Worm Compost
What is it?
Worm composting, also known as vermicomposting, is a process that transforms organic matter into compost in order to produce healthy, fertile soil. This process is directly tied to and may help reduce issues like food waste because the first step of it involves repurposing food scraps and paper trash as food to feed the worms that live in the soil, which leads to the production of worm manure. When the worms consume, digest, and produce their nutrient-rich casts, it mixes with the decomposing humus to form the optimal soil and fertilizer desired by growers.
Local
Your food leftovers can be converted into a nutrient-rich fertilizer that can be used for indoor and outdoor plants via worm composting. Worm composting is only effective for food waste, so this is an easy practice for your own backyard! Worm bins are a great option for limited spaces because they are often smaller than backyard compost bins. This method can be easily implemented at Grand Valleys Sustainable Agriculture Project. Worm compost bins should be kept in a location that won't freeze or overheat as direct sunlight can overheat the worms and kill them. A garage, like the one at the SAP can be a perfect shady location for a worm bin. Worm composting is a successful and organic method of trash reduction, soil creation, and garden fertilization. Composting has several advantages beyond just providing a natural means of getting rid of household food leftovers.
National
As sustainability is becoming more popular within agriculture, worm composting is an efficient and effective way to stay sustainable within farms, especially in the U.S. Around 40% of all food in the U.S. is wasted (FDA, 2023). But with worm composting becoming a more common theme within agriculture, this percentage could be reduced. The U.S. is also known for having one of the largest carbon footprints so with the help of worm composting we can nationally reduce the amount of waste that is brought to landfills which then leads to the production of methane, a greenhouse gas. Worm composting is a small, but great step for making agriculture more sustainable here in the U.S.
Global
As stated above, worm composting can help reduce related issues such as food waste and pollution, which impact our entire planet. The garbage that so often goes unused leads to pollution and causes plants, animals, and humans to suffer from toxins that seep into our natural resources. With small steps of repurposing our food waste into worm food, we can all contribute to lessening the contamination of our ecosystems and help fight the growing threat of climate change.
"Wormies"
Wormies is a composting service right in Grand Rapids. The company sells actual soil blends with worms already living in it, as well as composting worms or "red wrigglers", which can help get farmers and gardeners started on the right path to manage organic waste more successfully and optimize their soil's fertility.
Wormies also has its own composting CSA (community-supported agriculture) in order for those who do not have the space or resources to garden from where they live to still enjoy what is grown at the CSA and learn about composting firsthand.
Worms at Work
Research notes that: "For every 5 pounds of trash they take out of our hands, they [worms] yield about 1 pound of nutrient-rich finished compost," (Francesca, 2019).
This video demonstrates how quickly worms can break down food waste and reuse it in order to contribute to the production of healthier and more fertile soil.
Worm Composting Budget and Timeline
The budget for worm composting is fairly low as it only requires food, worms, dirt, and limited materials. On average, a basic worm composting bin would cost between $40-$60 depending on how much extra tools and materials you use.
Below are some examples of the materials you might use for your own worm compost bin:
Container ~$5-$10 (a barrel, a storage container, or even a drawer. The bin must be between 10 and 16 inches deep, have ventilation holes in the bottom or sides, and have a tight-fitting cover)
Bedding material ~$5-$20 (shredded newspaper, cardboard, peat moss, garden soil, dirt).
Worms and food!
After setting up your bin, you can begin gathering worm compost 2 to 3 months later. After the worms have moved to the new food and bedding, you can harvest the compost. To maintain the health of your worms, it is suggested you harvest at least once a year.
