Vermi-compost!

Here Are Some Field Notes on Vermiculture:Turning Garbage into Gold

Vermicompost and vermiwash are the two earthworm products that havebecome very popular nowadays. Ordinary organic garbage which consistsof litter, such as, kitchen waste and dead plant material is used andconverted into manure with the help of earthworms.


VermicompostA pit, a small plastic or wooden crate or, even a bucket, can be usedfor vermicomposting organic matter. Although not necessary, two cratescan be used simultaneously; while one is being used for fresh garbage,the garbage in the other can be allowed to decompose.
First, 6-8 holes should be made (one at each corner and four in themiddle of the crate). A pot or a bucket needs about 3-5 holes. Thecrate or pit must first be filled with a one inch layer of pebbles orbroken bricks.
Then, a half to one inch layer of sand should be spread.Over that, a five to six inch layer of soil should be spread. ThenLampito mauritii and Perionyx excavatus earthworms should beintroduced. The soil must then be moistened with water.
A little bit ofcowdung (nitrogen) and some hay (carbon) should be spread on it, andthe contents of the pit left for 20-30 days. This is called a vermibed.The cowdung and hay will allow the worms to multiply. With this, thevermicompost crate or pit will be ready for processing organic waste.All organic waste should be evenly spread out on the vermibed. As faras possible add garbage in small quantities regularly rather thandumping large quantities at one go. The earthworm begins processing thegarbage immediately. Water the container occasionally so that thevermibed remains moist.
Once the container is full with organic waste,it should be covered with a little soil and allowed to decomposeundisturbed. Only watering the pit should continue. After it hasdecomposed fully (roughly 45 days) watering must be stopped for about 3to 5 days. This will force the earthworms to migrate down to the bottomof the container which will have some moisture as compared with the topsoil. Then the top layer of soil which is really the organic matterwhich has been converted into manure should be removed withoutdisturbing the vermibed. This organic manure can be used for plants.

--an excerpt from "free from school" by rahul alvares