What is Vermicomposting?

Vermicomposting is the process of using worms to create a mixture of decomposing food waste that can be used as fertile, nutrient rich compost on gardens. The end product of vermicomposting is the worm castings, or worm manure, which are often more nutritious than the product of other composting methods. Red Wigglers are a commonly used species of worm because they are surface dwellers that work together with microorganisms which make small scale closed systems viable. In smaller operations a certain care must be taken in discriminating what feedstock can be given to the worms - most food waste is appropriate but pesticides, meat, dairy or other food waste which may putrefy is not ideal. A well-maintained worm bin will have little to no outside odor.

Construction of the Vermicompost Box

The vermicompost box that was used in this project was designed and constructed by a group of 2011 Greening of Aiken interns. It is made of Japanese Larch harvested from the Jericho Research Forest and was constructed at ReSOURCE, an organization that operates on principles of environmental stewardship and aims to provide members of the community with education and job skills training.

Vermicomposting in Aiken

Project Objectives

1. Set up and maintain temporary vermicompost bin2. Finish construction of permanent bin and introduce worm population3. Maintain permanent bin on small scale4. Set up collection bins around Aiken building and increase scale of project

Maintenance of Vermicompost Box

Collection bins were installed on each floor of Aiken to gather food scraps (primarily fruits, vegetables, and coffee grounds) from the kitchens and lounges in the building. These collection bins are checked and the vermicompost box is tended to daily. The condition of the box is monitored closely, using a spreadsheet where observations are noted regarding the amount of food added, the moisture level of the bedding, and the presence of any odor.

Sam Wallace, Kristi D’Agati, Aurel Keller, Jakob RooneyMentor: Erica Spiegel