Why Worm Composting Produces the Healthiest Soil on Earth

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Compost is organic matter that has been broken down or decomposed.  Food scraps, coffee grinds, paper, wood, leaves, and grass clippings are all examples of organic matter that can be composted.  Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming and maintaining thriving soil fertility.

There is nothing wrong with traditional composting, but when you’re goal is to produce the healthiest food possible, adding worms to the process will generate a far superior soil than without.

Vermicompost is the soil produced by composting using worms.  Here’s how it works: the worms eat the organic matter, and what they excrete is a more refined, enhanced, and bioavailable version of that matter.  Instead of having bacteria and fungus breaking down your compost, you are now employing bacteria, fungus and worms to do the job. 

The worm excretions, also called worm castings, unlock some of the nutrients that traditional composting cannot.  Also contained in the worm excretions are mucous, secreted from their body walls.  As Author Mike McGrath said in his 2012 Ted Talk, “The material they [worms] put out their back end, is more nutrient dense than the material they took in their front end”.

 Vermicomposting

Traditional Composting

Vermicomposting - EndAllDisease

  • Faster: Takes only 2 weeks to compost
  • More Nutrient-Dense: Worm castings contain 5-11 times more nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
  • Soil Health: Better than traditional compost at improving soil’s water retention, aeration, drainage, and stability.  Also, heavy metals that might be in the worms’ food are locked so tightly into the soil matrix they are made unavailable to plants. Earthworms also reduce all pathogenic bacteria to a level of zero.
  • More Microorganisms: More beneficial micro-organisms and plant growth hormones make it better for your garden and indoor plants
  • Less effort: Feed the worms and they will do the rest of the work for you
  • Year Round Composting: Can be done indoors or outdoors year ’round.
composting-input

  • Slower: Takes from 3 to 18 months
  • Less Nutrient-Dense: Contains Less Nutrients for your plants
  • Soil Health: Produces an overall less healthy version of soil than vermicompost.  No reduction in heavy metal contamination or pathogenic bacteria.
  • Less Microorganisms: Not as many beneficial micro-organisms as vermicompost
  • More Effort: Unlike vermicompost, traditional composting requires you to turn it every few days to increase oxygen and speed up the process.
  • Seasonal Only: Composting can only be done from spring through to the fall.

How to Start Your Own Vermicompost Farm

European Nightcrawlers - EndAllDisease

Live European Nightcrawlers Composting & Fishing Worms

  • 1 Lb Pack (approximately 600 worms)
  • Grow to 3-8 inches long
  • 2-3x bigger than red wigglers
  • Best for breaking down leaves or tougher organic material
  • A larger, more robust worm
  • Perfect for Vermicomposting and using/selling for Fishing

Price:
$21.95

Buynow1

European Nightcrawlers - EndAllDisease

Live European Nightcrawlers Composting & Fishing Worms

  • 2 Lb Pack (approximately 1200 worms)
  • Grow to 3-8 inches long
  • 2-3x bigger than red wigglers
  • Best for breaking down leaves or tougher organic material
  • Perfect for Vermicomposting and using/selling for Fishing

Price:
$37.25

Buynow1

Worm Tower - EndAllDisease

Worm Factory 5-Tray Worm Composter

  • Made with post-consumer recycled plastic
  • Dimensions 16x16x16-inch
  • Built in “worm tea” collector tray and spigot for easy draining.
  • Year Round Production
  • Odor Free Operation
  • Expandable up to 7 trays

Price:
$99.95

Buynow1

Learn more with Books about Worm Composting

Earthworm Vermicompost: A sustainable Alternative to Chemical Fertilizers for Organic Farming

The Worm Cafe: Mid-Scale Vermicomposting of Lunchroom Wastes Vermicompost like a Pro

Resources Used:
http://organnex.org/vermicompost-vs.-traditional-compost.html
http://dirtmaker.com/composting-vermicomposting.html