global worming composting with worms the metropolitan environmental trust shelley umezawa
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Global WormingGlobal WormingComposting With WormsComposting With Worms
The Metropolitan Environmental TrustThe Metropolitan Environmental Trust
Shelley UmezawaShelley Umezawa
What is Vermicomposting?What is Vermicomposting?
The process of using red wigglers and The process of using red wigglers and microorganism to convert food scraps microorganism to convert food scraps into dark earthy smelling, nutrient into dark earthy smelling, nutrient humus.humus.
Why Vermicoposting?Why Vermicoposting? Red Wigglers can consume their own weight in organic Red Wigglers can consume their own weight in organic
matter each day. matter each day. Reduces household wasteReduces household waste Provides a year round composting activity for home Provides a year round composting activity for home
and/or school.and/or school. Great option for apartment dweller.Great option for apartment dweller. Amazing Fertilizer – (Black Gold)Amazing Fertilizer – (Black Gold) FunFun
Your Worms Expect:Your Worms Expect:
Moderate TemperaturesModerate Temperatures 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
MoistureMoisture Breathe through their skinBreathe through their skin
VentilationVentilation OxygenOxygen
DarknessDarkness To keep them focused on eating and reproducingTo keep them focused on eating and reproducing
Feeding Your WormsFeeding Your Worms
Organic Matter / Non processed foodOrganic Matter / Non processed food Fruits & Vegetables, Breads & Grains, Leaves and Fruits & Vegetables, Breads & Grains, Leaves and
Bedding, Coffee Grounds, Egg Shells, Tea BagsBedding, Coffee Grounds, Egg Shells, Tea Bags
Food to AvoidFood to Avoid Meats, Dairy, Oils, Salty Food, Sauces, Garlic, Tomatoes, Meats, Dairy, Oils, Salty Food, Sauces, Garlic, Tomatoes,
Onions, Fruit pits, Onions, Fruit pits,
Using Your CastingsUsing Your Castings
Enrich Potting SoilEnrich Potting Soil Transplanting SeedlingsTransplanting Seedlings Worm TeaWorm Tea Fertilize Mature Shrubs and TreesFertilize Mature Shrubs and Trees Lawn FertilizerLawn Fertilizer
Harvesting WormsHarvesting Worms
Dump and SortDump and Sort Newspaper or plasticNewspaper or plastic LightLight Container for castingsContainer for castings
MigrationMigration Feeding on different sides of your worm binFeeding on different sides of your worm bin
Divide and DumpDivide and Dump Remove about 2/3 of your worm binRemove about 2/3 of your worm bin
ReproductionReproduction
HermaphroditesHermaphrodites
They reach maturity in 2 to 3 monthsThey reach maturity in 2 to 3 months
They produce 3 or 4 Cocoons a weekThey produce 3 or 4 Cocoons a week
Cocoons take up to 11 weeks hatchCocoons take up to 11 weeks hatch
Cocoons average 3 hatchlings eachCocoons average 3 hatchlings each
What else lives in my bin?What else lives in my bin?
mite centipede
millipede
fruit flyisopod (sowbug)
springtailmold sporeswhite or pot worms