped pasta vermicelli. The variety of worm I use is red wiggler. Red wigglers are ideal composting worms. These worms flourish in small spaces and do not burrow. Red wigglers can process half their weight in composting material a day. This means that two pounds of worms can break down one pound of household scraps a day.
The material you put into your bin is important. This will determine the quality of the compost you can provide to your gardens.
You want to add an equal amount of “greens” and “browns.” Greens are food scraps and items high in nitrogen. Browns are scraps such as junk mail or coffee filters; these items are high in carbon. You should not vermicompost with meat, dairy, citrus, onions, or garlic. These items are not good for the heath of worms, promote bad bacteria growth, or produce bad compost for your plants. Having an unbalanced compost bin may also contribute to greenhouse gasses as the material decomposes. I have used an indoor worm bin that has no odor because it is well balanced. This bin also produces worm tea, which is a nutrient rich liquid used to fertilize plants.
When the scraps are fully decomposed you will have successfully made compost. This can be distributed throughout your garden or house plants to establish healthy soil.
There are three main types of compost piles or bins.
If you have a traditional compost pile you will want to routinely turn the pile of compost to monitor the decomposition. When it looks uniform, take the compost and distribute it into your garden. Vermicomposters will want to do their best to retain a significant portion of worms so they can continue processing compost.
Using a worm bin makes it easier to retain the worms. I have one from Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm. I have ordered a few worm shipments over the years and have always had happy healthy worms. You can buy the worms in various quantities.
My specific bin works to separate finished compost and worm tea, and has an active feeding layer. The worms will vacate the section of the bin that has been processed. You can remove that whole section and spread that compost around your plants.
The worm tea flows from a spigot on the bin. Add it to your watering can and use as a natural fertilizer.
I have also seen folks use plastic storage bins with lids as worm bins. These work well but it is necessary to monitor the moisture in these bins. It is good to drill holes in the tub for ventilation or drainage.
I source my red wigglers from Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm. I have ordered a few worm shipments over the years and have always had happy healthy worms. You can buy the worms in various quantities.
Afternoon Tea:
