VermiComposting: 
Vermicomposting has been found to have high values of nutrients (if done properly) such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese and copper, which can serve as a natural fertilizer giving a high yield of plants. It has also proved to be very effective and efficient for developing compost from vegetable waste. The use of worms speeds up the process of decomposition to produce a richer end product, and also allows the process to occur indoors.
Vermicomposting is most useful for residents of apartments or condominiums, the elderly, physically challenged, school staff and students, office workers, or anyone else who may not be able to setup and use a year-round outdoor compost bin. The by-product of vermicomposting is worm castings (droppings). They are tiny, brown droppings with a sweet, rich and earthy smell. The castings are extremely nutrient rich and are slowly released to the soil over the season. As a soil additive, castings prevent potted plant soil from caking
Worms:
- Up until about 150 years ago, there were no earthworms in Eastern Canada. Now, one healthy acre may contain 3 to 5 species, and about one million worms. Healthy soil should have 8-10 worms per square foot (up to 8" deep).
- Holes, or tunnels, created by worms can account for up to 90% of the water transmission through soil during heavy rain.
- Worm castings are the feces of the worms. The worm eats all soil in its way. It then breaks down the organic matter in the soil, absorbing as many nutrients as possible and excretes the left over material that the worms ingest. The castings contain 5x more available nitrogen, 7 x more available phosphorus, and 11 x more available magnesium.
- The best worms to use are Red Wiggler worms. They eat their weight in food waste every day and can be purchased from worm farmers, or dug up from your yard.
- Red Wiggler worms are NOT the worms that you would find lying on your driveway after rain. They are up to 4" long and are red with alternating light and dark brown stripes.
- Red Wiggler worms live in organic matter, which is in contact with the ground, which include decomposing leaves and plant matter, manure, and the cooler decomposed parts of the compost pile.
- Red Wiggler worms generally live in the top four inches of soil.
To determine the proper vermicomposting bin size, use the following chart:
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Number of People
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Quantity of Worms
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Bin Size
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1 to 2
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1 pound |
1' x 1' x 2' |
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2 to 3
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2 pounds |
1' x 1.5' x 2' |
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4 to 6
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3 to 4 pounds |
1' x 2' x 3.5' |
Vermicomposter Maintenance:
Bedding: Bedding materials may range from shredded newsprint and cardboard, to chopped hay and straw, leaves, sawdust, dried grass clippings, office paper shredding, and manure. Red Wiggler worms prefer bedding material that is slightly acidic. You can neutralize the acidity by adding 1 tablespoon of crushed, dried eggshells per month to the bedding mixture.
Moisture: Occasionally, the bedding material may become too moist. This can cause anaerobic conditions, resulting in a rotten-egg smell. If this occurs, simply “fluff” the bedding with a garden fork and or add dry bedding material to add more air to the compost and reduce the moisture content.
Light: Red Wiggler worms are very sensitive to light. They need a container that is opaque (can’t see through it). You should ensure that the bin has a dark plastic bag or lid placed over the bedding to keep the light out. Red Wiggler worms are so sensitive to light, that the use of light is a good way to separate the worms from the bedding material. To do this, place a strong light over the bedding. After a few hours, the worms will have moved down, out of the first several inches of bedding. The top bedding and compost can then be removed for use.
Care and Feeding: Worms should be fed at least every few days. Simply bury the food scraps at least three inches below the surface of the bedding and the worms will find it. Visually section off the compost container and be sure to add the food scraps to a different section with each feeding. This will ensure that all worms are sufficiently fed. Fresh food waste should decompose within two weeks. If you find that the food waste lasts longer than this, you may be over-feeding the worms. If this is the case, simply get another bin and more worms. Worms cannot live off their castings. Once the bedding and food scraps are replaced by castings (every 3 to 6 months, depending on the amount of worms, and how often they are being fed), it is time to separate the worms and add new bedding.
Red Wiggler worms will consume most organic materials, including animal manure, agricultural crop residues, organic byproducts from industries, yard trimmings, food preparation scraps and leftovers, scrap paper, and sewage sludge.
What to Feed Worms:
- Bread
- Coffee grounds and filter
- Crushed eggshells
- Fruits
- Grains
- Plain, cooked pasta
- Tealeaves and bags
- Vegetables (chopped small)
What not to feed the Worms:
- Dairy Products
- Fats
- Feces (human or animal)
- Meat
- Oils
- Peanut butter
- Twigs
- Spicy food
*In the past, we have suggested peat moss as a source of bedding. Recently we have learned that this is not a good practice and we encourage you to do the same.
*Peat bogs store more carbon than all forests of the world and the extraction of peat releases carbon back into the atmosphere. They are home to many rare and specialised organisms that are found nowhere else, and it takes centuries for peat bogs to regenerate.
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