The Top 7 Reasons to Vermicompost

Red Wiggler Worms Make Composting a Snap

Adding vermicompost to the garden improves soil texture, is a natural fertilizer, and helps plants fight disease and pests.

Compost piles are great. Especially if you have large amounts of yard waste to be recycled. However, the compost pile can be a lot of work. Watering and turning are usually mandatory. And winter time composting can be a hardship.

I hate snow, and the thought of tromping outside to add kitchen scraps to the compost pile is not one I cherish.

Smaller compost piles of kitchen waste can be difficult to maintain due to the small volume of material.

An alternative to the compost pile is composting with worms.

Top 7 Reasons to Vermicompost

1. To get started, all you need is a worm compost bin red wiggler worms, and some kitchen scraps.
2. Composting with worms diverts organic, usable waste from the landfill. It is estimated that 30% of waste that enters the landfill is organic matter.
3. Adding organic matter to the soil increases soil fertility and sequesters carbon. Compost, whether produced by worms or not, is pure organic matter. Adding this organic matter to the soil locks up carbon.

   Practices such as burning and tilling release carbon. The release of excessive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere have created global warming. Rotting organic waste in landfills creates methane, another greenhouse gas.

4. Vermicompost is higher in nutrients than traditional compost produced by microorganisms. Something in the gut of the worm adds additional nutrients to the food taken in and spits it out the other end.
5. Worm compost bins can be kept in the house and do not smell. I can give you an iron clad guarantee on this one. My husband has the most sensitive nose on the planet. The worm bin sits right next to his seat at the dining room table. He has never said a word about any odors coming from the bin.
6. Worm compost bins can be as small as a shoebox or as large as a refrigerator. Worm composting can fit your needs, from a counter top bin to a large chest out in the garage.
7. Worm populations grow and extra worms can be added straight to the garden where their rich castings will be deposited right at the roots of your vegetables. Worms can be added directly, or via a worm tower .

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Return from vermicomposting to build a compost pile