Remember in the day when you used earthworms to scare your sister and other girls from the neighborhood? Hopefully you no longer scare the neighborhood women and realize the value worms are to your garden and environment. There are two types of earthworms, both are great for worm composting. In a moment we will take a closer look at both varieties.
Setting up a worm bin-the right way:
Many worm farmers believe wood is the best material to use for a worm bin. The container, which will hold the worms, can be made from an old dresser draw or chest your planed on throwing away. Or, if you have basic carpentry skills, you can build one out of a few sheets of plywood.
Drill holes in the bottom of the bin for drainage and air circulation. More holes should be made near the top part of the bin. A 1/8 of an inch drill bit is the ideal size for adding circulation hole. This allows air to flow through the worm bin, while keeping the earthworms from escaping.
Worm bin bedding material:
Worms need bedding and damp conditions to survive, grow, and multiply. They breathe through their skin and dry conditions will leave them dead as a doornail in a heartbeat. Shredded newspaper, straw, peat moss, corrugated cardboard, horse manure and decaying leaves are good bedding materials.
A handful of sand or dirt will aid the earthworms in digestion. Don't go overboard with the dirt. Why? Because some types worms live in the earth, while others, "composting worms" live in piles of rotting manure and food waste. After you add the bedding material wet it down so when squeezed a few drops of water is produced.
The two types of earthworms used are either the red worm (EiseniaFoetida) or red earthworm (Lumbricus Rubellus). The number worms you start with will depend on the volume of waste you expect to put in the bin.
A general guideline is for every 1,000 worms, add a half-pound of kitchen waste a week. As the red worm population grows so will the food you'll have to feed them. These worms have big appetites and you'll be blown away at the amount of waste they go through.
What to feed the earthworms:
There is a wide variety of foods you can feed the worms and some should you avoid. Watermelons, banana, tomatoes, coffee grounds, lettuce, strawberries, spinach, cooked eggshells, and eggplant to name a few can be added to the bin.
Do not add meat, animal fat or grains because they attract unwanted critters. Here's a little trick to keep insects from becoming a pain in the neck. Dig a hole, add the scrap and cover it with the material from inside the bin. This keeps bugs and other critters down to a minimum.
Using earthworm castings is a way of making your soil richer and more productive. It can be included at the base of outdoor crops or mixed into the soil used for houseplants. The result is stronger, healthier plants and crops without dangerous chemical residues.
Steve Habib is an active gardener and researcher on the subject of growing and caring for a variety of plants. To receive our FREE BOOK "How Do Plants Grow" visit the HOME PAGE To learn more about EARTHWORMS visit here.
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