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Organic is widely becoming the most desirable way to garden and eat food. Using an organic fertilizer relieves the stress of worrying about chemicals contaminating your vegetables and fruits. One organic fertilizer is worm excretion or Vermiculture. Using worm compost will bring you a hardy, healthy crop. Here are the simple steps needed to create your own worm compost.

Purchase a Container

The most recommended material for a worm compost container is wood as it absorbs moisture and insulates the worms. However, there are some who prefer a rectangular plastic container, although these tend to make the compost soggy. The optimum size for your container is eight to twelve inches deep.

Aerate the bottom

It is important to drill holes at least two inches apart all across the bottom of your container. If you are using a plastic container, it will need several addition holes. Once your holes are drilled, place the container on bricks to lift it off the ground. This will allow air flow to circulate under and through the container. It is also very important to keep a tray underneath your container in order to catch any excess moisture. This excess liquid can be used as liquid fertilizer. If you notice your compost seems extra soggy, simply add more holes to the bottom.

Line Bottom with Shredded Newspaper

To line the bottom of the container, simply shred newspaper into one inch wide strips and spray with water from a spray bottle until damp. Once this is completed, you will need to add about one cup of sand to the container. The sand assists the worms with their digestion.

Collect Kitchen Scraps

Just like home composting, you will need to start collecting your kitchen scraps about one week prior to purchasing your worms. This will be the food your worms will eat in order to excrete your compost material. It is very important that you do not use animal proteins such as meat, bones, cheese and milk as well as any oil based products like mayonnaise or salad dressings. The best food for your worms is egg shells, raw fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds and used tea bags.

Acquire Your Worms

Red worms or red wigglers are best in a compost bin because they thrive off of organic material like rotting vegetables. You will need two pounds of worms for one day each of food waste, this is around 2,000 worms.

Cover Container

When placing your container outside, a wooden board works best as it keeps the worms in darkness just as they like it while keeping the soil moist. In addition, it also prevents predators from getting in. If your container is indoors, a simple plastic lid cover will suffice.

Collect Castings from Worms

After two to four weeks, the bedding in the container will start to appear darker. By two to three months, nothing of the original bedding will be left. At this point, you can then harvest your worm castings or compost. First, simply pour the container out in piles on a tarp or old shower curtain liner. Then, shine a bright light over the piles to ensure all the worms move to the bottom. Now you can begin collecting. Scoop away all the compost until all that is left are worms. Finally, re-line the container with new bedding, add worms and some of their castings and begin again.

Rhonda Abrons is a keen organic gardening enthusiast and featured writer on Clivir.com where she shares her gardening knowledge about Organic Gardening Fertilizer and Organic Garden Fertilizer.

Topics: HEALTH | No Comments »

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