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Vermicomposting

December 15, 2008

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Vermicomposting is a method of composting that we should really consider using in our area. During this process, red worms convert your organic waste into a usable, natural fertilizer. Vermicomposting is extremely easy and has many benefits.

vermicomposting.jpgOne major incentive to start vermicomposting is that it will help reduce the amount of garbage in landfill sites. It is estimated that each year in Canada “1/2 to 1/3 of household waste [found in landfills] is organic matter” (Cathy’s Crawly Composters, 2008). Imagine just how much waste we could keep out of landfills if more people started vermicomposting! If we all chipped in, we could be making our world a cleaner, better place.

Another advantage to vermicomposting is that organic matter is decomposed quicker than it is with regular composting. This is because the worms used for vermicomposting, known as ‘Red Wigglers’ (Eisenia foetida), “speed up the process of decomposition to produce a richer end product” (Resource Conservation Manitoba, 2008). Red Wigglers tend to stay close to the surface when they eat, which is why they are preferred for this composting process. Also, because they eat a lot, red worms can spend the majority of the day feeding and as a result can process organic waste faster.

Vermicomposting can be done indoors and outdoors, making it easy to keep up all-year round. During the summer months you may opt to keep your vermicomposter outside, as long as the worms are getting air and the temperature is fairly warm (Resource Conservation Manitoba, 2008). When winter comes along, your vermicomposter needs to be moved indoors, otherwise the Red Wigglers will not survive. Vermicomposting doesn’t produce any unpleasant odours, so moving your container of Red Wigglers indoors isn’t a problem. Vermicomposters are also extremely portable, so there is no hassle in moving it.

Before beginning your own vermicomposter, there are a few things you need to know to get you started. First, put a thin layer of bedding along the bottom of the container. Mulched paper, mulched leaves, sawdust and grass clippings all make excellent beddings and help provide the worms with an adequate living environment (Soni Cochran, 2008). Make sure to add a small amount of water to ensure that the bedding is kept moist (not drenched!). When establishing the vermicomposter, start slowly and “gradually increase the amount of food as the bin becomes established” (Soni Cochran, 2008). Most foods including vegetables and fruits can be vermicomposted. “Citrus peels, coffee grounds, and tomatoes can be added, but only in moderation, as they can acidify the bedding” (Resource Conservation Manitoba, 2008). For more information about vermicomposting, go to:

All in all, vermicomposting is something everyone should seriously consider bringing into their home. With the help of vericomposting we can save money and help reduce the amount of garbage in landfills.

Written by Jenna · Filed Under Gardening, Sustainability, theOwen 

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