While the use of a compost tumbler is fine for many purposes, it is not needed nor would it fit all the material I collect from the yard this time of year. Besides for many people the cost of purchasing a compost tumbler to use once a year may not be worth it. Do not get me wrong, a compost tumbler for an avid gardener can be a great tool to have in ones arsenal. The main thing to keep in mind is the height of the pile or windrow. I started my compost pile at four and a half feet high.  Height is important in order to generate enough heat as well as maintain it to break down the organic materials. From here I will now build on it to form a windrow but decided to build a pile to start with as most people do not have the amount of material that falls on our property to build a windrow.

In order to make the compost pile more effective I did a couple things. First, being the smaller the particles the more surface area made available to aerobic microbes which assist in the breakdown of the organic matter, I mulched the material into finer particles.

Here is a pile of leaves prior to mulching using a mulching lawn mower I purchased several years ago for this purpose.

Here is the same pile of leaves after being mulched

Secondly, to help speed things up, I used worm castings being they are already full of beneficial aerobic microbes. This enables them to get right to work rather than waiting for them to develop within the pile before they can assist in breaking down the compost pile.

Worm castings were simply sprinkled over the compost pile in between layers added. I also moistened down each layer of the compost pile after adding the worm castings.

While we had a cool rain yesterday afternoon and evening and a cool 41 degrees Fahrenheit this morning the internal temperature of the composting material just 24 hours after piling up the material was already at 107 degrees Fahrenheit.  Keep in mind while the temperature is climbing rapidly, I still want it to raise it approximately 60 degrees more.

The only thing left which can be controversial is whether to turn the pile (hot composting) or to leave it alone (cold composting). Hot composting piles should be turned just as the internal temperature begins to drop, usually at least once or twice a week. This process helps to keep the pile oxygenated which utilizes aerobic microbes. This is the method I prefer as it is quicker, can kill off seeds in the pile by basically cooking them and does not have an odor.

Cold composting on the other hand is a much slower process, usually will enable any seeds in the pile to germinate in the spring time and does generate an odor being the compost is broken down by anaerobic microbes. Anaerobic microbes in some instances such as found in swamps are known to cause sickness and diseases. Anaerobic microbes are not beneficial to garden areas or worm bedding, hence why I personally prefer hot composting with beneficial aerobic microbes.

Bruce

It was not until the earlier part of the 1900’s that composting began to evolve.

Today, tens of thousands of regular folks are taking part in composting via a tumbler or compost pile they manually turn periodically utilizing aerobic microbes to assist in the breakdown of organic matter.

The one area many people are unaware of is that by introducing red worms and even some nightcrawlers better known as worm composting or vermicomposting, can assist and be even more beneficial than traditional composting.

First, rather than having to turn the pile, the red worms are constantly eating organic matter moving through the pile. This aids in the aeration of the system which can save you time and your back!

Secondly red worms can speed the process of breaking down your compost pile allowing you to benefit faster from your (or should I say your worms) efforts.

Lastly, without getting all scientific here, worms have another benefit when they produce worm castings also known as worm poop and vermicast. The worm castings contain additional beneficial bacteria which are in the worm’s digestive system. Even though there is little known to how exactly worm castings work, test have shown that plants that are introduced to soil containing worm castings grow faster, produce more fruit, vegetables and flowers as well are less susceptible to soil born diseases.

One item that stands out with the addition of worm castings is the superior root growth over those without. This may even help to explain some of the results from the tests performed on plants using worm castings in the soil mix since a healthier root system usually means a healthier plant.

Now there are over 2,200 species known to man so how does one select the right worm for the job?

There are four basic worms that can be used depending mostly on your local climate conditions. One of the most popular known are the red wigglers. It is a smaller worm which can tolerate cooler temperatures as low as about 50 degrees and fair alright in warmer temperature upwards of 90 degrees or so Fahrenheit. When I discuss temperatures I am not referring to the ambient temperature but rather the temperatures within the compost pile itself.

Another worm would be the European nightcrawlers which are not really a nightcrawler… more on this topic can be found here (opens in a new window). This worm can tolerate the cooler temperatures of around mid forties however does not fare well above 85 degrees and extreme humidity. This worm is also referred to as a trout worm and leaf worm.

Alabama Jumpers are probably one of the most versatile worms as it originated in the tropics of some Asian countries and can be found as far north as northern New England. Alabama Jumpers actually fall under the earthworm category since they can burrow well beneath the surface which also helps aerate the soil around plants deeper than most other worms. This worm can tolerate very warm conditions and will become sluggish in the mid fifties. Now one unique trait of some earthworms is to be able to survive very low temperatures by basically burrowing down beneath the surface and going into a process similar to hibernation. To read more on this worm, visit the Alabama Jumpers Blog.

For very warm climates year round African nightcrawlers will do the trick. Yes, this worm originated in Africa and can tolerate up to 110 degrees in the shade as long as it has circulating air. If temperatures within the compost pile fall below 60 degrees the worms will begin to die off.

One thing to keep in mind, should temperatures fall to cool and kill off the worms, if they have laid cocoons (worm eggs) they will hatch come the spring even if they freeze.

Bruce

Red Wiggler Worms - Great If Primary Purpose Is Composting.

Red wigglers, also known as red wriggler worms, are said by many to be the best composting worm. Realistically they are very prolific and are easy to raise in a bin since they will basically take to their new environment right from the start where as your nightcrawlers usually try to wander more until they settle in.

The red wiggler prefers temperatures of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and is the smallest of the compost worms. They will eat your basic vegetable and fruit scraps turning it into “Black Gold” or worm castings. They will survive well in simple bedding made of shredded cardboard and newspapers.

African Nightcrawlers – Great Worm If Primary Purpose Is For Both Composting And / Or Fishing.

These are a superior worm with a dual purpose. They not only eat more than the other red worms but also make an excellent fishing worm growing to lengths of 8 to 10 inches long. They are very prolific and one of the hardiest worms to raise.

African Nightcrawlers worm castings are different looking as well as feeling than other red worms. The castings are darker yet lighter and fluffier. There is no difference in the worm castings when it comes to microorganism’s growth or PH levels.

The African Nightcrawler is more heat tolerant and prefers temperatures between 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They will eat your basic vegetable and fruit scraps turning it into “Black Gold” or worm castings. They will survive well in simple bedding made of shredded cardboard and newspapers.

European Nightcrawlers - Great For Those Who’s Primary Purpose Is Fishing.

This is one of the favorites of fishermen. They also do a good job composting your scraps; however they are not as good as the Red Wiggler or African Nightcrawlers.

These nightcrawlers grow to about 3 to 4 inches in length and can tolerate cooler water temperatures. The European Nightcrawler is also the only red worm which can survive a while being fished in brackish water which also classifies them as a hardy worm to raise.

European Nightcrawlers prefer a temperature range of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They will eat your basic vegetable and fruit scraps turning it into “Black Gold” or worm castings. They will survive well in simple bedding made of shredded cardboard and newspapers.

Alabama Jumpers - Great For Fishing & Yard… Garden Composting.

The Alabama Jumper is a unique composting worm being it does not do well raised in bins however prefers clay and sandy soils due to the tougher skin they have. This enables them to borough through hard packed clay without a problem.

They do not eat vegetable scraps but rather carbon based products, i.e. hay, shredded cardboard, leaves… Alabama Jumpers live up to its name by wiggling so quickly and violently it will actually leap out of your hand. With this type of action, think about what it will do when placed in front of a fish.

Alabama Jumpers will migrate eventually throughout your yard and or garden areas, leaving worm castings towards the surface. They will not harm plants or their roots however will aerate the soil.

Alabama Jumpers can tolerate as far north as Tennessee. When the colder weather comes, they will borough below the frost levels… These are a very easy worm to raise since they have minimal needs.

There you have it, the basic information needed when selecting “composting worms” which will work best for you!

Bruce Galle also known as “The Worm Expert“ has been involved with Vermicomposting and assisting others over the years. Bruce is also the founder of Organic Worm Farm, where he personally raises and sells several worm species for composting and fishing: http://OrganicWormFarm.com/store

A great added benefit to any gardening, composting, fishing… website.

Unlike other affiliate programs, Organic Worm Farm is paying their affiliates weekly! Whether it is sales for composting worms or nightcrawlers for fishing…

The impressive part is they did not raise prices and still offer free shipping on all orders through their website as well as affiliate sales.

To find out more and view the terms of use, click here.

I figured I would go ahead and order some from different websites. To my amazement I found numerous problems. In fact only one order of six placed were truly worm castings.

Basically only five of the six shipments received were vermicompost, or simply put worm castings mixed with composted products. Do not get me wrong, vermicompost by itself is a good product for fertilizing your plants. However there are a few problems with this and the way every order was shipped.

If you intend to make worm tea from the castings, I do not recommend you use vermicompost as this can create an acid based solution. As you make your brew, the compost material mixed within, can further break down releasing acids.

True worm castings should be right in the neighborhood of 6.5 on a PH scale and able to maintain this ph level. Worm castings themselves are what make worm tea, period!

To separate worm castings from the vermicompost mix, use a 1/8″ screen. I have posted an original worm harvester which uses several screen sizes for the average worm composting fan on another post.

OK, really need to get rid of some pictures in my cell phone, as I was looking for the one below and it took a little time This is a 5 gallon bucket of worm castings. Notice the PH level.

Worm castings are loaded living creatures, micro-organisms. You have to ponder why anyone would then ship me worm castings in sealed Ziploc type storage baggies, cutting of air, hence oxygen to the castings. On top of this, they were shipped flat rate, taking an average of five days according to the postage stamps. That’s five days if not more (do not know when they were actually sealed in the bag) that the worm castings were cut off from oxygen and exposed to summer heat in the back of a USPS or UPS truck for 5 days.

I know I personally would not survive the trip

Now I do not always offer worm castings, as I use them up as quickly as I get them in my own garden (yes I know it is greedy of me but we treat the worm castings the same as live worm orders. After all, they are loaded with living organisms… You can check here for worm castings availability.

The proper method to store worm castings is the same as you would for a worm bin except with less moisture. Ours are stored in large bins with a constant moisture content of 30% to 40% at a temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

We do not bag up our product until we are preparing each order. Next, we use breathable bags that retain moisture, the same ones we ship our worms in.

Lastly, since these are living organisms, all our worm castings are shipped priority mail, to insure the best quality worm castings by eliminating extra time exposed to heat or extreme cold in the winter time.

Have fun composting,

Bruce

Worm composting is a process by which red worms, usually red wriggler worms, also known as Eisenia foetida are added to organic matter to assist in the breakdown of bacteria growth, hence assisting in the decomposition of such matter. The result is broken down into two categories, worm compost or vermicompost and worm castings (worm droppings).

Worm compost is what remains after organic matter is broken down into a mix of compost and worm castings which smells like virgin black soil. This is even a better by product than regular compost for your gardening needs.

Worm castings are the remains left over in your worm composting bin after about one year, which are also known as “black gold”. This product is as good as it gets for your garden! Again this does not smell bad, but rather like fresh top soil.

Worms have been around for over 120 million years. Aristotle called them “the intestines of the Earth”.

Darwin who studied worms for 39 years stated “The plow is one of the most ancient and most valuable of man’s inventions; but long before he existed the land was in fact regularly plowed, and still continues to be thus plowed by earthworms. It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organized creatures”.

Worm composting can be done on a small or large scale as well as indoors or outdoors.

If your worm composting bin is maintained correctly, it does not produce an odor. In fact when I first became more serious about my vermiculture I ended up with over 15 bins in my home. I got away with this even though my wife freaks out over just the site of a single worm

Worm compost and worm castings are by far the best organic fertilizer for your plants with added benefits as well. With tests conducted at Universities, results were astonishing not only in growth difference by simply adding 5% or more of worm composting to the soil but also disease resistant plants! Test showed that plants without vermicompost exposed to over 150 plant diseases and carcinogens did not fare well for the most part as most died. The plants with five percent or more of worm compost added did survive and appeared not to be affected by the diseases and carcinogens.

Worm composting offers other benefits as well. Vermicompost retains moisture better than regular soil. Simply mix in your soil or apply on top of the soil around your garden plants. Worm tea a byproduct made by adding worm castings or worm compost to water can be used to fertilize plants by spraying and help in prevention of dry fungus on plants.

Releasing some worms from your worm composting bin into your garden not only helps to convert organic material in the garden, but also aerates your soil as they borough through and around the roots of plants.

As a fisherman, there is another benefit to worm composting by which you have a never ending supply of red worms for your adventures! The best for fishing are the red wriggler worm which is a smaller worm with a tougher skin, hence staying on the hook longer and the African nightcrawler. The African nightcrawler has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid and hence my first worm composting bin was established.

Worm Composting Blog offers an array of red worms for sale in smaller quantities if you are just getting started to larger quantities for those who are already established.

Bruce