Worm composting is one great way to manage waste and help the planet. That's why many people practice it. However, there are some things that must be kept in mind in case you're interested in red worm composting.
For starters, there are two breeds of earthworm fit for worm composting - the red worms: Eisenia foetida (typically known as red wiggler, brandling, or manure worm) and Lumbricus rubellus. The red worms can be found on aged manure and compost heaps. Night crawlers or typical large worms found in the backyard are not suitable for bin composting.
Sources of red worm composting
Check with a farmer who has a manure pile and gather some worms fit for red worm composting. You can also ask friends who do red worm composting to supply you with red worms. Also you can purchase worms from garden supply stores.
Ideal food volume for red worm composting
Mary Appelhof, an expert in worm composting, suggests that a pound per day of food waste can be fed to two pounds of worms as good measure. In case you only have a couple of worms, adjust the amount of food until they have multiplied.
Some possible food for the worms include fruit and vegetable peels, egg shells, tea bags, paper and coffee grounds. Avoid giving meat, dairy products, oily foods and acidic food to worms because the red worm composting bin will attract flies and rats. Avoid placing broken glass, plastic or foil inside the red worm composting bin. If you want to avoid any foul odor being emitted, bury the food scraps under a layer of bedding.
Ideal storage for red worm composting
It is important for the bin to be elevated off the ground, using bricks, cinder blocks, or whatever is available to speed-up the composting process and make worms productive. Worms can really make a way to escape from the bin; however, as long as they are supplied with the right food and given moist bedding, they will stay put. Placing some light would help keep the worms in their place. The bedding must be kept moist by spraying water on it. The worms must be given some vegetable scraps at least once a week.
Red worm composting is a great way to help the environment. You help in making this world better at the same time and keep your plants happy too.
Easy To Make Worm Composting Bin Plans
For hundreds of years, gardeners or people who raised their own vegetables have resorted to vermicomposting or worm composting. Worm composting is a great way to recycle organic products using worms that turn waste materials into composts. Worm composts are organic fertilizers that aid in making plants grow. Worms are kept in worm composting bins which can be easily constructed using simple materials like wood or plastic. There are different worm composting bin plans that are easy to follow so you can start recycling as soon as possible. Browse the following worm composting bin plans to give you an idea:
* Rubbermaid worm composting bin - This is probably the easiest to make among the worm composting bin plans because all you have to procure is a Rubbermaid and make some holes in it. The most ideal Rubbermaid is a 10 gallon tote because it can house around 2,000 worms. The Rubbermaid bin costs less than $10 which is a very inexpensive material. You must acquire two pieces of bins, one for housing the worms and the other for drainage. Also, plastic is a suitable material to use because it is more convenient to clean and durable too.
* Vermitopia worm bin - Vermitopia is a useful website that provides information on worm composting. This site presents worm composting bin plans such as the Vermitopia worm bin which was created by one of the members. Among the worm composting bin plans, their recommendations are truly earth-friendly because they use recycled materials. Usually, such compost bins are made of recycled 3/8 plywood which has been screwed to a 2 x 4 frame. It is highly recommended to choose wood that has not been treated with chemicals. The bin has a surface area of 4 x 8 and stands 3.5 feet high. It is made up of several composting chambers for efficient harvesting of worm composts. The bin can house 32 pounds of worms that can consume as much as 16 pounds of waste per day.
Worm composting bin plans can be easily constructed as soon as the materials are complete. Moreover, these worm composting bin plans have instructions that can also be modified in case you need a smaller or bigger house for the worms.
Regardless if you're using plastic or wood worm composting bin plans, the important thing is that you have made a step towards proper waste management.
How To Avoid Worm Composting Problems
Worm composting is an environment-friendly way to reduce waste and achieve two important purposes. First, it decreases the organic waste products left to decay. Then, the by product composts from worms are harnessed to fertilize the soil. Because of this, many individuals take time to create worm composts so their garden can become more productive. Nevertheless, there are several considerations to be made concerning worms to prevent worm composting problems in the future. Commonly, worm composting problems occur when the diet or environment of the worms are overlooked. Here are some practical tips to avoid worm composting problems:
- Never give dairy products or oily food to the worms.
- Avoid giving acidic food scraps to the worms such as orange rinds.
- Always make sure that the composting bin is moist. Worms can die without water or even moisture.
Do not place fresh cow manure in the worm bin. This is one major cause of worm composting problems because cow manure can produce heat. Plus, it still contains pathogens which are hazardous for the worms.
Leafy vegetables can be good for worms but grass cuttings and alfalfa can increase heat levels which can be another source of worm composting problems.
Make sure that you have properly chopped the food cuttings for the worms. If worms are given a proper diet, they can easily grow and reproduce.
Protect your worms from predators such as centipedes that eat baby worms. The compost bin is a natural habitat so expect other critters to live there.
It is actually easy to avoid worm composting problems as long as you feed your worms well enough. Likewise, an environment that's neither too cold nor too hot would keep the worms happy. The aforementioned practical tips would go a long way in helping you avoid worm composting problems.
How To Build An Indoor Worm Composting Bin
An indoor worm composting bin is a better alternative to dump sites. Indoor worm composting provides an economically healthy waste bin that allows you to naturally decompose bio-degradable materials. Plus, an indoor worm composting bin can offer more protection to the worms from extreme weather. This article will show you how to build your indoor worm composting bin.
Materials needed for a worm composting bin
Non-biodegradable plastic tub with lid (10-15 gallons)
Drill
A breathable material to line bottom of tub
Masking tape
Directions for building an indoor worm composting bin
1. Drill small holes about 4 inches. Then drill two holes for every side of the bin near the lid.
2. Cut the wire mesh or breathable fabric to fit inside the bottom of the tub. Place tape on edges.
3. Create a layer using the following materials:
a) Earth
b) Brown materials: coffee, leaves, etc.
c) Green Material: grass cuttings, vegetables, etc.
How To Care For An Indoor Worm Composting Bin
Important things to consider are:
1. Always bury the green material.
2. Every two weeks, mix the materials in the bin.
3. To allow faster composting, shred leafy vegetables if possible.
4. Apply the 3:2 rule; for every three parts of brown material, add two parts green material.
5. Lift bin over ground that provides some circulation.
It is important to store your indoor worm composting bin in a cool, dark place. Worms can easily die when exposed to direct heat and sunlight, so avoid this. It is also important to keep worms warm enough during the cold seasons so as to not let them freeze to death. You can use a handy sprayer to keep the soil moist. If moisture in the bin is not enough, these can make the worms dry to death. The wetness must somehow be similar to a wet sponge. If your indoor worm composting bin starts leaking, there's no need to worry to at all. Actually, it just means that your bin is due for a turning or you're spraying too much water. Try to place a pan underneath the bin which can catch the leak. As a bonus, you can use the excess water to nourish the plants in your garden. Indeed, indoor worm composting is an easy way to recycle waste and protect the environment.
How To Create Your Own Worm Composting Bin
Worm composting is a natural process that allows worms to consume organic waste materials such as food waste, paper and other materials. Worm composts makes plants more healthy and prevents the use of chemical fertilizers that can harm the environment. In addition to that, worm composting can also contribute to reducing global warming in the planet because organic waste is returned to the soil. To start worm composting, here's an easy way to create a worm composting bin:
Materials
1. Plastic bin with lid about 8" to 16" deep, 2 square feet for bottom
2. Worms (Red wrigglers)
3. Shredded cloth and paper
4. Drill with a 1/5" bit
Procedure:
1. Select a bin 8" to 16" deep with about 2 square feet of bottom.
2. Drill 10 to 20 1/5" holes in the top of the bin. This provides ventilation in the bin.
3. Shred paper and cloth to less than 1" strips. You can use a paper shredder for newspapers. Avoid using glossy paper and plastic for the bed. An adequate bedding can efficiently absorb excess moisture from the bin and neutralize too much nitrogen from the waste by providing carbon.
4. Never leave the bed to become dry by spraying water from time to time. Worms normally breathe using their skin so they can die from dryness.
5. Add the worms. Best source of red wigglers are worm farmers. Avoid using common worms like night crawlers because they are used to digging deep in the ground that the bin does not provide.
6. Feed your worms. The kitchen scraps must be placed under the bedding to prevent fruit flies. A pound of worms would surely decompose up to half a pound a day of kitchen food scraps and other organic wastes. Do not give meat nor dairy products to worms because they stink.
7. When everything seems crumbly and brown, it's time to harvest the compost.
8. Add compost to your garden, house plants, street trees or give them as a gift to plant lovers.
Making your own worm composting bin is really easy. To avoid any worm composting bin problems, just remember to keep the environment moist and well-cared for the worms to live.
Types Of Ready-Made Worm Composting Kits
Worm composting is a natural process that allows worms to digest waste materials and convert them into composts. The composts are very good for plants because it contains essential nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous which are slowly released to plant's roots that leads to fertilization. In Science classes, worm composting is often taught to students to understand the process of natural recycling by using worms. Today, there are ready made worm composting kits that people can buy so all they have to do is take care of the worms. Read more about ready-made worm composting kits to learn more:
Worm-a-way. This ready-made worm composting kit has very good features so kids can easily use it. There are very few steps involved in preparing this kit such as shredding newspaper, putting more soil and water and placing the worms. The worm composting kit has a good ventilation system due to the vents and perforated pipes specially designed for this product. The composting kit comes with a 100-page book titled 'Worms Eat My Garbage', ventilation tubes and different vents, assembly instructions and a coupon for a pound of red worms. The book would help young children understand the merits of worm composting.
Worm Factory 360. Amongst composting kits, this one promises a speedier composting process due to its special features. Faster composting is achieved through the thermo siphon air flow design that provides good ventilation. Also, worm composting kits like these are suitable for indoor or outdoor which makes it functional. It has a capacity to contain twelve thousand worms. Having a small area is not an obstacle because you can still produce quality composts using this kit. On top of that, the kit is also odorless so you can even place it in the kitchen near the source of food scraps. The kit is packaged with an instructional booklet, instructional video and built-in worm tea collector and spigot. It also has a 20 year warranty on parts and workmanship.
Making your own worm composting kits is a good idea but that entails some time and knowledge to create a good environment for the worms. In comparison with ready-made kits, the only tasks needed are preparing the bed, placing the worms and later gathering the composts.
Understanding A Worm Composting System
A worm composting system is a natural way to covert kitchen scraps into nutrient rich composts that serve as fertilizers for plants. Worms digest the waste materials and pass it through their bodies. Once the worms have digested the waste, they produce nitrogen and potassium rich composts that serve as nutrients for plants.
The worm composting system is an efficient way to harness the lowly worm; considering the fact that we just throw around fruits and vegetable peels. These peels are filled with good nutrients that worms surely love.This is the reason why a worm composting system is beneficial to the environment because it simply utilizes food scraps for composts. The container is an important part of the whole worm composting system. It can be made out of different types of materials such as plastic or wood. The surface area of a bin must be enough to hold many worms. Commonly, worms love to thrive on the top surface of the soil. A good worm composting system has adequate ventilation to allow air to circulate inside the bin. There must also be holes at the bottom to release excess water.The most ideal bedding materials are shredded newspapers that are moist. Ask a friend who has a paper shredder to allow you to shred papers for the compost bin. Some materials like CD, plastic, metals should never be part of the diet.
The worm composting system would be useless without the main feature - wigglers. These invertebrates have been diligently putting all their efforts toward creating compost for a richer soil. Ideally, red worms are placed in a worm composting system since common ones in your garden could not thrive in a simulated environment like the bin. A pound of worms can consume as much as two pounds of waste every time. Indeed, a worm composting system is an effective way to reduce bio-degradable waste. Worms eventually reproduce at a quick rate so they can eat as much as you can give them. It takes time to harvest the composts but it is always worth it. Composts can be applied directly to plants after harvesting them. In any case you don't need it yet, it can be stored for almost a year in a dry place. Do your part in reducing carbon footprint and global warming by using a worm composting system.
Worm Composting For Kids - The Value Of Loving Planet Earth
Worm composting for kids is actually a fun idea because children can appreciate the value of "yucky" worms they often see in the garden. They would quickly realize that these worms play a special role in enriching the environment, particularly soils. Also, worm composting for kids prepares children to understand the process and can aid in solving issues in waste management. It is easy to do worm composting for kids but remember that this task should be safe for everyone involved - kids, you, and the worms.
Materials
There are some things needed to start worm composting for kids. Typically, the basic material is a durable plastic bin that has a good lid plus lots of space for bedding. Ideally, the plastic bin must have a volume of 10 gallons or more. Worms can grow fast as long as they consume twice the amount of food they need.
The plastic container must have 1/4 inch holes to drain excess water so make some using a drill bit. Plastic can be a good container since it requires less clean up and does not have sharp edges. Once the bin is ready for use, you can ask the kids to shred newspapers and raw vegetables for bedding. The kids can also add some tea bags, coffee grounds and eggshells into the container.
Project Cycle
Worm composting for kids is really fun and educational especially when the children understand the whole cycle of vermi-composting. The whole cycle can be seen in three months starting from the day you made the bin to the day the composts are collected. The kids can write in a journal the daily diet of worms and compare which food the worms liked best. At the same time, the children have to keep the environment moist by spraying water everyday on the bin.
Friendly reminder
When it's time for worm composting for kids, set an orientation session where you can teach the kids some serious facts about worms. Educate them the right kind of diet that should be supplied to worms because worms cannot digest all types of food scraps. Make a list of daily tasks such as feeding and spraying water. As soon as kids understand the value of worm composting, they would surely teach others the value of recycling.
Worm Composting - How To Basics
Dan Tainow, a specialist in composting, asserts that "Composting immediately reduces household waste by 25% to 50%" and "triggers a chain of events: the reduction of carbon emissions from petroleum-burning trucks and their delivery of heat-trapping waste that produces methane and water-contaminating leachate to landfills". Utilizing compost that you harvested from your own would be one helpful step to preventing absorption of toxins from chemical fertilizers by using it in you own vegetable plot. Moreover, you are helping in effective waste management that can aid the planet to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Indeed, learning worm composting how to basics is worthwhile. Once you have learned more about worm composting how to essentials, you can make your own. The compost would not only nourish your garden but it can also be a gift for your friends.
Worm composting - how to construct homes for worms
Worm bins can be bought from hardware and garden stores; however, they do cost a lot of money. As an alternative, construct your own bin using plastic containers with lid or even wood. There are many online sites that gives instructions on worm composting "how to create bins". Just be sure to get the materials as specified in the directions to begin making your own. Once you have a home for the worms, then you can start buying wigglers.
Worm composting how to feed worms
Make sure that worms are fed with different types of food such as pasta, bread, fruits and vegetables, even coffee or tea. Never include dairy and animal products to the worms diet because these can create a bad odor and even attract flies. Also, do not give them oily food like peanut butter as well as acidic scraps like orange rinds.
Worm composting - how to collect compost
In about 60 days, the compost is ready since the bedding looks like crumbled chocolate cake; thus, this is the perfect time to get the compost. To be able to harvest the fresh compost, push the bedding and the worms to one side and then fill the other end with new beddings and food scraps. In a few weeks, the worms would find a way to consume the new scraps and you can easily collect the compost from the empty side of the bin.
Finally, you understand worm composting how to basics that can do good for the environment.
Eat more organic food, try worm composting today!
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