Composting is a great way to improve the quality of your garden’s soil. It is also eco-friendly, cost effective and can be done at home by using petty things like the leftover kitchen scraps. It generally relies on using kitchen scraps, leaves, twigs and other organic matter.
The type of composting that uses worms to speed up this process and efficiently break down organic matter into compost is known as vermicomposting.The worms used in vermicomposting are odorless and clean. To do vermicomposting effectively, you will need a vermicomposting bin.
You can get an easy and quick start by purchasing one of the affordable ready made vermicomposting bins available on Amazon and elsewhere. However, if you enjoy DIY projects or if you want to save a little money, you can also build a bin yourself. A vermicomposting bin can be made out of an ordinary plastic tub. A plastic tub measuring 20 inch by 30 inch and having a lid should be ideal. You would also require a mesh screening for which you might use an old window screen. To prepare a vermicomposting bin you will require a small drill and some shredded newspapers. Do not forget the basic ingredients of your vermicompost, the worms and the kitchen scraps. You will also require fine sand or coffee grounds and a garden trash bag.
Now to begin with the bin making you need to first drill around 20 holes on the sides and bottom of the tub you are using. The drill can measure up to a quarter of an inch. The wire mesh that you are using must be placed at the bottom of the tub serving as the vermicomposting bin. The function of this screen is to hold all the composting materials in place. Your next step towards creating a vermicomposting bin would be to shred the newspapers first and then create confetti like structure before filling half of the bin with these moistened newspapers. Next you are to add coffee grounds or fine sad over this newspaper heap.
After the work of making the vermicomposting bin is over, you have to introduce the worms on top of the heaped newspapers and fine sand. Now you need to cover up the bin with the lid and keep it in a place where it will not be disturbed. It should be kept in a cool place away from heat. For any dribbles, you can keep a garden trash bag under the bin. Keep the bin a bit above the floor by placing it above some pieces of bricks.
During the first week of the installation of the vermicomposting bin, do not feed the worms. From the next week onwards start feeding the worms with kitchen scraps and dampened newsprint. Absolutely any sort of raw or cooked food can be used to feed them. Make sure that the food is cut into extremely small pieces so that the worms can feed on them. Increase the frequency of feeding the worms as time passes. Do the work of harvesting and layer shifting after a good six to eight weeks. This will help you find worm free good compost for your garden use.
Click here for a great guide to vermicomposting!
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