All about vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is the process by which worms are used to enhance and accelerate the breakdown or decomposition of organic materials. The end product of vermicomposting is vermicompost, a humus like material made of compost and worm castings. Vermicompost can be used as such, or it can be screened to separate the castings from the compost. Worm castings serve as an excellent soil amendment; they can be used alone, mixed with compost or potting soil, or brewed into a tea for use on plants.

Composting is the controlled biological degradation of organic materials. In conventional composting heat is generated by the process; this heat serves to kill pathogenic (disease causing bacteria) and destroy unwanted weed seed that may be present in the compost mix. When worms are added to the composting equation, the generation of excessive heat must be avoided as temperatures above 80F will kill the worms and their eggs. The worms themselves have the capacity to kill pathogenic microorganisms though the exact way in which this happens is not well understood. Vermicompost is not sterile and is not intended to be. In fact one of the greatest benefits of vermicompost is that it will add necessary, beneficial bacteria back to your soil. Pasteurizing vermicompost would destroy this important function. The presence of weed seed is not a problem when using worm castings as most seeds are digested by the worms, what remains would be separated in the screening process.

The principals of vermicomposting are similar to conventional composting. The following ingredients are essential to both methods:

• Proper ratio of carbon to nitrogen (browns and greens)
• Moisture
• Oxygen
• Correct pH
• Correct temperature

While composting occurs quite naturally in the wild, in our "civilized" environment, knowledge, time, and effort are required to duplicate what Mother Nature does with ease. Nevertheless, learning to compost is definitely a worthwhile endeavor. A great resource for home composting can be found at Florida's On-Line Composting Center.