What is vermicompost

According to Edwards and Arancon (2006), vermicomposts are organic materials, broken down by interactions between earthworms and microorganisms to produce fully-stabilized organic soil amendments with low C:N ratios. They also have a huge and diverse microbial and enzymatic activity, fine particulate structure, good moisture-holding capacity, and contain nutrients such as N, K, P, Ca and Mg in forms readily taken up by plants. They contain both plant growth hormones and humic acids which can act as plant growth regulators. An organic material with low “low C:N ratio” means that it has a relatively richer nitrogen content compared to another with high C:N ratio. To illustrate, assume that two materials have identical carbon content of 10 units but differ in nitrogen content. That is, one has nitrogen content of 1 unit and the other has 10 units. Applying mathematics, the C:N ratio which is equivalent to the fraction C/N, or C÷N, or C divided by N, of one will be C/N=10/1=10 and the other C/N=10/10=1. This means that the material with the lower C:N ratio of 1 is richer in nitrogen content ( 10 units) compared to that with higher C:N ratio of 10 (nitrogen content is only 1 unit). Vermicompost is the primary product in vermicomposting, with the It is a special type of compost produced through the action of earthworms, microorganisms, and other organisms which participate in composting. It is therefore a mixture of vermicast, the degraded organic matter which pass throught the ...

So, you’re curious about vermicompost? Then you’ve come to the right place! Here at The Squirm Firm, we aim to educate and equip people like you to become masters of their own environmental impact through worm composting. Today we’ll share all there is to know about the dirty little secret that is changing the world one food scrap at a time. It’s the miracle of vermicompost, the black gold with value beyond measure. Come find out for yourself what it is, where it comes from, and how to get your hands on some of your very own! Vermi What?! Vermicomposting is the term for using compost worms to naturally transform what would otherwise be waste materials, such as kitchen scraps and cardboard, into nutrient-rich nuggets of natural fertilizer. Those nuggets of which I speak are called casts and may otherwise be known as poop, manure, excrement, and so forth. I’m sure you get the picture. Vermicompost refers to the nearly homogeneous mixture of what looks like soil but is made of much more than regular old dirt. Vermicompost is a combination of worm casts, decomposing organic matter, bedding remnants, and millions upon millions of living, working microbes. Vermi Who?! Compost worms are those that thrive on decaying organic matter and the microorganisms that exist therein. Most often found in leaf piles or manure piles, these worms have a voracious appetite and are pooping machines! Quite unlike the earthworms found in garden soil, compost worms differ in both appearance and beha...

Vermicompost, or worm composting, is the product of the decomposition of organic matter by worms, usually a breed called red wigglers. In other words, you feed organic matter (like shredded paper and vegetable scraps) to your worms, who eat them, digest them, and defecate worm castings that can be then used as compost in your garden. Worm castings is another word for the end product of vermicomposting. Other terms include worm manure or worm compost. Finished worm castings are dark brown round pellets, looking similar to rich soil. When worms eat, their organic matter travels down a long digestive tube with several sections. The esophagus adds calcium carbonate. The gizzard adds enzymes to help digest and uses grit like mineral particles to smash the food into small particles. In the small intestine, fluid is added to further digest the food and the worm absorbs the nutrients it needs. While this is going on, the digestive system controls the moisture and the pH level of the organic matter in a way that encourages microbial growth. Worm castings have At the worm castings stage, it’s still not nutrients but organic matter broken down from larger pieces into smaller. They’re just so small that we can’t see them through the naked eye and it looks just like dirt. The added microbes (and microbes found in healthy soil) are what break down this organic matter into the nutrients that plants can then absorb. Instead of vegetable scraps ending up in the garbage dump, where they can...

Both methods will produce rich compost for you to use on your garden, and they are a great way to reduce the amount of food waste you put into landfill, so both are eco-friendly methods you can explore. However, vermicomposting and composting have some significant differences, both in terms of process and end product. Let’s explore composting vs. vermicomposting: (What’s The Difference)? While the end product of vermicomposting is somewhat similar, it is a very different process and requires a very different approach. What Is Vermicomposting? Vermicomposting is done using worms. It tends to be done at a cooler temperature than composting, for the sake of the worms, and it usually involves less waste (though a faster turnaround time) being processed at any one time. Vermicomposting will still result in an end product that is rich in nutrients and can be used on a garden, and it still processes and recycles kitchen scraps or garden waste – so it does have a lot in common with composting. What Are The Advantages Of Composting? Composting can be done in as great a quantity as you have space for. That said, very large compost heaps can be difficult to manage, but you can have several heaps at once, and allow one to process while another is being actively added to. Composting doesn’t require very much input (although if you want to make it highly efficient, you will need to do more work), and if you get a good temperature in it, it will The other advantage of composting is that ...

Newsletters Close search form Open search form Enter your search term Search • Decor • • • • • • See all • Garden • • • • • • • • See all • Home Improvement • • • • • • • • • • • See all • Cleaning • • • • • • See all • Celebrations • • • • • See all • What to Buy • • • • • • • See all • News • • • • • • • • See all • About Us • • • • • • • See all • Vermicompost. This is a combination of worm waste (vermicastings) and the broken down organic matter in the worm bin. It's much like the material you'd end up within a typical • Vermicastings. This refers to the waste produced by the worms. Pure worm poo with no additional organic material. Vermicastings are dark brown (almost black) and look like dark, rich, crumbly soil. They contain plenty of nutrition yet are gentle enough to be used on plants immediately. You can sort the vermicastings from the rest of the contents of your worm bin or you can simply allow the worms to completely break down the contents of a bin. The worms won't survive long once the bin contains pure worm castings, so you'll either want to set up a new bin for them as soon as you can or plan on purchasing new worms. Making Vermicompost Tea There are a few ways you can go about brewing vermicompost tea. The one that will result in the highest amount of beneficial microbes is actively aerated compost tea, which means that you add your vermicompost (in a linen or fine mesh bag) to a bucket of water with an air pump installed. Then, let the air pump continuou...

• Homestead • Gardening • How to Start a Garden • Planting Zone Map • First & Last Frost Dates • Planting Calendar • Garden Size Calculator • Plant Growing Guides • Fertilizer Calculator • C/N Compost Calculator • Gardening Basics • Animals • Chickens • Beekeeping • Goats • DIY • More • Frugal Living • Food & Drinks • Home Decor • Survival & Prepping • Handmade Ame lives off-the-grid on her beautiful farm in Falmouth, Kentucky. She has been gardening organically for over 30 years and has grown vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and ornamentals. She also participates in Farmers Markets, CSA, and mentors young farmers. Ame is the founder and director of Fox Run Environmental Education Center where she teaches environmental education programs in self-sufficiency, herbal medicine, green building, and wildlife conservation. Slender, slimy, wiggly worms. We all know they are good for the garden, and a This article will show you how. What Is Vermicomposting? Worms are not just good for catching fish or aerating dense soil, and there’s a growing trend to raise worms. Why you may ask? Because the end product of worms is delightful! Vermiculture is the science of raising worms – vermi means worm in Latin. Vermiculture is the practice of keeping worms with the purpose of making dark rich castings (that’s worm poop)! This nutrient-rich humus is an excellent source of nutrients for your garden. You might not think about worm poop when you think about Why Raise Worms? Worms are surpris...

Worms have dug their way into my heart and you’re about to understand why! Using the power of worm castings, you can completely transform your garden, naturally. Master the practice of vermicomposting with this guide on how to use worms and kitchen scraps to create the best organic matter. When it comes to friendly bugs, why do bees, butterflies, and ladybugs get all the love? While I appreciate these Whether you think of worms as friends or hard-working employees, they are a welcome addition to my garden every day. Even if I can’t see them. An unknown practice to many, vermicomposting harnesses the superpowers of the worm to create some of the most potent fertilizers around. With vermicomposting on your side, you will have the fullest, greenest plants in the neighbourhood by far! What is Vermicomposting? Vermicomposting is the fancy word for having worms as pets. Or, more technically speaking, intentionally using worms to decompose kitchen scraps and carbon materials like paper and straw. This results in worm castings. And yes, worm castings is a nice word for worm poop. Why on earth would you want worm poop, you ask? Worm castings have a much finer texture than soil and are excellent when it comes to holding moisture. If you want a balanced garden fertilizer, they are highly nutritious though the N-P-K values will fluctuate based on the worm’s diet. Worm castings look like very rich soil. You will see dark brown, teeny tiny bits of material. When you harvest them, you tr...

Jump To:• • • • • • • • • Introduction This Fact Sheet is for people interested in making compost with worms – whether they intend to do it under the kitchen sink or on a two-acre worm farm. Vermiculture (raising earthworms) and Vermicomposting (making compost with worms) have their own special vocabulary. This Fact Sheet helps explain some of those words. It also shows how vermicomposting is different from traditional, or microbial, composting. Some people will tell you vermicomposting is harder than traditional composting, but most will also agree the challenges of vermicomposting pays off with superior compost. Vermicomposting is not the same as raising worms to sell as bait. Composting worms are small and live in groups of several worms. Composting worms are much easier to grow than baitworms, and can still be used for fishing. It is a little harder to put a small composting worm on a hook, though. The scientific name for the most commonly used composting worm is Eisenia fetida. In everyday language, worms belonging to the species Eisenia fetida are called red wigglers. Be careful, though—many other worm species are called red wigglers, and some of these, such as Lumbricus rubellus and Asian species in the Amynthas genus, are damaging invasive pests. A more accurate name for Eisenia fetida is tiger worm or red tiger worm. The name comes from the distinctive dark and light colored banding that is unique to Eisenia fetida. For a more in depth look at the life and habits ...

According to Edwards and Arancon (2006), vermicomposts are organic materials, broken down by interactions between earthworms and microorganisms to produce fully-stabilized organic soil amendments with low C:N ratios. They also have a huge and diverse microbial and enzymatic activity, fine particulate structure, good moisture-holding capacity, and contain nutrients such as N, K, P, Ca and Mg in forms readily taken up by plants. They contain both plant growth hormones and humic acids which can act as plant growth regulators. An organic material with low “low C:N ratio” means that it has a relatively richer nitrogen content compared to another with high C:N ratio. To illustrate, assume that two materials have identical carbon content of 10 units but differ in nitrogen content. That is, one has nitrogen content of 1 unit and the other has 10 units. Applying mathematics, the C:N ratio which is equivalent to the fraction C/N, or C÷N, or C divided by N, of one will be C/N=10/1=10 and the other C/N=10/10=1. This means that the material with the lower C:N ratio of 1 is richer in nitrogen content ( 10 units) compared to that with higher C:N ratio of 10 (nitrogen content is only 1 unit). Vermicompost is the primary product in vermicomposting, with the It is a special type of compost produced through the action of earthworms, microorganisms, and other organisms which participate in composting. It is therefore a mixture of vermicast, the degraded organic matter which pass throught the ...

Both methods will produce rich compost for you to use on your garden, and they are a great way to reduce the amount of food waste you put into landfill, so both are eco-friendly methods you can explore. However, vermicomposting and composting have some significant differences, both in terms of process and end product. Let’s explore composting vs. vermicomposting: (What’s The Difference)? While the end product of vermicomposting is somewhat similar, it is a very different process and requires a very different approach. What Is Vermicomposting? Vermicomposting is done using worms. It tends to be done at a cooler temperature than composting, for the sake of the worms, and it usually involves less waste (though a faster turnaround time) being processed at any one time. Vermicomposting will still result in an end product that is rich in nutrients and can be used on a garden, and it still processes and recycles kitchen scraps or garden waste – so it does have a lot in common with composting. What Are The Advantages Of Composting? Composting can be done in as great a quantity as you have space for. That said, very large compost heaps can be difficult to manage, but you can have several heaps at once, and allow one to process while another is being actively added to. Composting doesn’t require very much input (although if you want to make it highly efficient, you will need to do more work), and if you get a good temperature in it, it will The other advantage of composting is that ...