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

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!

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 1847-1940

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: http://www.earthwormsoc.org.uk/earthworm-information/earthworm-information-page-2

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 http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/techniques/dic/dicgallery/earthwormnervessmall.html Source: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~rlenet/Summer2006.html

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

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.

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.

Under ideal conditions red wrigglers live about five to six years Source: http://www.worm-farming.com/worm-life-cycle.html

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

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

Chemical Comparison Between Vermicompost and Soil Source: http://ncwormfarm.com/blog/?p=23 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 10 to 40% vermicompost content

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: http://ncwormfarm.com/blog/?p=23

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: http://moonco.wordpress.com/

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: http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/brewing-compost-tea.aspx 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

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: http://www.naturesfootprint.com/community/articles/fruit-flies-prevention-control-worm-bin. http://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/how-to-get-rid-of-fruit-flies-naturally Phorid flies attracted to honey water traps More information about Phorid flies at: http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/phorid-flies.htm

Sources Commonly asked Questions http://www.eulesstx.gov/composting/vc_questions.htm Nutrient analysis of earthworm castings. http://www.vermiculture.ca/transform/worm_castings.htm Agrowinn Fertilizers. Wormcast guaranteed analysis http://www.fertilizeronline.com/wormcast.php Earthworms http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~rlenet/Summer2006.html NC Worm News “The Benefits of Vermicompost http://ncwormfarm.com/blog/?p=23 Red Wigglers http://urbanwormwonders.com/red-wiggler-worms.html Ingram, Bob. “Worms Species and Categories.” http://mypeoplepc.com/members/arbra/bbb/id17.html “We Love Worms.” http://www.biologyjunction.com/earthworm%20facts.htm