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Composting Too Much Work? Try Worm Casting Instead


Worms wriggling in dark, moist soil.

Worm castings are an incredible soil enhancer, packed with nutrients that plants can readily absorb, offering a wealth of organic material, along with other beneficial elements introduced by the worms. They have a crumbly, chocolate-brown appearance, a fluffy and fine texture, and exude the rich, sweet scent of a forest floor.


By making a modest initial investment in a handful of worms, you can produce as much of this remarkable material as you desire at virtually no cost.


So, What Are Worm Castings?

The short answer is worm poop. Worms consume their own weight in decaying organic material daily, digest it, and excrete it. Unlike cow manure or other fertilizers that require composting before benefiting your soil and plants, worm castings have little odor and can be safely applied directly to your garden or the soil around your houseplants right away.


Watch the worms do their work

Are Worm Castings and Compost the Same?

Both compost and worm castings are made from digested organic matter, but there are some important differences.

  • Traditional compost is made by tiny bacteria and fungi, which break down the organic matter by dissolving its cell walls and living off the nutrients that get released.


  • Worm castings are the waste material excreted by earthworms after digestion, offering several excellent benefits that compost alone does not provide.


  • Worm castings contain more humus than compost, enhancing the soil's ability to retain air and water, and binding more micronutrients in a location accessible to plant roots.


  • Worm castings contain more micronutrients than compost and provide significantly greater microbial activity to the soil, resulting in increased yields from your plants.



Make Your Own Worm Castings

There are many types of home worm bins available for purchase. You can buy one if you wish, but you don't need anything elaborate to begin raising worms and collecting worm castings—just a large box or bin, some kitchen scraps and newspaper, and some starter worms.


  1. Start with a bin about two square feet and at least 8” deep. A 10- to 20-gallon storage tub will work well.  You will want to set your bin on a tray to catch any liquid that seeps out. Drill some holes in the bottom and sides of your bin to let the air in (worms do need to breathe) and excess moisture out.

  2. Set up your bin in a well-ventilated place that will stay between 65°and 85°F and where a bit of odor won’t offend anyone.

  3. Rip newspaper into thin strips and place a 3”-4” layer of crumpled strips into the bin, dampening it with a watering can until it is moist but not soaked. Keep it loose; do not compress it. After that, add a few handfuls of garden soil.

  4. Add your worms. Most people use a type of earthworm called red worms or red wigglers (Eisenia fetida) because they do a good job and thrive in worm bins. Give them a day to get settled before starting to add scraps.

  5. Add kitchen scraps every few days. Use a trowel or your fingers to create a hole and bury them. Worms enjoy consuming almost everything you do, along with items you don't like, such as peels and cores. However, limit citrus and avoid adding meat, bones, fats, or dairy products, as these can cause issues. Additionally, don't overwhelm the worms with too much of any one thing at once, as they thrive on variety. Bury the scraps in different locations each time you add them. During the first few weeks, it's advisable to sprinkle a handful of garden soil over each scrap deposit to cover it; after that, there will be enough castings to do the job.

  6. Each time you feed your wigglers, add some extra shredded paper on top. If the bedding and scraps are damp or you notice unpleasant odors, add dry paper to help absorb the moisture. If the contents of the bin feel dry, lightly sprinkle water over the contents and the new bedding.

  7. When your bin begins to fill with castings, it's time for your first harvest! Start placing scraps only at one end of the bin, encouraging most of the worms to gather there. After two weeks, use a trowel to scoop out the castings from the opposite end. There may be few worms in this area which you can easily pick out and return to the bin. Use your harvested castings in the garden or sprinkle some on the soil of your potted plants. Spread the remaining castings, scraps, and worm mixture evenly and continue feeding as usual.

 

 

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