Believe it or not, one of the hottest trends for 2018 is to start a backyard compost and organic garden. The first step, ordering worms for your compost. Though you can start your compost in just about any type of container, but some worms are better for a compost. While there are over 9,000 species of worms, only a few are suitable for composting.
In North America, Eisenia fetida or red wigglers are the most popular since they tend to live on top of the soil and are known for not wandering off.
You may be thinking, the project may turn into a smelly mess. But the fact is, if done right, a compost pile with worms has an earthy smell.
Earthworms leave behind a rich organic compost filled with vital nutrients. As the worm eats the organic matter and soil you add to the compost (every week they can eat twice their weight), their specially designed digestive system adds good bacteria and calcite granules, enriching the waste or castings.
“Adding castings to soil increases plant growth, according to both anecdotal evidence and scientific studies. For instance, strawberry plants with vermicompost worked into the soil had more than a third more flowers, plant runners and marketable fruit weights than plants to which only chemical fertilizer had been applied,” according to an article in the Washington Post.
It is important to remember, a worm compost does take maintenance, especially in the beginning until you get the right balance. After all, they are living creatures, just like our soil. But the results can be amazing!
At Vermitechnology we have simplified the process for you
We create high quality organic products ready to use in your garden. Our worms are fed a high quality diet, which means they are not produced with yard waste, cow, horse, or any other grazing animal manure. Our castings are separated with a screen material. The entire process can take months, but the final product is the highest quality soil amendment. They break down slowly, reducing the need for repeated applications, making black worm castings very cost-effective
— Charles Darwin, in “The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms, With Observations on Their Habits,” 1881