Vermicompost is the process of turning kitchen scrap into finished castings that the plants needs for nutrients. One way to create vermicompost is using a worm bin. To make sure the vermicompost process is successful, it is important to understand the different part of the process.
Many people starts with a plastic tub for their worm bin. However, worms requires specific temperature and moisture levels. If the proper temperature and moisture levels is not maintained in the worm bin, the vermicompost system may fail.
How to Make and Care for a Worm Bin
A worm bin contain different layers that serve specific purpose in the vermicompost process. The food scrap are placed on the top layer of the bin. The worms lives in the middle layer of the worm bin.
The finished castings are located in the bottom layer of the worm bin. The worm bin should not be stir. The worms need distinct zone within the worm bin to perform their tasks.
If you stir the worm bin, the distinct zone will be disrupted. This will slow the vermicompost process. Worms require the appropriate species for the individual environment.
Red wigglers is a good species of worm to use for vermicomposting. These worms can handle household waste and can tolerate change in temperature. European nightcrawlers are another species of worm to use.
However, they are different than red wigglers. African nightcrawlers can process the material quick. However, these worms requires steady warmth.
The species of worm that is used require a specific environment in which to survive. The setup of the worm bin is important. The worms are very sensitive to there environment.
Many people chooses to use a wooden box for their worm bin. Wood allow the worms to breathe. Also, wood buffer the temperature changes.
Another option is to use a stacking tray system for the worm bin. However, these cost more moneys. The worm bin requires ventilation hole in the bin.
The moisture level should be kept at 70 to 85 percent. If the worm bin is too dry, the worms will slow down. If there is too much moisture in the worm bin, anaerobic condition will develop.
The moisture level should feel like a wrung out sponge. The balance of carbon and nitrogen needs to be maintained in the worm bin. If you dont maintain the balance proper, the worm bin will emit bad smells.
The balance of carbon to nitrogen should be a 60-40 ratio. Foods that is high in carbon (browns) include shredded cardboard, dried leaves, and newspaper. Food that is high in nitrogen (greens) include food scraps.
If there are too many greens in the bin, ammonia will build up in the worm bin. If there are too many browns in the worm bin, the worm bin will dry up and the vermicompost process will stall. Bedding is one of the component of the worm bin that will help to balance the worm bin.
The most common bedding is coconut coir and shredded cardboard. Coconut coir hold moisture extremely well. Also, shredded cardboard is very easy to find.
To prepare the bedding for the worm bin, it should be pre-moist. The dampness of the bedding should be maintained as food is add to the worm bin. The bedding should be damp but not a soggy mess.
Worms need to be fed food that they can process. Some of the foods that can be added to the worm bin include vegetable scraps, fruit peels, coffee grounds, and plain grain. Foods that should not be added to a worm bin include meat, dairy product, onions, and citrus product.
These foods can cause problem within the worm bin. Also, food should be buried under fresh bedding. This will prevent the attraction of fruit fly to the worm bin.
An alternative to feeding food to the worm bin is to first freeze the food scraps. Freezing the food scraps will speed up the breakdown of the food scraps. The finished castings can be harvested from the bottom layer of the worm bin.
The finished castings should not contain any recognizable food scrap. The length of time it takes for the worm bin to produce finished castings can vary. However, most worm bin will produce finished castings in the range of eight to twelve week.
There are different method for harvesting the castings. They can use light migration, side migration, or harvesting from stacking system. These method work because the worms will naturally migrate away from the finished castings and towards fresh food.
The finished castings produced from a worm bin contain more nutrient than regular compost. Finished castings can be used in seed-starting soil, used as a top dressing for plants, or even used to make worm tea. Plants that is fed with finished castings will have stronger root system.
These root systems will also be better at defending the plant against stress. Although there are many step involved in the vermicomposting process, the process will run itself if you understand the importance of the layers in the worm bin, the different species of worms, and the feeding balance for the worms.