Living Green 365: Worm composting

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November 2010
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Dear Living Green 365 readers,
Diverting food waste from the trash to a compost bin reduces greenhouse gas emissions
and captures valuable nutrients that plants need. Even if you don't have a garden,
a neighbor or friend is sure to enjoy your finished compost. Learn to compost with
worms this fall and you'll be helping the environment. You'll also have great stories
to tell about your new, wriggling pets!
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[No backyard? No problem]

Worm composting indoors

Worm composting, also called vermicomposting, uses red wriggler worms to eat decomposing
food waste. Worm composting is a great option for apartment and townhome dwellers
or people who don't want to walk through the snow to their backyard compost bin
in the winter.

What do red wigglers eat?
Red wigglers eat decomposing plant material. In your bin, they will eat uncooked
fruit, grain, or vegetables; egg shells; and coffee grounds and tea bags. Don't
feed them meat, fish and other animal products; dairy products; greasy or fried
foods; or pet waste.
What you will need to get started
Container: You can buy a bin specially designed for vermiculture, or you can make
your own out of two nesting storage bins. Directions for a DIY bin [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXieLM7cW1hHh1YONO4IysVZMn6ZyX0jQ1hcdHtFe5zoXBjfFXDw-Vpf4NxkbBuJBXMXhiuJ7IoiRjYRp9GISNZv92rUYvWAAy_lvmwomKX6SoZr9ZhwOgEe4RIII0pf96wVflm5pYrZ-6Ft8riLgMBl]
are available online.
Bedding: You can use peat moss, shredded paper, shredded black-and-white newspaper,
or leaves. If using peat moss or shredded paper, you should add a handful of soil,
as the worms need the grit for digestion. The soil also adds bacteria that will
help the food decompose. Whatever your choice of bedding, it should be damp and
the moisture consistency of a rung-out sponge.
Worms: Only red wigglers will work in a worm bin (earth worms from your garden are
a different species and do not eat decomposing food). The general rule of thumb
is one pound of worms for every half pound of food produced per week. You can buy
worms for composting online. A few choices areMagic Worms [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXj0y5Jrn3iZ4inXAFhy65tlxNTVS8lsqCPJixMh5r1fWlZt_5olZYxgQejZ7VfcQnttkvaAnzRbLJrHnycSeo7Prm9o3_f-XYGBTVOlN3710Q==],
Working Worms [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXjG7VZVgdBYOx3XuES5cfyHAQ91Uh9O_CCRV_ddGdbxk9pBxuuxuPp0wMW8R84U4TFCSq9v-812DDx08kXxwANinyK9ZKOIs4nWzjI3L2mBtnt1GHrcdt9FrLVk5GZzSJ8=],
orLaverme's Worms [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXjhYFki12SfvnvtGMsrS87zJQvPXrtifPBlf3486CLCDQ0wh1XNxXYl-3WmzjvPAfHuUtn3qxpLghJeXeFocA-kVtZV2hvunliZ1jnx0_DYuqBN1qu1d9rJ].
Once you have the container, bedding, food and worms, you are ready to start. Prepare
you container as described in this worm composting video [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXjYLoitQfZb-3HTuFtNzfFZYxYwXNagVC8frOtHXP5kWqpTLONz1R8DjIT-HinWjU1BZKHWL3zp3w6xoQ17ibd8PzjPeaXAO4aP0UGvsrIxD2SA7oMBiV6-51ovFVOf49R10MU36gplHidUGOADYFB4eYDIct4jHOXUeSE7q0DOq76GXNXIa4Mk94t_OI9_9IQjuqsyDJ27ZvTbXbAlqAsu-3b1nxqAobFJL9CusbetElxmdXU05OY8vX2enNAnu6NnqLXi6I89QS3Kyiu9CVNqBn10vsUzCxE=].
Fill the bin full of damp bedding and handful of dirt, brush aside some of the bedding
to make a hole to place the food in, put your new worms on top of the food, and
brush the bedding back over the food/worms. You have just started to compost with
worms!
Each time you add food to your bin, dig a small hole and cover the food with bedding.
The worms will crawl over to the new food.
What do I do with my compost and "worm tea?"
To harvest your finished product (it will look like a very damp dark soil), you
simply feed one side of the bin for a couple of weeks and the worms will move over
to that side of the bin. You can then harvest the opposite side. Place bedding in
the empty space and start feeding that side of the bin. Repeat the above process.
The harvested materials can be mixed with potting soil when you are potting flowers
in the spring, or top dressed (1/4 to ½ inch) over existing plants.
You will also get "worm tea" in the bottom bin. Decant it into a plastic bottle
and mix 20 parts of water to 1 part of tea. The tea is very high in nitrogen, so
it must be diluted or you risk burning your plant.
A final word on worms
It is important to avoid spreading non-native species. All wild earthworms in Minnesota
are non-native, invasive species from Europe and Asia [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXh7evWwj8tr2F6Gj9aJ_G0eQPHqNiXsBwSdkJdv47_5MprgP26w7R5GSn9v5hYZ5VB7Yt5caU5yJounBt_fyWGZck87W7sbTRSaiQEWY9W3_Xs5BGETrCHCJ7kS4en47DModLHfwC2BJFgWS3CM6ko7jdOXYOYD7obZ3JWbYNiBcOsl1hybBi-V].
These non-native worms are invading our hardwood forests and causing the loss of
tree seedlings, wildflowers, and ferns.
Red wriggler worms, living outside a worm bin, are not known to survive Minnesota
winters. Even so, it is a good idea to kill any worms you didn't remove from your
compost, and their eggs, by freezing the compost for at least 1 week before spreading
it on your garden.
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[Days of our green lives]

Community events and resources

Introduction to Renewable Energy Opportunities [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXjFb0xPp-X18PRZaU2W76LOIGFTP-dJuVKJIFhNbuowCcxjBBF2qNVhMi5kwvKiCHHxwAG4ShlLYC72pZW9KAOLt7Z-AFV7EdacCZu-L33cjtwALXcRgykT]
introduces students to solar PV (electric), solar hot water and space heating, passive
solar and active solar hot air heating, wind energy, energy efficiency, costs, rebates
and incentives, finance options, and career opportunities, November 13, 9 a.m.-5
p.m., Wilder Recreation Center (St. Paul).

November 15 is America Recycles Day [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXgqKKSAkMX1_ZJCa_BlRe5k2j3BYwmOZ1rBwhaWUYpilxbSderVCOvLKcYzq22jwTwGtwesyI-t3DW-F81c481tzP8SZb1SLtDFuCK2_1jb9tZIFXJEUWqgYcBpz8rcD6BYaivAOoLKXADCojksR_vPalJKyg215Ps=].
Make a pledge to recycle or organize a community event to promote recycling where
you live.

At the next BALEN event, Phil Hunsicker of 1000 Friends of Minnesota will talk about
A Conservation Design Scorecard [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXhgZvPaW1_mJIbEX8U7_qUmB-cfi16mJLIJOAD8zKP3EyJDcrVN442_oad8KlRCGB-O2ABFQxCGR9B_4yp4n5VA7hbQqx7t5NMyoPDFoewPZigyUJvhx1guCgOdPtzJeQlpDTzrVA69hcDsVBSrH6KHkAxgHEQHMp0=].
The scorecard measures to what degree a proposed Conservation Design development
achieves the optimal balance of development with conservation, November 18, 3-5
p.m. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency office (Baxter/Brainerd).

Learn about low-waste holiday traditions and stock up on eco-friendly gifts at the
Green Gifts Fair [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXjpsXGb-hJwZADXOxkUNCcfkBs4_5O3glGGV-5rGHHRq1O1eYYG-KDXX7UKCcOP2c5GVD3J6ZtuO4_SczXvA13P34jQF_i3-dmm-6Aunqom-5WCtNEhngXh],
November 20, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Midtown Global Market (Minneapolis).

Does Christmas feel like a frantic race that leaves you worn out and unsettled?
Take a day exploring new ideas about the holidays at a workshop called Overstuffed
for Christmas [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXjNgMHz5sgvTjhWFSghVw25ZgU8FaBLvSWfLC_jwxH8dEpcu64mLvM_06PwqWYOuf-xLhcZtU8z2rpp9JIhBQAdD_8Mksxk3NZgoSrxUSJ8UMYS9sLpdJ1P6w81Mt-x-obxN4BFtA1uoAHkkfg2hDQMQhYheEPdhf0=],
9 a.m.-1 p.m., November 20, Spirit United Church (Minneapolis).

Look for more events on the SEEK [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXg3YWg0rSsGzPsHxzfS7psMwd704bKCBGbfYhc4BsDOQFFQEV4K7q15-QMhWYPXPBicL5CRh14M3zB7cp0di-QH83u7PWdYATp6htiVZQPf-eZfpbcRNLGFX6e3uXnbvJE=]
and NextStep [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXgLmaQF-T-xrN2jQ0P-I3kpt-_OVbd9KVoPyqRiN7zWM598BdBoR7VOw2KWvblEFMFNWK7sI5xbU8Jfkw2iuIxV16K1D09qX7Bq2I_EtA0iyh5Fq5s0ZIrpXJWZNSnmnwg=]
calendars.
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[Quick links to other MPCA resources]

· The home of Living Green 365 on the web:livinggreen.org [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXhuiB5f7PgQdpadOQtfj7sxIxN7vOFrQF7vbo7_IAvLa4Pfw30EBqJv0Ba5EMuMjIKOc6uxW7va_jUvhE-DktWGA8cotZIcbgn3_ezLV0n2Cw==]
· Our web site about reducing your trash:reduce.org [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXjfH0tiDhQEA94vVF9yOCPzDkYX2TlWqcXcFiguo9Pgc1IYcOeaShzxs1OD-40CFCQ5JQ2iQRiNG8p5x_YORuiGR9C009nRknLHTCEaEFbaKA==]
· Resources for people teaching about our environment:SEEK [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXg3YWg0rSsGzPsHxzfS7psMwd704bKCBGbfYhc4BsDOQFFQEV4K7q15-QMhWYPXPBicL5CRh14M3zB7cp0di-QH83u7PWdYATp6htiVZQPf-eZfpbcRNLGFX6e3uXnbvJE=]
· A clearinghouse for sustainability tools and initiatives:NextStep [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXgLmaQF-T-xrN2jQ0P-I3kpt-_OVbd9KVoPyqRiN7zWM598BdBoR7VOw2KWvblEFMFNWK7sI5xbU8Jfkw2iuIxV16K1D09qX7Bq2I_EtA0iyh5Fq5s0ZIrpXJWZNSnmnwg=]
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You can read past newsletters atlivinggreen.org [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXiunKNb11-Tv8PvvZE7fKG-KMI32kM95nASV2EEA1pqN01mGzMwWebESlls7R-kliRlk3nqhzElG6YhGiXvcIkrC0BF_jNN2yuxEJRmg2A-rQ==].
Send questions or comments about living green to the address below.
Sincerely,
Britt Gangeness and the Living Green Team
livinggreen365.pca@state.mn.us [mailto:livinggreen365.pca@state.mn.us]
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tsmzpfbab&et=1103756529702&s=14296&e=001a7EntmLiLXhXIMiEbiO3lAdTuVS8zQDRfcnYkhV6m7Anw5YIuRsUpGdBXJ1ygul0fzr0bLdGShpmO4eFGTuEgXXh7a_e8P0F1RFKJuDmT1AgdhNg5TrUpg==]
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