Vermitechnology

Clarification is needed for terminology used with the terms worm castings and vermicompost. The term “vermicompost” is used much like “compost”. Most people have no idea of how it is going to perform until they use it. Vermicompost contains worm castings and other organic matter that has been partially or fully composted. Who knows how much pure worm castings are found in vermicompost? The amount of pure worm castings will vary from batch to batch and from one vermicomposting facility to another. Introducing a handful of redworms into a compost pile does not produce a good quality of vermicompost.

What are Black Castings™

First we must realize that Black Castings™ is an all-natural product that is capable of making the transition from synthetic fertilizers & pesticides to an esthetic turf management system improving the health of the soil, the health of the workers applying the Black Castings™ and the members & public using the course.

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE IN NATURAL PRODUCTS AND HOW THEY WORK.

1. Compost: This is a very good product that adds organic matter & soil microbes to the soil. This is excellent for gardening and farming but not good for golf courses. Here are some of the problems created with compost.
   • This is food for the earthworms.
   • When applied to the surface, it is very slow to break down.
   • Promotes the layering effect and creates an anaerobic zone.
   • Increases thatch.
   • Adversely effects infiltration rates.
   • Immature compost will harm turf and pull nitrogen from the soil.
   • Very difficult to predict results in different batches of compost.
   • Often contains chemical contaminates and root feeding nematodes.
   • Compost tea must be brewed for 8 to 24 hours, used within 24 hours and requires frequent lab testing.
2. Vermicompost: This is a very good product that adds organic matter & soil microbes to the soil. It also contains a lot of beneficial nutrients and micronutrients. It is usually sold as worm castings, but as the name implies it contains worm castings and unconsumed organic matter, which maybe food waste, animal waste, sewer sludge, yard waste, paper, etc. That maybe really good, but when you buy vermicompost you do not know how much of the material is worm castings and how much of the material has been composted. Most vermicompost is manure based that has not been composted to kill the pathogenic bacteria, weed seed, heavy metals & residual pesticides. Here are some of the problems created with vermicompost.
   • All of the above problems exist, but the are not as noticeable.
   • When 8 oz. of vermicompost is placed in a 2 liter clear plastic jug, with water, and shaken, you will see the lack of quality in vermicompost.
   • The brewed vermicompost tea is usually a better quality, but it is still recommended to use the tea within 24 hours.
3. Black Castings™: This product is produced indoor in a climate-controlled facility under strict quality control standards. No manures or yard waste in the worm bedding and they are grain fed. This is a new dimension for the production of a great fertilizer that just happens to be certified for organic use. This patented system is the culmination of 25 years of slowly transitioning from composting to vermicomposting and finally developing a system that works and is not contaminated with any soil.

Here’s how it works:

• The worms in our facility are in an environment very similar to their natural environment.
• They consume the feedstock over and over again, until the microbes have broken down all of the organic matter with low salt index.
• There are natural microbes such as yeast, phototropic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, actinomycetes & mycorrhizal fungi present in the worms gut.
• The soil microbes very rapidly reproduce because their average life span is two hours. When the microbes die, they release the nutrients and decomposed organic matter that the worms feed on. Worm have no teeth, they cannot consume the organic matter until the microbes break it down. The microbes both internally and externally are converting the inorganic minerals to the organic form.
• The sum of the energy and exudates from the dying microbes are used to feed other members of the soil microbial food web. They all end up going through the worm’s gut and being coated with organic calcium from their calciferous gland. This happens over and over again. Each time it passes though the worm, another layer of nutrients, humic acid, and live microbes is contained within the calcium coating. It is the different number of layers that gives the sustained release effect of the pure Black Castings™.
• There is also nitrogen-fixing bacteria that convert nitrogen (N₂) from the air into a form the plant can use. The microbes enhance soil structure, which improves infiltration and degradation of pollutants. A sterile environment caused by chemicals compacts causing run off.
• Each cast is covered with various thickness of calcium that enables the Black Castings™ to be effective over a long period of time. As the moisture dissolves the calcium, it is an immediate food source for the plants. Once the calcium has been dissolved, the nutrients, micronutrients, and microbes will be released into the root zone creating a healthy soil food web. You will not see any layering effects with pure Black Castings™.
• Each year for 3 years you use less and less Black Castings™. It just depends on how sterile your soil is and how much you cut back on the synthetic nitrogen and pesticide use.

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Testimonial

I now am well on my way to getting my organic certification and can’t wait to tell Florida Organic Farmers what I’ve been using.  I now feel VERY secure in knowing the future of my farm, knowing I can count on a great harvest each year, despite conditions of drought, insects or anything else.  This stuff is a gift from God, only nature could produce.  I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to grow anything, from a small home garden to a commercial venture like mine.  My farm is truly blessed and my bushes are gleaming with health!

Karen Beatty