Worm Compost

I initially didn't think this is an interesting workshop to take on, but it is faster than the regular composting that I have done in the past.

Everybody should realize the value of recycling and trying to reduce your solid waste. Composting is a method that could potentially reduce your kitchen waste and produce some high quality soil for your garden.

Materials

• Plastic bin: about one-and-a-half to two feet tall, with holes poked in the sides for air.
• Strips of newspaper: dipped in water, wrung out and placed in the bottom of the bin.
• Worms: The best kind of worms to use are red worms or red wrigglers, which are different from the earthworms that live in your garden. These worms have a voracious appetite, reproduce quickly and don't mind confinement. Look for them in tackle shops. The scientific names are Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellus.

Procedure

• Keep the bin in a dry environment, with a constant temperature of about 60 to 80 degrees.
• Place about two pounds of worms (about 1,000) in the bin.
• Feed them any daily scraps of bread, cereals, fruits or vegetables (about four ounces per day). Do not include high-fat items that will spoil, such as meat, oil or bones.
• Bury the food under the worms so it will not rot in the "open" air. Just wait until the scraps start to spoil; they won't touch food that is perfectly fresh. Once the food rots, the worms will suck out all the bacteria, and the castings they produce from the food will be rich in nutrients.

Compost

• Use a small scoop to collect the castings, which have the consistency of coffee grounds and will be deposited on top of the compost. (Most of the worms will stay buried underneath the scraps.)
• Add this nitrogen-rich fertilizer to plants, first combining it with soil if desired.