Worm composting

You can turn your household food waste and other organic materials into rich soil fertilizers. This process is called worm composting. It is a simple process and can be done in the comforts of your home. The materials used in this process are readily available and it does not take much effort to create your own worm farm.

Why Worm composting?

Worm composting is an easy way to prepare manure or fertilizers for your plants and garden. Worms have the ability of converting food scraps and organic waste into rich soil fertilizers. A great advantage of this process is that it does not require a big back yard for a compost bin. Even apartment dwellers can compost. Also, this can be done all year round as it as this process is possible indoors as well as outdoors.

How is it done?

Just add food wastes into a container filled with moistened bedding and worms and the contents will eventually convert into valuable compost. The worms eat up the food scrap and as it passes through their body, it gets converted into compost. The worms throw out the compost as their excreta.

All you need is a wooden or plastic container, red worms, moist newspaper scraps or leaves and food waste, preferably vegetables and fruits.

Things to be taken care of while worm composting

As the process is very simple, you can create plenty of soil fertilizers for your house plants, garden or patio. Worm composing is also done by students of farming. It does not take a lot of materials and also, it is easily available.

There are few things to keep in mind to be successful while worm composting

Container:

• Preferably use a wooden container as it is more absorbent and a better insulator for the worms. It is better to use smaller containers as it would be easy to lift and move them. The size of the container depends on the amount of food waste (one pound of food waste will require one square foot of surface area).
• Drill holes depending on the size of the container (normally 8-10 holes) in the bottom of the container for air passage and drainage.
• Keep the container on bricks or wooden blocks for air circulation.

Bedding:

• Use moist newspaper shreds, cardboards or leaves.
• Make sure you moisten the bedding before use as worms require a moist area.

Worms:

• Preferably use red worms (red wigglers).
• Use 2 pounds (approx 2000) of worms for 1 pound f food waste.

Food waste:

• You can use fruits and vegetable peels, coffee grounds or tea bags.
• Avoid using meats, oily food and dairy products as it may smell and attract pests.

If you keep these things in mind, you will be successful in worm composting. Maintaining your worm bin is also very important. Add food waste after about two and a half months. Separate the worms from the compost or else the worms will die.

The easiest way is by moving finished compost to one side and placing fresh bedding in the space created. Then, put food scraps on the bedding. The worms will move to the bedding and you can skim off the finished compost.