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Why Is Composting Important Article
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Composting Worms
from:Composting worms has become a great way to not only help the economy but also get some great fertilizer. In fact, composting worms will give you the some of the most effective fertilizer you've every used. Another term often referring to worm compost is vermicompost or worm castings. Composting worms is easy, fun and will help you have the healthiest plants you've ever raised. About the only items you'll need for composting worms are worms, bedding, worm food and a bin.
You don't need a large bin to begin composting worms, in fact, anything from 8" to 16" deep is sufficient. Many use a shipping crate, dish pan or old washtub. You can also buy a commercial worm bin. The important thing is to have a lid to keep out rodents and flies and also have holes in the bottom for drainage and ventilation. A good idea for an appropriate bin size is two square feet of space per person. The bin for composting worms should be in a shady space as worms like moderate temperatures. The patio, garage, laundry room or right outside the back door all makes good choices.
Newspaper torn into strips one inch wide will make excellent bedding. Moisten the newspaper so it's like a damp sponge. You can also put in horse or cow manure to absorb any excess moisture. Add a few handfuls of soil to the moist newspaper and you can add the worms and food. Every couple of months, it's a good idea to add crushed eggshells, soil and ground limestone for calcium and grit. This is how composting worms begin. As time passes, the worms will eat the food and bedding, turning it into worm compost.
Most people composting worms choose red wigglers or red worms, which can be purchased at a worm farm. You can also find them in old compost pile. Red wigglers and red worms both do very well in confinement and reproduce quickly. They also have a big appetite so always make sure they have sufficient food. In fact, on a daily basis, they'll eat more than their own weight. If you're just starting out with your composting worms' project, one pound of worms is more than enough. Worms are not picky eaters and enjoy the same things we enjoy. Some of the do's and don'ts include: no bones, meat, fats, dairy products or greasy foods. Do compost fruit peelings, vegetable scraps, tea bags, bread, coffee grounds and filters, grains, crushed eggshells and non-greasy leftovers. Start them off with just a small amount of food, increasing as they get older.
You'll need to harvest your worms at least two times a year and can start after you've been feeding them 3 to 6 months. A quick method of harvesting worms is to move all the contents to one side of the bin and put new bedding in the empty space. For the next month, put your food wastes in the new bedding. Once the worms have all moved to the new bedding, you can take out the worm compost. The compost you get from composting worms is great around plants, spread 1 to 2" thick.
Why Is Composting Important Specific links
Why Is Composting Important News
Mexico City launches massive composting project - SmartPlanet.com (blog)
Mexico City launches massive composting project SmartPlanet.com (blog) Since the plant came online at the start of the year, the city is now composting roughly 80 percent of its organic waste, according to Ricardo Estrada, who directs the city's recycling and composting programs. That's an important figure, he said, ... |
Controversial Cuffley composter approved by county council - Hertfordshire Mercury
Controversial Cuffley composter approved by county council Hertfordshire Mercury Speaking to the committee, Parish Cllr Anita Rust said: “It would harm the openness and the character of the green belt, which is important to us now and in the future. “This is not just simple diversification, but composting on an industrial scale. |
Animal carcasses found in Tye River - Nelson County Times
Animal carcasses found in Tye River Nelson County Times “Adhering to the code is very important to protect the environment and the health of the residents in the area,” Eick said. Bowles said it was not difficult to enforce the guidelines because DEQ officers check on-site compost piles and burials to ... |
A fresh crop of new gardening books - The Republic
A fresh crop of new gardening books The Republic This seasonal guide lists 10 things to plant every year, no matter what; 14 reasons to never, ever, use chemicals again; the only 10 gardening tools you'll ever need; top 5 gardening mistakes; four steps to healthier soil; four steps to composting; ... |
A hotter compost offers fast turnover - Mail Tribune
A hotter compost offers fast turnover Mail Tribune By Carol Oneal For the last couple of weeks, I've written about composting, concentrating on the "cold" method. Today, I'll raise the temperature. There are two main advantages to hot composting. One is faster turnover, compared to the cold method. |