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What is vermicomposting?
Vermicomposting (cold composting) refers to the use of composting worms to transform organic waste into valuable vermicompost or worm castings.
What's in vermicompost anyway?
Vermicompost contains thousands of beneficial microbes and bacteria in each teaspoon. The majority of good vermicompost contains worm castings (worm poop), humus (valuable in improving soil texture and water holding capacity),and undigested organic particles essential for the continued growth and maintenance of the bacteria and microbes living in the vermicompost (vermicompost is a living, thriving ecosystem!)
How many worms should I get?
Composting worms eat about one-half their weight per day, so 1 pound of worms will eat one-half pound of organic material per day. Weigh how much waste you generate each day to determine how many pounds of worms you will need.
Is there anything I shouldn't feed my worms?
Think of your worms as vegetarians and you shouldn't have any problems. We stay away form dairy, meat and dog/cat feces. Even though these things are organic we don't want to deal with some of the "other" critters or pathogens that these items may propagate. All those salad left overs, coffee grounds, breads, cereals, etc are good things for worms. Be careful about oils and salts! Worms breathe through their skin so they are sensitive to oils and salts that interfere with their respiration. Remember, they're like us -- everthing in moderation or you may cause your bin to become what we call sour (a Ph that is not 7.0 or neutral)
Will worms eat my horse and goat manure?
Yes! We recommend a brief period (less than 2 weeks) of composting your manure prior to feeding it to your worms. This will help control any weed seeds, pathogens or deworming agents present in the manure.
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