Want to give your food scraps and organic waste a new life?
Worms can help with that.
Here’s everything you oughta know about getting started with the technique.
What is vermicomposting?
Once the scraps pass through their system, they excrete it in what’s known as worm castings.
(It’s often referred to as black gold!)
It usually needs to be done outside and can be difficult when the weather turns in colder months.
Vermicomposting has more flexibility when it comes to weather and space requirements.
You cankeep your worm binanywhere where temperatures aren’t too extreme, indoors or outdoors.
“A worm bin fits easily in the corner of a room.”
Creating vermicompost is a way to repurpose organic waste instead of tossing it out.
It makes great soil.
It’s a chemical-free fertilizer.
Chemical fertilizers or pesticides can be detrimental to soil health and wildlife.
Worm castings are a safe and natural way to revitalize areas where soil has been overused or lost nutrients.
you might either buy a pre-constructed vermicompost bin or make your own using the following easy and inexpensive technique.
Yes, worm suppliers exist!
According to Randaci, over time one bang out of worm may dominate.
You shouldn’t add any animal or dairy products to the bin, either.
In addition to food waste, your worms will also eat their bedding.
“Your worm bedding is also food for worms.
You want to have a higher content of bedding than food waste,” says Randaci.
“Rotting and heat buildup can occur and even kill the worms,” adds Randaci.
Moisture can also build when you overfeed.
“Once a week is usually enough,” says Eddleston.
In between, “verify you check that they’re eating what you give them.”
What are the signs of too much moisture?
Can I do a test to check the moisture?
“If water comes out, your bin is too wet.”
Is it bad to have mold in the bin?
“But excess mold can be a sign of other problems, such as overfeeding.”
Can I vermicompost year-round?
you’re able to worm compost as long as the temperatures aren’t too cold for the worms.
“At temperatures below 60 degrees, compost production slows,” says Randaci.
“Temperatures below 40 degrees may kill your worms.”
What should I do if there are fruit flies?
Fruit fliescan become an issue with excess or rotting food.
He suggests keeping enough bedding in the bin to make it easy to bury the food waste.
“Don’t drop the scraps on the surface,” he says.
“Instead, clear a space to put them in.
Then cover them well with dirt and moist paper.”
How long until it’s possible for you to harvest the compost?
“Speed up the process by cutting up scraps into smaller pieces an inch or so in size.”
