Vermi-composting

Hi everyone, we are on blog number three already and today were talking about vermi-composting, better known as worm composting.  Many of you know what composting is, a mixture of food scraps and yard waste that you place in a bin or pile out in your yard.  Over time it all breaks down and turns into nutrient rich soil for your plants or garden.  That system works fine in the warmer months, but what if you live in the Northern parts of the United States where we experience snow and temperatures below freezing?  A solution that works well is worm composting.  It's very easy to maintain and will get rid of your food scraps and keep you warm during the winter months so your not trekking through the snow to get to your compost pile out back.  It is also great for anyone living in an apartment or urban area with limited space.

To start vermi-composting I recommend reading "Worms Eat My Garbage".  This is a very detailed book that has many different options to make worm composting fit your individual needs.  The main components you will need to start out with is a bin, food scraps, shredded paper, and worms.  There are many different ways to make a worm bin, you can use wood or plastic.  If you use wood remember the box could get quite heavy.  You can make a bin out of anything really, you just have to make sure to drill holes in the sides and top and cover them with mesh screen material.  If DIY isn't your style there are many worm bin kit options available but they can be expensive.  You then need to order worms, but not just any worms "Red Wigglers".  You need to factor in how much food waste you produce to know how many worms to order so that your worms can keep up and break down the food.  I recommend starting out with one pound.  To find a worm farm in your area search http://www.findworms.com/.  If your unable to find worms in your area, there are many sites online that you can order from.  I buy my red wigglers from http://www.unclejimswormfarm.com/.  To prepare your bin for your worms place shredded paper on the bottom and food scraps in the center.  Place the worms in the bin and cover them with moistened newspaper and mist the bin.  You are now on your way to making compost in the warm comfort of your house.

Composting is very beneficial to the environment no matter which way you choose. Vermi-composting is a good way for those in small spaces that don't have yards to have an outdoor bin.  Not only does composting promote rich nutrients that are healthy for the environment and household plants but it lessons the waste we produce and send to the landfill.  Anytime you can stop waste from going to a landfill it is beneficial.  It also cuts down on your need for a garbage disposal, if it were up to me we wouldn't own one at all.  I love my worm bin and think it is a great way to get rid of food scraps during the winter months.