This document is intended to express the benefit of using earthworms to compost waste material.

It is directed at those who may be totally unfamiliar or only vaguely familiar with the process. It provides the basic principles, but greater interest will need to be further researched by the reader. I believe this description would be best presented as a poster or brochure and targeted at those who show interest in sustainability. I envision it being used at a sustainability conference, passed out to children and adults for earth day, or displayed at a recycling center.

Vermicomposting
As the world population soars above 7 billion people, global sustainability has become a pressing issue. Topics such as food production and food waste are major issues in this discussion. Increases in food production are necessary to feed the expanding population. Often synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are used to increase crop output, however overzealous application can cause these chemicals to leech into other ecosystems and have unexpected consequences. Also, animal and vegetable waste quickly accumulate during the agricultural process, which lead to additional problematic issues. Luckily, there is a simple and all-natural solution to this dilemma. Vermicomposting is a composting process by which earthworms are used to convert organic matter into a nutrient rich material known as vermicompost. The earthworms consume the waste and excrete castings, which are worm manure. Similar to traditional composting, beneficial bacteria and fungi further decompose the castings. This fully composted material is vermicompost. This process not only reduces the volume of material, but also concentrates the nutrients, and increases beneficial microbe count. Therefore, vermicomposting employs worms to quickly turn heaps of trash into a safe and effective fertilizer.

EwwWorms?
There are an estimated 1800 species of earthworm worldwide. These slimy creatures are a major element in the decomposition food web, which recycles dead organic matter into nutrients for new life. However, not all worms are the same. Earthworm species typically fall into two classes based on lifestyle, Surface dwellers or Burrowers. o Surface dwellers live within the top 6-12 inches of soil, which is typically leaf litter. They eat large amounts of organic material and reproduce quickly. They are most active at warmer temperatures and can live at high population density. o Burrowers live within 12-36 inches or deeper. They dig deep burrows and prefer not to be disturbed. They are slow to process organic material and prefer the colder temperatures of their deep den. These worms tend to be slow breeders and do not do well in captivity.

Most people are familiar with Lumbricus terrestri (nightcrawlers), the large earthworm that appears after rains. However, this species is a burrower and is not suited for vermicomposting. Because of their ideal living conditions, industrial and hobby vermiculturists rely on a surface dwelling species, typically Eisenia fetida (redworms). Due to their high reproduction rate, it is easy to raise a large population quickly.

Worms eat trash?

Unfortunately, worms wont eat ALL of our trash. They will eat almost anything organic (that is, of plant or animal origin), but cannot digest metal or plastic. Fortunately, composting worms arent too picky and are big eaters. Worms feast on bits of decaying matter along with the bacteria and fungi that accompany them. Manures are the most commonly used worm feedstock, with cow and horse manures considered some of the best natural food. They also readily consume vegetable matter like lawn waste, paper waste (such as junk mail, newspapers, or cardboard) and fresh or spoiled food waste. Although they can process meat, fats, and oils, they are typically avoided because these quickly become rancid and cause a terrible stink. Under ideal conditions, composting worms are able to consume in excess of their body weight each day, although the general rule-of-thumb is 1/2 of their body weight per day. After the material has been processed, the worms can be separated from the castings. Once harvested, castings age for a short period of time to complete the composting process.

How is poop any better than trash?

Although worm castings are indeed excrement, they are not your typical animal waste. The vermicomposting process results in a rich and crumbly material that looks and smells like good soil. Through the composting process, essential plant nutrients are concentrated, which makes vermicompost an excellent natural fertilizer. Various studies have shown that beneficial microbes within the vermicompost help protect plants from pest and disease. These microbes also increase nutrient availability and uptake. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, vermicompost does not contain metal salts and will not burn plants. Nor does it require any of the petroleum that is used to manufacture synthetic fertilizers. Instead, vermicompost is generated from a waste stream, which is itself becoming a major ecological issue.

Aged Vermicompost

Still grossed out?

Everyday, tons of plant and animal waste pile up in our landfills. Think about some of the things you dispose of such as coffee grounds, vegetable scraps, spoiled fruit, eggshells, and yard waste. When this waste decomposes in the typical anaerobic environment of a landfill, methane gas is produced. Methane is a green house gas with a greater warming effect than carbon dioxide (CO2). Instead this waste could be fed to a hungry squirms of worms. Because worms are great at grinding and digesting large amounts of material, vermicomposting is typically faster than traditional composting. Which is a good thing, because worldwide food consumption is continuing to rise. In order to meet the demand of population growth, it will be necessary to rely on natural and sustainable technologies, which nurture the land instead of poisoning it like we are currently doing. Thankfully, Mother Nature has been into green waste management for a long time. Although the elements of vermicomposting may seem repulsive, the end result is simply beautiful. By allowing the worms to do what they do best, a natural process can turn heaps of trash into piles of black gold.

Figure 1 (text heading): Generated using http://www.cooltext.com Figure 2 (worm recycle): http://s4.hubimg.com/u/4012955_f260.jpg Figure 3 (worm): http://www.wpclipart.com/cartoon/animals/worm_cartoons/worm_happy_cartoon.png.html Figure 4 (trash): http://sr.photos2.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP677/k6772762.jpg Figure 5 (poop): http://mobi-wall.brothersoft.com/files/320480/c/12813547503044.jpg Figure 6(vermicompost): http://tentgardens.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Hand-full-of-OVE-Worm-Castings1.jpg