Question

what is the process of producing vermicompost ??

Answer 1

Step 1: Gather Materials
In order to create a successful vermicompost bin, there are a few essentials you will need.

A plastic storage bin, at least 10 inches deepA small drillNewspaperRed worms (also known as “Red Wigglers”)

Luckily, all of these supplies can easily obtained in Columbia. After purchasing a plastic bin and 30 worms, the grand total was under $7. I recommend borrowing a drill from a handy friend.

Step 2: Prepare Your Bin
Now it’s time to really get started.

With the drill, make 10 – 15 small holes on the lid and the sides of the bin. Remember to drill the holes small enough so worms can’t crawl through. The holes are necessary for air circulation.

Step 3: Make the Bedding

For the bedding, I used newspaper mainly because I had a a few old copies lying around. Rip the newspaper into long, medium width strips. These strips will act as the bedding. Do not be stingy with the amount of newspaper you rip. Worms naturally live in about 8 inches of bedding. Run water over the strips of newspaper until damp and set them in the bin.

Step 4: Add Food Scraps and Worms
This is the exciting part: adding your food scraps to your bin!

Technically, if something was once alive you can compost it. However, for the purposed of your personal worm bin, avoid composting meat, fish, dairy, and oils. Those will take longer to decompose and have the tendency to smell. Also avoid composting invasive weeds and diseased plants. Make sure to cover food scraps with wet paper bedding. Now you can introduce the worms to their new home! It is crucial to buy red worms. Other varieties (like “nightcrawlers”) will try and escape the bin. You can also add a little soil and leaves from outside to imitate the worms’ habitat.

Step 5: Caring for you bin
Maintaining a vermicompost bin is really easy as pie. Be sure to keep the bin dark and moist, just how the worms like it.  Always cover your food scraps with wet bedding to avoid odors and fruit flies. Feed your worms at least once a week. And most importantly, be proud of your worm bin! You might even feel obliged to name your new lil’ guys.

Answer 2

Process of vermicomposting
Following steps are followed for vermicompost preparation
• Vermicomposting unit should be in a cool, moist and shady site
• Cow dung and chopped dried leafy materials are mixed in the proportion of 3: 1
and are kept for partial decomposition for 15 – 20 days.
• A layer of 15-20cm of chopped dried leaves/grasses should be kept as bedding
material at the bottom of the bed.
• Beds of partially decomposed material of size 6x2x2 feet should be made (fig.3).
• Each bed should contain 1.5-2.0q of raw material and the number of beds can be
increased as per raw material availability and requirement.
• Red earthworm (1500-2000) should be released on the upper layer of bed (fig.4).
• Water should be sprinkled with can immediately after the release of worms (fig.5)
• Beds should be kept moist by sprinkling of water (daily) and by covering with
gunny bags/polythene (fig.6)
• Bed should be turned once after 30 days for maintaining aeration and for proper
decomposition.
• Compost gets ready in 45-50 days (fig.7).
• The finished product is 3/4th of the raw materials used.