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Introduction to Vermicomposting

Steve Churchill�Urban Worm Company

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Vermicomposting 101

What is Vermicomposting?

Consumption & decomposition of organic waste via an ecosystem of microbes and earthworms which produces a potent organic soil amendment called vermicompost, which is full of organic matter, plant growth hormones, and plant-available nutrients.

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Vermicomposting 101

“Input” Benefits

  • Reduces landfill use
  • Reduces methane emission
    • 85x more harmful than carbon dioxide
  • Reduces carbon emissions from trash trucks
  • It’s fun!

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Vermicomposting 101

Google Scholar

Nearly 40,000 academic studies regarding vermicompost’s effect on plants and soil

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“Output” Benefits

Promotes plant and root growth

Increases yield

Improves water retention in soil

Suppresses pests & pathogens

Improves pollination

Makes nutrients more available to the plant

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Vermicomposting 101

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Vermicomposting 101

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Vermicomposting 101

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Composting vs Vermicomposting

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Composting

High Temperatures/Thermophilic Bacteria

Dependent On Volume

Need to Turn or Introduce O2

Longer Time to Finish

Needs to be outdoors/ventilated

25-30:1-in C:N

$20-$40/cubic yard in bulk

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Vermicomposting

Medium Temperatures/Mesophilic Bacteria

Dependent on Surface Area

No Need to Turn

Finished in 8-12 Weeks

No vapors/Can be done indoors

50+ :1 C:N

$400-$600/cubic yard in bulk

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Composting vs Vermicomposting

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At scale, vermicomposting requires partial composting to stabilize the material.

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4-6 weeks

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8-12 weeks

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Vermicomposting Basics

  • Mimic Nature
  • Create an Ecosystem
    • Not a monoculture
  • Non-Meat, Non-Dairy Waste
  • Composting Worms Only
  • **Stay Patient**

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Worm Bin Startup

  • Choose Bin or Container
  • Add Initial Bedding Layer + Food Waste
  • Order Worms
    • ½ to 1lb per square foot
  • Feed Small Amounts of Food Waste
    • 2 parts bedding to 1 part food waste
  • Accelerate Feedings as Appropriate

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Choose Bin or Container

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Initial Bedding & Food Waste

  • 8-12 inches of bedding
  • Bedding Definition
    • carbon-rich, “slow” food
  • 1-2 cups of Food Waste
    • non-meat, non-dairy
  • Wait!

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Click to Read

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Order Worms

  • Pure Red Wigglers or Red Wiggler Mix
  • ½ to 1lb per square foot

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Click to Order

Click to Order

Click for Video

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Food Waste

  • Non-Meat, Non-Dairy Food Waste
  • Start Slow
  • 25-33% of Worm Weight
  • Chop, Blend, Puree?
  • Add Bedding!

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Click for Video

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Worm Bin Maintenance

  • Temperature 55-90°F
    • Location
  • Moisture
    • 60-70%
      • How to tell?
  • pH neutral to slightly acidic

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Worm Bin Maintenance

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Worm Bin Maintenance

  • Feeding Food Waste
    • 2 parts bedding to 1 part food waste
  • Use Sight & Smell for Feedback
  • When to Feed Again?

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Worm Bin Maintenance

Most Common Mistakes�

  • Overfeeding
  • Wetness
  • Impatience

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Click to Download

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Worm Bin Maintenance

  • Worm Bin “Pests”
  • Odors
  • Worms on Walls
  • Worm Reproduction
  • Leachate Production

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Bedding & Airflow Cures All

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Click to Read

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Worm Bin Maintenance

Common Misconceptions�

  • Worms Can Eat 100% of Their Own Weight
  • Leachate is Worm Tea
  • Composting Worms Can Aerate Your Garden

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Worm Bin Harvest

Batch Vs Continuous Flow

  • Batch
    • Manual
    • “Light Method”
    • Baiting
    • Screening
      • Trommel
      • Shaker Trays

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Worm Bin Harvest

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Worm Bin Harvest

Batch Vs Continuous Flow�

  • Continuous Flow
    • Harvest from Bottom
      • Urban Worm Bag
      • Hungry Bin
    • Harvest Bottom Tray
      • Worm Factory 360 & stackable trays

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Worm Bin Harvest

To Screen or Not to Screen?�

  • ¼ to ⅛-in screen
  • Makes it look beautiful
  • May harm biology
    • especially fungi
  • Not needed in most cases

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Click to Read

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Harvesting Continuous Flow

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Harvesting Continuous Flow

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How To Apply Castings

  • On the Soil
    • Top dress with ½ to 1 inch
  • In the Soil
    • 10% substitution rate
  • On the Plants
    • Tea & Extract

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Click to Watch

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Urban Worm Resources

Blog

Click to Visit

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YouTube

Click to Visit

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Urban Worm/Urban Farm Offer

1) urbanwormcompany.com/urbanfarm

2) URBANFARM10 at checkout

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Steve Churchill

UrbanWormCompany.com/UrbanFarm

steve@urbanwormcompany.com