This is our vermicompost bin at the ecohouse. Vermiculture is a type of composting that uses worms. It is beneficial because it allows food waste to compost rapidly in a self-contained system. The biggest concern I hear from people about creating a vermicompost system is the smell. However, if you properly maintain your bin, it should not smell!! How to create your own vermicompost system:
- Obtain a bin. As you can see, ours is just a plain rubber bin that is double layered. The double layering is necessary because the inside bin needs to have holes drilled in it for ventilation.
- Drill 1/8 inch holes approximately four inches from the bottom of the bin. Otherwise, the worms will stay at the bottom of the bin and possibly drown.
- Prepare the box for worms. Fill your bin with fibrous material such as thin strips of newspaper, cardboard, grass, straw, etc. Sprinkle dirt on top of the fiber material and moisten with water. Allow the water to soak for at least a day before adding worms.
- Add worms! Eisenia foetida (Red Wigglers) are the most common species used for vermicomposting. These are special tropical worms that cannot withstand cold temperatures, so make sure to keep your bin in a warm area. It is not recommended to dig worms out of your back yard for composting. If you live in Athens, you can purchase Red Wigglers at the local farmers market located by the State Street mall on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
- Maintain bin. You will speed up the composting process by keeping your bin elevated. Also, your worms will not attempt to escape if you add food waste and moisture regularly. Feed your worms food scraps weekly and add fibrous material when needed (usually once a month).
- Harvest your compost. Remove a large amount of compost and place on a piece of newspaper or plastic. Allow time for the worms to bury into the center of the compost heap, and eventually you will have two separate piles, one for the worms and one for compost. Return the worms to the compost bin and use the remaining compost for whatever you like!
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Worm-Compost-System
Hi! Why does elevating the bin speed up the composting process? I don't believe I've encountered that before.
ReplyDeleteHappy composting!
Hi Cianoy,
ReplyDeleteBy elevating your compost bin, you are speeding up the composting process because you are allowing more air to circulate in the bin and the elevation also allows for better drainage. Proper drainage is important because stagnant water will suffocate bacteria that helps the breakdown process, and it ensures that you don't attract unwanted pests such as mosquitoes. You don't want your compost to be too wet or too dry. Ideally, your compost should be damp like a wrung out sponge.
Thanks for the question, hope this helps!