Post on 26-Dec-2015
transcript
VERMICOMPOSTING:
MASTER TRAINING FOR CITY VOLUNTEERS
by Sally L. BenjaminVolunteer Master ComposterTumbleweed Books, LLC
2
Vermicomposting: Master Training What are Vermiculture &
Vermicomposting? These terms are often used
interchangeably Vermiculture literally means “worm
growing” Vermicomposting means “composting with
worms”
3
Vermicomposting: Master Training How does Vermicomposting Work?
By giving worms what they need: Space = a worm bin Moist bedding = dampened paper strips or dead
leaves Food = food scraps, paper and other organic wastes
Worms make nutrient-rich, natural fertilizer and soil conditioner, called vermicompost Also called Worm Compost, Vermicast, Worm
Castings, Worm Humus or Worm Manure (Really, vermicompost is mostly worm poop!)
Worms also make … more worms!
4
Vermicomposting: Master Training Why does the City of Columbia Promote
Vermicomposting? The City promotes all composting because it
reduces the waste in landfills Food wastes, paper and other organic wastes go
into compost, rather than the City landfill This reduces for handling and transporting costs It saves landfill space, preserving valuable land for
other uses It also helps protect the environment
Vermicomposting is a great compost method that anyone can do
5
Vermicomposting: Master Training Why does the City of Columbia Promote
Vermicomposting?
SOURCE: Turning food waste into energy: University of Missouri research furthers effort to get more from leftovers, University of Missouri Extension, May 10, 2012. Photo Credit: Roger Meissen/MU Cooperative Media Group http://extension.missouri.edu/NewsAdmin/Photos/2012/Food%20waster%20digester%203%20crop.jpg
6
Vermicomposting: Master Training Why Vermicompost?
To turn wastes into useful fertilizer for feeding indoor plants, gardens, etc.
It is easy & efficient: It takes far less space to compost It can happen in apartments, school rooms or homes
It is a year round option for organic waste recycling Other composting methods need warm weather and
space Vermicomposting can happen all year round indoors
Vermicomposting is educational (and FUN!)
7
Vermicomposting: Master Training Vermicomposting systems have 3 Basic
Parts: #1 The Worms #2 The Organic Matter
Bedding Food
#3 The Storage Area Location Bin
8
Vermicomposting: Master Training Part #1 – The Worms
Red Wigglers (Eisenia fetida) Feed in the upper organic and litter layers of soil
(termed epigeic by scientists) They are the most common type of composting
worm Night crawlers (Lumbricus rubellus)
Feed by pulling organic material and litter from upper layers into their burrows deep in the soil (termed anecic)
Both worm types are important for enriching soil
9
Vermicomposting: Master Training Part #1 – The Worms
Red Wigglers (Eisenia fetida) Best worms for composting Happy in high population densities in worm bins Eat up to half of their weight in organic matter per
day Adapted to survive temperature fluctuations
Invasive in forested areas Native to North America, but not to all regions Don’t release them in the forested Northeast Share extra worms rather than free or kill them
10
Vermicomposting: Master Training Part #1 – The Worms: Where to get Red
Wigglers? Buy online
Prices should be around $20 per pound Shipments may be delayed due to temperature
Buy at bait shops Easily available More expensive (they sell by the worm not the pound)
From other composters or at worm exchanges Red wigglers numbers double in 90 days once
established So, vermicomposters will have excess worms to share
11
Vermicomposting: Master Training Part #2 – The Bedding
Bedding must hold moisture, but retain air spaces that worms need
Bedding materials can include: Newspaper strips Paper strips (not glossy) Dead leaves from deciduous trees (not pine
needles or fresh leaves)
12
Part #2 – The Food Food to Use:
Cloth and paper A variety of raw vegetables, plant trimmings
and fruit scraps Egg shells, tea bags, coffee grounds, etc.
Vermicomposting: Master Training
13
Part #2 – The Food Avoid:
Meat, dairy, and oily foods that may go rancid Too much citrus (orange, lemon and lime peels)
that can make the environment acidic Smelly veggies like onions and broccoli Cooked foods are usually too oily Too much salt is bad for worms
Vermicomposting: Master Training
15
Vermicomposting: Master Training Part #3 – The Storage Area (Location)
Must be secure – safe from toddlers, pets and pests
Must be worm friendly - Worms need moisture, air, food, darkness, and warm (not hot) temperatures Good air circulation (but not cold or drafty) Dark Fairly stable temperatures from 55 to 77 degrees F.
Should be convenient – a place where the bin is easy to use (near the kitchen sink or in the laundry room)
16
Vermicomposting: Master Training Part #3 – The Worm Bin
Should be shallow rather than deep A good size is a 5- to 10- gallon bin Approximately 24"X18"X8" Compost worms like to live in the top 6" of soil. Rinse out the container before using Make holes in the lid, sides and bottom for air
circulation Cover the bin with a loose fitting lid that
provides darkness but also allows air into the bin
17
Vermicomposting: Master Training Part #3 – The Worm Bin: Buy or Build?
Buying a Commercial Worm Bin Sold online and at garden stores Use sets of trays or cans (next slide) Easy to use and work well Can be expensive (more than $100)
Worms are established in one bin and, when this bin is full, an empty bin is stacked on it
19
Vermicomposting: Master Training Part #3 – The Worm Bin: Buy or
Build? Save money & make a worm bin A plastic worm bin is easy to
make Nest two tubs:
Drill holes in the lid, sides and bottom of one tub
Place it inside a second tub This allows drainage and air
circulation
20
Vermicomposting: Master Training Setting up the Worm Bin
Bedding It should be non toxic, fluffy material It should hold moisture and allow air to circulate
Use shredded paper (not glossy or magazines), composted animal manure (not dog or cat), shredded decaying leaves, burlap, or peat moss in any combination
Crushed eggshells provide both roughage and calcium for the worms, and reduce acidity in the bin
21
Vermicomposting: Master Training Setting up the Worm Bin
The amount of bedding depends on the size of box The bedding should fill 2/3 of the bin
A 2’X2’ box needs between 4 to 6 lbs of dry bedding A 2’X3’ bin needs 9 to 14 lbs of dry bedding
Wet the bedding Put it in a bucket of water Squeeze handfuls of bedding until no more water
tickles out Add two handfuls of soil to supply roughage for
the worms
22
Vermicomposting: Master Training
Setting up the Worm Bin Bedding layers in a worm bin
From top to bottom burlap/feed bag, dry straw, cornmeal, compost, dry grass and shredded newspaper
23
Vermicomposting: Master Training
Setting up the Worm Bin Cover bedding with moistened cardboard
Provides darkness Holds moisture Prevents fruit flies
24
Vermicomposting: Master Training Adding the Worms
Weigh the worms! The number of worms in a worm bin
determines the proper rate and amount food Worms eat up to half their weight daily
1 pound (lb.) (or 1000) of worms uses ½ lb. of food/day This equals 3 to 4 lbs./week
A person generates about 1 lb. of food waste a week A family of 4 can support 1 lb. of worms A single person can support ¼ lb. of worms (250
worms)
25
Vermicomposting: Master Training Adding the Worms
Place the worms on top of the bedding Worms will burrow into the bedding Shining a light source on the bedding will
help identify any dead or dying worms Unhealthy and dying worms will not burrow as
quickly (or at all) These should be removed from the bin
26
Vermicomposting: Master Training Adding the Food
Break food scraps and any egg shells into small bits The smaller the pieces the faster the worms can eat
them Fast eating leaves less time for problems
Try to add equal amounts of “greens” and “browns” Green foods: Vegetable and fruit scraps, bread, pasta,
coffee grounds and filters, teabags, dead plant matter from houseplants
Brown foods: Paper, junk mail, paper egg cartons, cardboard, dry leaves
27
Vermicomposting: Master Training Harvest Vermicompost
After 3-5 months the bin is full of compost (and very little bedding) It is time to separate the worms and harvest their
compost Failure to do so is unhealthy for the worms
For 2 weeks, add no new food to the bin Push all of the worm bin contents to one side of the bin Remove any large pieces of undecomposed food or
newspaper Worm food not fed during this period can be frozen for
use later (but thaw it to room temperature before feeding)
28
Vermicomposting: Master Training Harvest Vermicompost
Replenish the bedding and provide food only in the freshly bedded half Encourage worm migration by covering only the
new side of the bin Allow the old side to dry out
Over the next 2-3 weeks, the worms will move over to the side seeking food and moisture This leaves worm-free compost behind Remove the compost and replace it with fresh
bedding
29
Vermicomposting: Master Training Benefits of Vermicomposting – Soil
Amendments Worm compost contains worm castings and humus
It can be used outside or inside the home Work it into soil outside before planting Add it to potting soil for houseplants
It can also be used as a top or side dressing to feed plants periodically throughout the season
Compared to topsoil, worm castings have: 5 times the available Nitrogen 7 times the available Potash 0.5 times the available Calcium
30
Vermicomposting: Master Training Benefits of Vermicomposting – Compost Tea
Worm castings are great for making compost tea Worms digest using bacteria These beneficial microorganisms make up an
‘inoculant’ for compost tea Worm castings also contain humic acid, a good
food source for compost tea Learn more about compost tea by checking
out online resources Handouts include a recipe for compost tea
31
Vermicomposting: Master Training Problems to Avoid
Fruit Flies – these flies are not dangerous but are a nuisance indoors
Odor Problem – the worm bin should have an earthly but not unpleasant odor
Worm Death & Escape – keep an eye on the worm bin to ensure healthy, happy composters
32
Vermicomposting: Master Training Fruit Fly Control
Bury food Avoid rotting food in worm bin
Fruit fly larvae are often present on rotten food Don’t overfeed - Food that sits too long in the
bin attracts flies Cut food scraps into small pieces
Worms eat small pieces more quickly This limits the chance fruit flies will hatch and
emerge
33
Vermicomposting: Master Training Fruit Fly Control
Keep bedding moist, but not too wet Too much moisture encourages fruit flies Stinky anaerobic bacteria grow if it is too wet
Feed worms a varied diet Loosely cover the top of the worm bin
contents with plastic to keep fruit flies in (out)
Limit citrus fruits
34
Vermicomposting: Master Training Fruit Fly Cures
Remove rotten food from the bin Fruit flies often lay eggs on rotting food
Create a fruit fly trap Put a bowl of apple cider vinegar with a drop
of dish detergent near the bin to attract and kill flies
Change liquid regularly to keep it potent Tape or staple flypaper strips on the inside of
the bin lid, and/or hang a strip near the bin
35
Vermicomposting: Master Training Fruit Fly Cures
Sprinkle lime in the bin to neutralize acidity
Cover bin contents Use a sheet of newspaper Change sheet regularly Flies will cluster on the newspaper
36
Vermicomposting: Master Training Fruit Fly Cures
Take bin outside leave uncovered for up to 4 hours to air out the bin out of direct sunlight
If uncontrolled, harvest the worms and start a new bin from scratch, using what you have learned from your past experience to create a better bin
37
Vermicomposting: Master Training Odor Cures
Either the bin is too wet Add more dry bedding Stop adding any water or ‘wet’ foods (such as
melons) Or the bin does not get enough air
Anaerobic bacteria (which thrive without air) create odor
Aerate the bin by adding fresh bedding mixing bin contents daily
38
Vermicomposting: Master Training Odor Cures
Some foods are naturally smelly Simply remove any food that smells bad Onions and broccoli create unpleasant ‘sulfur’
smells when they decompose Avoid these foods in bin
Noncompostables become rancid Don’t feed meat, bones, dairy and oily products to
worms These grow rancid when decomposing If worms don’t eat them quickly enough they create
odors
39
Vermicomposting: Master Training Worm Death & Escape Cures
If population drops, or worms try to escape, the bin is: Too wet (worms may be drowning) Too dry (worms may be dehydrating) Gets too little air (worms may be suffocating) Do worms get enough food?
After worms devour all of the food and bedding, they eat their own castings
This poisons them Hungry worms will also try to escape, seeking food
Is the bin exposed to extreme temperatures?
40
Vermicomposting: Master Training Worm Death & Escape
Dead worms decompose rather quickly. Monitor carefully to prevent worm death
If worms die or try to escape, check: Do worms get enough food?
After worms eat all food and bedding, they eat their own castings which poisons them Before this happens it is TIME TO HARVEST
The bin is exposed to extreme temperatures Temperatures from 55 to 77 degrees F are ideal
41
Vermicomposting: Master Training Worm Predators
Centipedes Centipedes feed on worm eggs and young worms They don’t present a serious threat
Red Mites Red Mites attack and kill worms by sucking them dry Mites indicate the pH of the bin may be too acidic
Ants Eliminate by increasing the moisture content of the bin Deny access by creating a “worm bin island”
set the bin in a water-filled container ants don’t swim
42
Vermicomposting: Master Training Harmless Worm Neighbors
Springtails & Pill bugs Brown or white mites
Put a melon rind in the bin Mites move onto it in large numbers Rinse off the mites (and repeat)
Potworms – compete for food They flock to a slice milk soaked bread Lift the bread and worms out of the bin
Vermicomposting: Master Training
Vermicomposting PDFs44
http://oacc.info/docs/vermiculture_farmersmanual_gm.pdf
https://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting/pubs/ag-464-vermi-curriculum.pdf
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/publications/Documents/Schools/56001007.pdf
https://www.veseys.com/us/en/images/articles/learn/guide/composting/wormcomposting/the-worm-factory.pdf
http://www.greencalgary.org/images/uploads/File/Vermicomposting.pdf
45
Vermicomposting: Master TrainingSources
History of Composting and Vermiculture Indoor Composting with Worms Troubleshooting Worm Bins Worm Composting Basics What to Feed Worms in A Worm Bin Cheap and Easy Worm Bin! NC State Vermicomposting Victory Seeds Red Worm Composting Worm Exchanges How Vermicomposting Works Vermicomposting How to Make Aerated Compost Tea Field Manual for Describing Terrestrial Ecosystems
46
Vermicomposting: Master TrainingPhoto Credits City of Columbia, Missouri, Public Works Department.
https://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/Solidwaste/compost-mulch.php Turning food waste into energy: University of Missouri research furthers effort to get
more from leftovers, University of Missouri Extension, May 10, 2012. Photo Credit: Roger Meissen/MU Cooperative Media Group. http://extension.missouri.edu/NewsAdmin/Photos/2012/Food%20waster%20digester%203%20crop.jpg
City looks to expand composting program: Three producers contribute so far. Photo credit: Ryan Henriksen. http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/local/city-looks-to-expand-composting-program/article_7a4dca4d-cc71-56d3-91b3-5903ceb908b1.html
Indoor Composting: Making a Worm Bin. February 20, 2012, MyLittleVeggieGarden http://mylittleveggiegarden.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/indoor-composting-making-
a-worm-bin/ Winter Composting Tips – Outdoors & Inside, Claire Vannette, December 21, 2012
http://www.windowbox.com/blog/2012/12/21/winter-composting-tips-outdoors-inside/
Luther brings vermicomposting to residence halls, January 22, 2010. http://www.luther.edu/headlines/?story_id=260567
It’s Easy Being Green: The Art of Vermicomposting, Center for American Progress, January 19, 2011. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/news/2011/01/19/8947/its-easy-being-green-the-art-of-vermicomposting/
47
Vermicomposting: Master TrainingPhoto Credits Vermicomposting, Ministry of Agriculture, Barbados.
http://www.agriculture.gov.bb/agri/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=297:vermicomposting-a-project-by-the-badmc-extension-department&catid=137:-barbados-agricultural-development-and-marketing-corporation-badmc&Itemid=99
Composting Basics For Beginners, By Shirley Bovshow, http://foodiegardener.com/composting-basics-for-beginners/
Great Lakes Worm Watch: Forest Ecology and Worms. http://www.nrri.umn.edu/worms/forest/index.html
Composting with Redworms, http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/redwormsedit.htm
Composting, Campus Sustainability Initiative, Brandeis University. http://www.brandeis.edu/campussustainability/recycling/composting.html
Worm Factory 360 WF360B Worm Composter, by Worm Factory. http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/outdoor-living/detailpages/wormfactory/wormfact-360-whatsincluded-lg.jpg
Composting IV: Harvesting your compost, Wish upon a Chef. http://www.wishuponachef.com/2013/08/composting-iv-harvesting-your-compost.html
Major Kinds of Soil Fauna. Organic Horizons and Layer, In Field Manual for Describing Terrestrial Ecosystems, British Columbia Ministry of Lands and Parks, Ministry of Forests, 1998. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/risc/pubs/teecolo/fmdte/soilohl.htm
48
Vermicomposting: Master TrainingResources
Life of An Apartment Garden – https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/livingapartment/vermiculture/ Create Your Own Eden – http://www.createyourowneden.org.nz/composting_guide.pdf Composting in Schools – http://compost.css.cornell.edu/worms/basics.html#Materials Earthworm Composting –
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fourh/old/teachers/enrichment/wildlife/9-12-worms.pdf NRS/USDA Tidbits for teachers and students - http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/education/ Vermicomposting - http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting/pubs/vermicomposting.pdf Vermicomposting & Earthworm Q&A http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting/pubs/vermicomposting_earthworm_q_and_a.pdf Vermicomposting Curricula - http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting/vermiculture/curriculum.html Vermicomposting Leader's Guide: A 5th Grade School Enrichment Curriculum -
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting/pubs/ag-464-vermi-curriculum.pdf Worm Away Your Cafeteria Food Scraps! -
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting/pubs/ag551_cafeteria%20-scraps.pdf Worm Bin Troubleshooting - http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting/pubs/worm-bin-
troubleshooting.pdf Worms Can Recycle Your Garbage -
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting/pubs/ag473-18_wormsrecycle-revised-2012.pdf How to Make Aerated Compost Tea - http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/aerated-compost-
tea-zebz1307zsie.aspx?PageId=1#axzz37HgNQt8H