Composting worms, such as red wigglers, are a non-native species preferred for composting they process large amounts of organic waste daily, can handle disturbances and thrive in confinement, whereas earth workers do not. While beneficial in their own way, earth worms are not ideal for composting. The worms you see most often, crawling on pavement after a long rain or burrowing deep into your garden are known as earth workers, or earth worms. It is important to understand the difference between earth worms and composting worms.

Save energy typically required for waste removal and transportation.Īll worms are not created equal! Choosing the right worms for vermicompost can make or break your compost system.

Prevent this unnecessary waste from ending up in landfills. generates more than 34 million tons of food waste each year (EPA 2011).

Worms will reduce your waste production by reusing food scraps and recycling nutrients.

Vermicomposting encompasses all three R’s: reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Lessen crusting and other physical damages common to soils in arid climates.

Increase moisture and nutrient retention in your soil.Produce useable compost year round, faster than alternative methods.Vermicompost has more nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, copper, zinc, and iron than farmyard manure.Products of your vermicompost can be used horticulturally for the benefit of houseplants and gardens.

Make your own nutrient-packed organic fertilizers for free purchasing similar nutrient-rich fertilizer costs an average of $50 per 10 pound bag.Avoid “tipping fees” for green waste implemented by many landfill diversion sites.Implementing the three R’s (reducing, reusing, and recycling) into your lifestyle through vermicomposting benefits you financially! Avoid fruit flies by covering food scraps with a few inches of bedding and/or freeze food scraps before adding them to your vermicompost bin.

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