Helpful Pet's!

So, I don't know how all of you have been doing on your composting this summer, but I have found something oooh so cool that will make your fall and winter composting sooo much better… and I am going to give’r a shot at my house.

Have you ever heard of Vermicomposting? Yes, it is composting using a special kind a worm, a "red" wiggler to help with the process. The Red wrigglers can eat close to their own weight in compost a day.... sooo if you have one pound worms = one pound compost a day!

Pretty crazzy hey... here is some information to get you going on this wicked idea...

The vermicomposting is ment for INdoors as the worms need to be kept warm, so in your Home, Offic, School etc . People often come to think of their worms as helpful pets.

What is vermicompost?

Vermicompost is mostly worm castings (poop). Fortunately, the faint earthy smell of the worm ‘poop’ doesn’t cause any odour problems. Vermicompost that is ready for harvest is dark, crumbly and moist. A newly established bin can have harvestable compost in as little as three months. This valuable material can be used to grow healthy plants indoors and out.

Getting Started

A variety of containers make satisfactory worm bins, including wooden boxes, galvanized metal wash tubs, or plastic utility tubs etc…

However there are so really cool ones on the market today which make the job a LOT easier!

Check out http://www.cascadewormbin.com/worm-factory-composter.html

And for local Saskatoonian’s these amazing worm composter's are also sold at “The Better Good” on Broadway, and they have a working system in the store as well so you can go in and check it out. The system is $99 and comes with 4 tray’s, just like the one bellow.

This is the system I will be using, because it will Saves Time and the worm factory does all the work for me!

Instead of spending time turning piles of compost or removing the worms by hand, the factory of worms multi-tray system separates the worms from the compost so you don't have to…. I’m in! Also, because the worms continually eat through the waste in the stacked trays, compost is produced at a faster rate than traditional methods of composting and they can live for up to a month without additional feeding.

Ok so once you have your bin….

Some Bedding is required…

Worm bins are filled with "bedding" to provide the worms with a balanced diet as well as a damp, aerated home. The most desirable bedding is light and fluffy to allow air exchange.

Common bedding materials include a combination of one or two of the following: newspaper

a small amount of garden soil (soil is added to the bedding mix to introduce microbes and add grit for the worms to use in their gizzard)

corrugated cardboard,

coarse sawdust

peat moss.

Vermicomposting without bedding is not advisable — it will produce a slimy, smelly mess.

The most accessible material for bedding is newspaper or cardboard. Tear newspaper and cardboard into 1-2" strips and moisten by soaking it in water. Squeeze out the excess water before adding this bedding material to the worm bin.

All bedding should be kept as moist as a wrung-out sponge—not soggy, and not dry. Adding food to the bin also adds moisture.

If you are using a plastic bin like the ones from the worm factory (available at The Better Good), the lid may needs to be left ajar to let some moisture escape. But don’t worry the worms don’t like light so they will NOT crawl out!

The food

The worms need a steady supply of food to survive.

Recommended foods

Most kitchen scraps, including:

• coffee grounds/filters, tea bags
• vegetable and fruit peelings
• egg shells
• pizza crust, spaghetti, corn flakes, bread, beans, etc.

Foods to be avoided

• Meat, fish, cheese, butter, oily foods, animal products—these foods will cause odours and attract unwanted insects.
• Citrus peels in large amounts – these materials are too acidic for the worms, so only add small amounts at a time, and use eggshells to control acidity.

The temperature

Red wigglers will survive in temperatures from 5 to 32°C, but the ideal temperature for them is between 16 to 27°C (60 - 80°F). If you keep the worms on your balcony and the temperature drops below 5°C (40°F), be sure to bring your vermicomposter indoors.

How can I use the finished compost?

Vermicompost, like other compost, provides slow-release nutrients to your plants and adds valuable microbes to the soil. It can also help the soil hold moisture. Vermicompost can be used in a number of different ways:

• Sprinkle into a seed row when planting.
• Mix a handful into the soil when transplanting
• Sprinkle the compost around the base of your plants, or rake a thin layer into your lawn.
• Make your own potting mix with equal parts vermicompost, peat moss, perlite and garden soil.
• Mix with commercial potting soil: one part vermicompost to three parts potting soil
• Add a thin layer to the soil surface of potted plants every two to three months
• Give extra compost to friends!
• Make a simple compost tea for houseplants, however if you are using the system noted above the bin collect the excess moisture and you can simply drain it off and put into your house plants as the BEST plant food EVER!

The Worms

As mentioned above the worms are red wrigglers, so jump on the net to find out where you can find a breeder in your area, or if your from Saskatoon I’ve got your hook up… One pound of worms (which is the required amount for the Worm Factory) from Sandra Rose, ecomunchers@live.com is only $25 and they reproduce as more are needed to help out!

So try it out… it will be fun, and GREAT for you garden and home!

Wriggler Wranglers

Heather and Chanel