WHAT IS VERMICOMPOSTING ?
Vermicomposting is the process by which we
can convert organic waste into rich humus by using red
earthworms. After a worm ingests organic matter, the matter
undergoes a change and what comes out is a rich plant food !
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HOW TO DO VERMICOMPOSTING AT HOME?
1. Take a broad earthen pot or an old plastic
crate. Put a layer of soil at the bottom. Add a layer of cowdung
manure or fresh cow dung ontop of this.
2. Introduce some earthworms in it. Put some
vegetable peels and leftover food into one corner of the pot ,
and cover it with a layer of dried leaves. |
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Vermicomposting |
3. Sprinkle little water to maintain the
moisture. Never flood the pot with water as this would cause the
worms to drown. During rains cover the pot.
4. The next day remove the leaves and add
some more garbage in a separate place. Cover it with leaves
again and sprinkle some more water.
5. Repeat the above procedure till the pot is
full.
6. Leave the pot for six weeks, but sprinkle
water daily.
7. Compost would be ready after 5 - 6 weeks.
Compost is ready when all the garbage has decomposed and the pot
is full of dark soil like granular substance.
WHAT WASTE CAN YOU ADD ?
Bio-degradable matter like kitchen and garden
waste should be added to the pot. This means all vegetable
peels, leftover food, tea leaves, dead leaves and plants. Egg
shells should be broken into small pieces before adding it. Meat
waste tends to attract mice, so avoid putting it.
Do not add material like plastic, metal,
rubber, glass and printed paper.
WHERE SHOULD I KEEP THE POT WITH THE WORMS ?
Best is to keep it at the corner your garden,
in a shaded place. If you do not have a garden, keep it in the
corner of your balcony / terrace (prefer a shady corner). The
place should also be sheltered from other animals like cats,
dogs and mice. Keeping it in your room is not a good idea as the
pot may attract insects which you may not welcome.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER INSECTS THAT WILL APPEAR IN
THE POT?
All kinds of creatures may creep into your
pot. This is normal, do not panic. These bugs are harmless and
even complementary to your worms.
If there is an excessive amount of other
insects in the pot, uncover the pot. Make a few cone shaped
piles in sunlight and fresh air. The sunlight and fresh air and
general disturbance would scare off the insects.
Else you could also add a little haldi powder
to keep away other insects.
If ants are a problem, then keep a water
filled container around the pot, to keep away the ants.
If rats are a problem in your area, cover the
pot with an iron mesh or a tin plate with holes.
HOW TO SEPARATE THE COMPOST AFTER 5-6 WEEKS ?
Uncover the pot and put it in bright
sunlight. The worms hate light and will burrow down.
Remove the top portion of the compost. The
worms will again burrow down.
Remove another layer of compost. Repeat till
75% of compost has been removed.
You can now use the pot for further
composting.
The worms would have multiplied by now. Take
half the worms and expand the composting into another pot or
help your friend start her/ his own worm composting.
WHERE TO USE THE COMPOST ?
Sprinkle the compost into your pots, flower
beds, etc. Do not use pure compost in pots but dilute it with
soil and sand.
WHAT EARTHWORMS ARE SUITABLE FOR VERMICOMPOSTING?
Three species of earthworms are generally used in India for
vermicomposting:
Eudrilus eugeniae ( African Night Crawler)
Eisenia foetida ( Tiger Worm)
Perionyx excavatus (India Blues)
These may be easily obtained from any organisation / farm in
your place practising vermicomposting.
