Dirt Rich Compost
from Worm Castings

Worms are wonderful creatures that process our organic waste into castings (worm poo or manure) that enrich our gardens with nature’s fertilizer.  Any compost, when ready, is very black which is commonly referred to as “black gold” due to it’s nutrient rich density.

Composting, in my opinion, is one of the most sustainable ways to manage organic waste and everyone can do it regardless of their living situation. 

Why is worm composting beneficial?
1.  Minimizes food waste when the worms digest the organic matter and turns it into liquid fertilizer and worm castings
2.  Reduces landfill
3.  Reduces methane production = Less Greenhouse Gas
4.  Easy, fun and a great learning experience for individuals and families

Worm compost has a specific name, ‘Vermicompost’.  Wikipedia’s definition is:  “Vermicompost (or vermi-compost) is the product of the composting process using various species of worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms, to create a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast.”

Generally vermicast is a nutrient rich, organic fertilizer that contains reduced levels of contaminants than before it goes through the decomposition cycle.  So worm castings are  perfect for organic gardening, small scale sustainable farming and even treatment of some types of sewage sludge.

There are multiple worm farm kits that are available online or in stores.  Here is a link to ‘Morning Chores’ and their Top 5 Worm Farm Kits:  https://morningchores.com/best-worm-farm-kit/.

But you might want to make your own DIY worm farm for a lot less $$….all you need are:

Two dark plastic storage bins
A drill
Shredded Paper
A pound of worms
Four wooden blocks (same size)

Here are my favorite two sites that give simple instructions for DIY worm farms:

http://modernfarmer.com/2013/05/how-to-build-a-worm-farm/

https://www.diynatural.com/vermicomposting-worm-farm-diy-easy-and-frugal/

Happy Vermicomposting!