Worm Composting

Worm Composting

Vermicomposting is the process of using red worms and microorganisms to convert organic waste into black, earth-smelling, nutrient-rich humus. It may be called a vermicomposting system or simply a worm box.
Worm composting is an easy, efficient way to recycle food wastes into a fine, high-quality compost (worm castings) for your houseplants or garden. It is becoming very popular with apartment dwellers, children, and anyone who wants the option of a year-round, indoor/outdoor system that requires very little space or effort. Worm bins also reduce the amount of household garbage that goes to the landfill and they are entirely rodent-proof.

Worms love to eat vegetable scraps, breads and grains, fruit rinds and peels, tea bags, coffee grounds, and coffee filters. They hate to eat meat or fish, cheese, butter, animal wastes and greasy, oily foods. Odor can be avoided by only adding enough food that worms can eat in a few days, maintaining air spaces in the bedding, keeping the bedding moist and adding only the proper food items. Fruit flies can be avoided by burying the food waste in the bedding, placing a dark plastic sheet over the bedding and putting the bin in a place where few flies will not bother anyone.

Vermicomposting: How to Do It.

1. Get a wooden, plastic, or metal bin with tight-fitting lid. A bin sized 2x4x1 feet is good for a 2-3 person household disposing of about 8 pounds of food scraps per week. Make sure the bin has drainage holes on the bottom, and bottom catch tray and air vents on top and sides.
   
2. Add moist, drained bedding to bin. Use 1-2 inch strips of newspaper or cardboard, leaves, peat moss or coarse sawdust.
   
3. Place 1-2 pounds of "red wiggler" worms (not earthworms) in bin. Get worms at a bait shop, mail order, or from a friend. They multiply quickly! Rumor has it that eight worms can become 1,500 in about six months!
   
4. Bury food waste in the bedding several inches deep. This prevents flies and odor. Rotate around the box, burying scraps in different places.
   
5. Harvest compost every few months. Push bin contents to one side of bin and put fresh bedding on other side. Bury waste only on fresh side. Worms will migrate over several weeks' time. Have fun! Worms do!
   
   

For more information on worm composting and where to buy materials contact:

Grays Harbor County - Solid Waste Division
Solid Waste Outreach Coordinator
(360) 249-4222 ext. 476 or e-mail asmith@co.grays-harbor.wa.us

WSU Cooperative Extension - Master Gardener’s Program

Thurston County
(360) 786-5445

Grays Harbor County
(360) 482-2934