1. Paul H. de Neui, Instructor
Vermicomposting
Paul H. de Neui, Instructor

2. Definition of Terms Vermiculture Worm castings Vermicomposting
The production of earthworms
Composting done by earthworms
The end product of vermicomposting
This is what we want!

3. Introducing the Main Characters: Eisenia fetida or Red Wigglers
Genus Eisenia named for Swedish naturalist
Specie name fetida (foul-smelling) comes from pungent liquid exuded when handled roughly
More commonly known as Red Wigglers
Recognizable by yellow stripes between segments
Gustaf A. Eisen

4. Fascinating Facts about Red Wigglers
No Lungs
Epigeic
Hermaphrodites
They naturally feed on leaf litter on the surface
Have both sexes but need another to mate
They breathe through their skin
Epigeic as opposed to endogeic (Lateral deep horizontal burrowers) or anecic (deep vertical burrowers with permanent vertical tunnels). Anecic are the type that leave middens (piles of castings) around the entrance to their burrows. Source:

5. Even More Fascinating Facts about Red Wigglers
Blind sight
Hearts
Headless Wonders
Earthworms have 5 hearts
No eyes but above the head worms have light sensitive tissue
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME
If you cut off a worm’s head it will grow a new tail if it has the clitellum and at least 10 more segments. Severed tails will not grow new heads.
Earthworm nervous tissue
Source:

6. Red wigglers average eating one half of their body weight per day
Common Questions about Red Wigglers
How Much Can They Eat?
How do they Eat?
What do they Eat?
Red wigglers average eating one half of their body weight per day
No teeth but strong mouth muscles. They need grit in their gizzards to help digest
They actually like to eat the tiny bacteria and mold growing on the surface of the food source
Not a real
Red Wiggler

7. Red Wiggler Life Stages
Red wigglers are mature when they develop their clitellum where the sex organs are located. When fully developed the clitellum segment turns orange in color.
Full maturity takes between 40 and 60 days.
Red wigglers mate head to tail, secreting a mucus that connects them. They exchange sperm which they store and later lay eggs in cocoons.

8. Red Wiggler Life Stages
Red wigglers lay small lemon shaped cocoons which start off pale yellow and then turn a dark brown when the baby worms are ready to hatch (three weeks to five months depending on conditions). Each cocoon houses between 2 to 7 baby worms.
Mom/Dad and Dad/Mom wiggler do not care for their young. As soon as baby worms hatch they start eating. They darken in color as they mature starting out nearly clear and maturing to deep burgundy red with yellow stripes.

9. Under ideal conditions red wrigglers live about five to six years
Source:

10. And the best part of all is what comes out in the end: the castings!

11. Benefits of Vermicomposting
Recycles waste in an environmentally-friendly way
Keeps more garbage out of landfills
A sustainable way to produce low-cost nutritionally-valuable organic fertilizer
Very little time or labor is required
Can be done year ‘round in Chicago
It can be done indoors odorlessly!
Can be done by all ages who will dig in
Income generation through sale of worms and vermicompost or both!
Materials available to everyone
The system is easily reproducible by others once you learn how to do it

12. Chemical Comparison Between Vermicompost and Soil
Source:
Vermicompost has between 5 and 11 times the Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) of regular soil – essentials for plant growth
Vermicompost also adds humic acid to soil that helps bind minerals and nutrients to soil and protect soil from UV degradation
Chemical fertilizers will increase plant growth and production quickly but will not build up the soil
Studies show best plant growth in a soil mix with to 40% vermicompost content

13. Comparison Between Normal Compost and Vermicompost
Heat of regular compost kills many beneficial microbes
Vermicompost is aerobic thus may have up to 1000 times the microbial activity of normal compost
Increased microbial activity in the soil means better disease resistance
Vermicompost can be generated in 1/3 the time of regular compost
Trench composting is a good outdoor compromise
Source:

14. Benefits of Vermicompost: It Feeds the Soil while it Feeds the Plants
Chemicals fertilizers actually destroy most life forms in the soil
Organic fertilizers such as vermicompost promote organisms in the soil
Source:

15. 5-6 tablespoons per gallon of water
How can I use vermicompost?
Add it to your potted plants as top dressing – mix in top layer
Make your own potting soil or seedling starter mix
(1 part peat,1 part perlite and 1 part vermicompost)
3. Strain it in water and make compost tea to use on all your plants
Source:
4. Add it to your raised planting beds or in your garden
5.Share it with other gardening friends
6. Experiment with other uses and have fun!
5-6 tablespoons per gallon of water

16. Uninvited Guests Fungus Gnats and Fruit Flies Phorid Flies
Humpbacked Flies
Fungas Gnats and Fruit flies are attracted to apple cider vinegar traps
See these sites for ways to deal with fruit flies and fungus gnats:
Phorid flies attracted to honey water traps
More information about Phorid flies at:

18. Sources Commonly asked Questions
Nutrient analysis of earthworm castings.
Agrowinn Fertilizers. Wormcast guaranteed analysis
Earthworms
NC Worm News “The Benefits of Vermicompost
Red Wigglers
Ingram, Bob. “Worms Species and Categories.”
“We Love Worms.”