I ’ve Got Worms!and that’s a Good

Thing!

Why Compost ? Why Compost ?

Approximately 70% of the garbage we send to the landfill could be food for worms (organic waste)

It’s a good source of nutrients for your garden

Save money on fertilizers

ResourcesResources Renewable resource = things that don’t run out

or that can be replaced or re-grown

Nonrenewable resource = non-living things that don’t re-grow and there are fixed amounts.

When they are gone we can’t make more.

StewardshipWe are responsible for the resources

in our world

Home composting food scraps eliminates the need to spend non-renewable resources:

Vehicles to pick it up

Space to sort it

Fuel to transport it

Land to bury it

Decompose (Decay, Rot)

Compose = to make or form by combining things, parts, or elements

Decompose = to separate into constituent parts or elements

Food scraps decompose in a compost system leaving a collection of plant nutrients that can be used again to benefit more plants and grow more food. Nitrogen

Sulfur Phosphorus PotassiumIron

Calcium

From Garbage From Garbage to Fertilizer!to Fertilizer!

Close the loop!Close the loop!

What comes from What comes from the earth the earth

can go back to the earth.can go back to the earth.

The Original The Original Master Composter/Recycler!Master Composter/Recycler!

Worms get their nutrition from decomposing organic material and the microbes - bacteria and fungi –that grow in compost

Vermicomposting

Use worm castings to enhance soil by RECYCLING nutrients.

Worms do it best!Worms do it best!

Close the loop Close the loop

using natureusing nature’’s model.s model.

Darwin never met a worm he Darwin never met a worm he didndidn’’t like …t like …

No civilization without No civilization without worms??worms??

How hard does an earth worm How hard does an earth worm

work? Check out these amazing work? Check out these amazing

facts …facts …

Scientist say that if you were to pile up all of the topsoil that worms have made over the past million years in one place, it would be five times as tall as Mount Everest.

WOW!

Can you imagine being buried under a mountain of dead leaves and organic waste? Earthworms spend their entire lives breaking down this organic matter, so if we lived in a world without worms, we would be living under a mountain of waste.

Why Worms?Why Worms?

Recycle kitchen scraps

Suited to apartments and households

Castings are great

for plants

Worms can eat ½ their weight in scraps daily

ItIt’’s fun and great s fun and great science for children!science for children!

Let’s first take a look at worms in general …

Kinds of WormsKinds of Worms

More than

4000 species of earthworms

Very diverse group

Wow!Wow!

Queensland Turquoise Earthworm

YUCK!!!!!

Oh my!Oh my!

Giant Australian Earthworm

Found in WashingtonFound in Washington

Giant Palouse Earthworm, Driloleirus americanus Large, pinkish-white earthworm up to 3 feet long! Researchers say it spits saliva that smells like lilies when handled! Noted in late 1800’s as numerous in the PalouseThreatened by habitat loss (Palouse bunchgrass prairie) During summer droughts, the worms dug burrows as deep as 15 feet

Kinds of WormsKinds of WormsEarthworms are divided into 3 categories,

based on the soil layer they live in.

based NightcrawlersNightcrawlers go go deepdeep

Compost worms live in Compost worms live in leaf litter and top layersleaf litter and top layers

Earth workers -- sidewaysEarth workers -- sideways

Anecic Worms (Nightcrawlers)Anecic Worms (Nightcrawlers)Lumbricus terrestrisLumbricus terrestris

Deep permanent burrows, up to 4 – 6’ deep Cycle HUGE amounts of organic material deep into soil Coat burrow w/ mucus, recognize own burrow! Anchor with tail and forage in a circle Won’t reproduce in a bin

Endogeic Worms Endogeic Worms (Earth workers)(Earth workers)

Live in the top 12 inches of soil -rarely come to the surface

Create extensive horizontal burrows in upper layers of soil

Feed on mineral soil particles and decayed organic matter

Aerate and mix soil

Epigeic WormsEpigeic WormsYour Worm- The Red WrigglerYour Worm- The Red Wriggler

Live in forest litter, duff, loose topsoil layer

Build no permanent burrows

Reproduce rapidly

Eisenia fetida Red wiggler

Tiger worm

Manure worm

Fish worm

Your Worms’ Needs

1. Water (Moisture)

2. Air

3. Decaying organic matter (food scraps)

4. Darkness, quiet

5. The right temperature

Moisture and AirMoisture and Air A worm’s body is 70- 90 water

They breath through their skin

Water standing in the bin can reduce available oxygen- anaerobic conditions AaK! Gasp!

The worms will drown too much water.

Earthworms and LightEarthworms and Light

Worms don’t like light

Your Worms and Your Worms and TemperatureTemperature

Worms feed most rapidly and convert food waste best at temperature between 60-78°

They like same temps we like!

If the bin freezes, or gets too hot in the summer, the worms will die

ClimateClimate The worms need to be kept between 50 and 80

degrees to continue to feed on your garbage.

The worms may survive in the 40’s but will not survive below freezing temperature.

The worms are also at risk of dying at temperatures above 86 degrees.

Obviously this means that your worm bin may need to be moved during different seasons.

A perfect place for the bin is in the basement, laundry room or in the kitchen during extreme temperatures.

A Comfortable Worm Bin A Comfortable Worm Bin Has it All!Has it All!

Bedding moistened to provide air and water

The lid keeps it dark

A cool/warm place With yummy food

scraps to eat Lots of microbes

for company

Earthworms have 5 Earthworms have 5 heartshearts

Well, not really hearts, but enlarged blood Well, not really hearts, but enlarged blood

vessels.vessels.

How Earthworms MoveHow Earthworms Move

Using muscles -- hydrostatic

and setaeand setae

The clitellumThe clitellum

Earthworm Earthworm ReproductionReproduction

Earthworms are both boy and girl -- hermaphroditic.

Two worms join with mucus from their clitella.

Then, a cocoon forms on the clitellum of each worm. The worm backs out of the hardening cocoon which contains the egg.

Earthworm BiologyEarthworm BiologyIn about 30 days 1-5 babies will hatch from the cocoon.

They will mature in about 3 months.

How Earthworms EatHow Earthworms Eat Worms have no teeth

Gizzard, sort of like a bird

Food moves down to the crop No teeth - a flap of skin called a prostomium.Food moves down to the crop where it is stored.Food moves to the gizzard where is ground up.Creating castings (ok, its worm poop!)

Let’s Eat!!!

Can a worm be cut in half Can a worm be cut in half and survive?and survive?

So, you know you need

red wigglers, but how

many?•Some vermiculture experts recommend a 1-1 ratio—one worm for every pound of garbage.

•Mary Appelhof, also know as the Worm Woman, and author of Worms Eat My Garbage, recommends two pounds of worms for every pound of garbage.

Feeding Your WormsFeeding Your Worms

Yum! Red worms like to eat decaying organic matter, they also eat the little bacteria and fungi that live in the compost with them …

Red worms eat ½ their weight per day.

One pound of worms will eat ½ pound of food per day.

Worm DeliWorm Deli Yummy Fruit Peeling Vegetable Peelings Egg shells Coffee grounds

(including filter) Tea bags

(string, staple and all) Bread Lettuce Watermelon rinds Banana peels

Yucky Bones Mayonnaise Salad Dressing Meat Cheese Butter Oil

Open a hole in bedding in a corner

and deposit food…

Feed from a different corner

each time…

Voila! Finished vermicompost in 3-4 months

How to HarvestHow to Harvest

Dump and sort

Screen method- plastic mesh

Vertical or horizontal migration method

Dump and Sort

Dump and separate in light method

Remove your gentle friends from the bedding and start again

Drain Drain ““compost teacompost tea”” and and dilute for houseplantsdilute for houseplants

Worm TeaWorm Tea Fill 1 gallon bucket with water

Let it sit overnight

Dissolve 1 cup of worm castings in water

Stir thoroughly

Let sit 12 – 36 hours

Apply tea to plants with watering can

Best to use tea right away

Worm Castings Worm Castings

Mix with soil to aid plant growthTry a handful in the bottom of hole when transplanting Add in with seed starting mix

The Finished ProductThe Finished Product

Worm castings - the manure of the earthworm - RICH STUFF!

Contains humus, a complex mixture of nutrients stored in a form that is readily available to plants.

Stimulates plant growth

Helps control harmful pathogens, bacteria and fungi

A valuable resource -- use it selectively and sparingly.

Other Harmless Critters in the Other Harmless Critters in the BinBin

Fruit flies come on the peel or rind of fruit. You can avoid them by freezing the peels, or putting wet newspaper on top.

Other decomposers you might see: potworms, springtails, black soldier fly larve, mold, rolypolys

Pot Worms

Mold and Fungi

Springtails

Fruit Flies

Mites

Pillbug/Sowbug

Soldierfly larvae

Avoid the problem…

Cover bin

Don’t overfeed

Bury food

Cut food up

Control moisture & acidity

Fruit Fruit Flies?Flies?

Get rid of them… Vinegar trap Vacuum bin When all else

fails, change bedding

Too much food

Not enough air

Too wet

Too acidic

Stinky foods

Wrong food: no meat, dairy or oily foods

ODORS?

Carrot Growth Study:Carrot Growth Study:

Incorporated 20% vermicompost into the propagation media

Calcium, Nitrogen, Phosphorous

Closing the LoopClosing the LoopCastings are like concentrated plant fertilizer

Sprinkle some in the row when planting seeds

Add a handful to the hole when transplanting young plants (2 tablespoons per 4” pot,

1/4 - 1/2 cup for one gallon transplants)

Mix into the top soil of potted plants

Work it into the soil during the growing season

Don’t let it dry out!

Lets make a worm binLets make a worm bin

Questions?

Now You Are Ready Now You Are Ready

Sources for more information:

www.urbanwormgirl.com www.theunitygardens.blogspot.com http://earthdaysbcsc.weebly.com