Composting

Composting

What is composting

Composting is like recycling our food waste and turning it into soil!

Composting is the process of our food scraps decomposing and turning into soil which is full of nutrients and very good for your plants and home garden.

How does it work?

The red worms eat the food scraps and then their liquid that they produce goes down to the dirt and to the second box underneath. We collect the liquid which is very good to use for your plants. Their manure is also used for plants and your home garden.

What are the benefits?

The first benefit is that you reduce the amount of methane you produce a year. When the food is in the landfill it decomposes slowly and produces methane which is a big effect on climate change, but when the food is in the wormery the red worms eat it faster so its fine to the environment . Also by composting you make very good soil which is full of nutrients and can be used for plants and your home garden.

How do you make one?

You take two boxes and drill holes at the bottom of one of them ( make sure the hole are not too big because the worms might fall from there ) and some on the top where the box almost ends so air can come in the box so that the worms have enough oxygen. On the top box you add first some dirt. Then some sand and eventually I and my partner added horse manure but make sure you do some research about it to know more. Then you add the red worms and on top the food scraps. Also add a newspaper to keep the moisture and finally the lid to keep it away from bugs and flies.

The Conditions

The wormery should have a balanced temperature. You don't want it too hot because the worms will die and not too cold because they will freeze. Not to wet because it will be like a flood and not to dry because it will be like a drought. You might start seeing some mold but that is totally fine. Make sure enough air can come through the holes. Keep the wormery dark since worms don't like the light. BE PATIENT! THE WORMS WILL NOT EAT EVERYTHING IN ONE DAY!

Things to put and not to put

Things to put inside:

  • Fruits and vegetables

  • Eggshells

  • Coffee grounds and filters

  • Tea bags

  • Nut shells

  • Shredded newspaper

  • Cardboard

  • Paper

  • Yard trimmings

  • Grass clippings

  • Houseplants

  • Hay and straw

  • Leaves

  • Sawdust

  • Wood chips

  • Cotton and Wool Rags

  • Hair and fur

  • Fireplace ashes

What not to put inside:

Black walnut tree leaves or twigs
- Releases substances that might be harmful to plants

Coal or charcoal ash
- Might contain substances harmful to plants

Dairy products (e.g., butter, milk, sour cream, yogurt) and eggs*
- Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies

Diseased or insect-ridden plants
- Diseases or insects might survive and be transferred back to other plants

Fats, grease, lard, or oils*
- Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies

Meat or fish bones and scraps*
- Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies

Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter)*
- Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans

Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides
- Might kill beneficial composting organisms
* Check with your local composting or recycling coordinator to see if these organics are accepted by your community curbside or drop-off composting program.

Don't put meat and dairy. Also no cooked food, no onions and garlic. From our experience we found out that the worms like banana peals and peaces of apple. Also try to give worms a balanced diet, not only one kind food scraps.