Interested in upping your composting game? Consider incorporating vermicomposting into your repertoire!
What is vermicomposting?
Vermicomposting, or worm composting, is like composting on steroids. The technique is the use of worms to convert your kitchen scraps and other organic wastes into compost.
What’s so great about it?
The benefit of this type of composting is that you do not need a backyard to house your composting pile. All the magic can happen inside a container with holes. Store it out of the way where you have space.
Vermicomposting can be done in any climate because it takes place in the container inside your temperature-controlled house. Brilliant!
What you need
1. A container: You will need a container to house your vermicomposting project. This container can be plastic or wood but make sure it is not too deep. Not having a shallow enough bin can lead to odors because a deeper depth is not ideal working conditions for the little worms. Ensure that the lid is cracked or that there are holes in the bin. Store the container wherever you have space in your residence. Make sure the temperature of your storage location is decently warm. Don’t want to freeze nor roast your worms!
2. Worms and kitchen scraps: Within your container, you will obviously need some worms and kitchen scraps. In particular, you will need red worms. They work best in a vermicomposting bin. The amount of worms depends on how much kitchen waste you will add to your bin each day.
3. Bedding: In addition to your worms and kitchen scraps, an appropriate amount of bedding is necessary for your worms. Some good items to use as bedding include shredded corrugated cardboard, shredded paper, peat moss, or commercial worm bedding (if you want to make that more expensive purchase).
4. Moisture: To top it all off, your bin contents, especially the bedding, need to remain moist. An easy way to apply additional water is through a spray bottle. Keep it hydrated for successful vermicomposting!
You are now armed with the basic knowledge of vermicomposting. You have the power to raise your composting game to the next level.
Feature image courtesy of Sippakorn Yamkasikorn