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following information is provided by Todd Spratt,
Vermitech Specialist Buy
Earthworms here!
OUR
CURRENT CRISES
Our world is facing a number of environmental
challenges, one of which is garbage and what to do with
it all! Many States are requiring counties with in their
borders to reduce refuse to landfills by 50% by the year
2000.
It
is estimated that 25 to 40 percent of our waste is organic
in nature (yard waste, table scraps, paper etc.)
It
takes approximately 8 gallons of water to flush a pound of
food waste down the garbage disposal. When it all reaches
the sewage treatment plant chemicals are added to the mix
and the end result is toxic sludge that still has to be
disposed of and so called treated water that is dumped
back into our streams and rivers to be used again by
someone down stream!
Incineration
of waste causes toxic fumes to enter our atmosphere,
requires a large amount of energy and the end result is a
toxic ash that must still be eliminated
Burial
of waste in landfills takes up space that is becoming
harder to find, waste buried in landfills take years to
break down and creates methane gas and leachates which are
hazardous for us and our planet. Heavy equipment for the
transport and processing of waste in this manner consumes
large amounts of energy, adds to noise, air pollution and
contaminates our ground water.
We
must change this process before this process changes our
planet.
You
can tackle one of our environmental challenges right now
before it ever leaves your home.
The
REDWORM CAFE with 2 lb. of
Redworms will convert 250 + pounds of waste to a
resource per year, when proper conditions are provided.
You
can do it in the privacy of your own home, it's easy, fun
and clean. Think of the money you'll save on your garbage
bills and bags, plus all the free fertilizer and if your a
fisher person you'll have a steady supply of fresh bait.
Not to mention the fact that YOU will be making a positive
impact on YOUR PLANET!
Your
organic waste is recycled where it is generated, no
disposal transport, no landfill, no nothing except a rich
organic fertilizer that is given back to your house
plants, yard and garden. This is Earth Smart™!
It
is important to understand that learning to be responsible
for our individual actions will improve our quality of
life and our children's.
Worm
Bin SETUP
When
conditions are maintained as indicated below the REDWORM
CAFE has no foul odor, is clean and extremely effective at
converting your garbage to fertilizer.
LOCATION
is important, Redworms are most active and will convert
your waste faster between 60 and 80 degrees F. But
Redworms are hardy and will survive a wide range of
temperatures. Put your bin in a well shaded area never in
direct sun or freezing conditions. I keep my bin in my
office, you may consider a basement, garage, kitchen,
bedroom, pantry, laundry room, outside or ? be creative
and you'll find the perfect spot.
SETUP
your bin by misting the bedding (shredded paper) in the
bin to the consistency of a wrung out sponge. Mix the
bedding to make sure it's moistened evenly and do not pack
it down. If you over water add some newspaper, cardboard
or sawdust to soak up excess water. Excess water will also
drain through the vented floor into the basement of the
Redworm Cafe and can be drained off at your convenience.
When
bedding is ready add the Redworms, dump them on the
bedding and spread them evenly over the surface. Redworms
are photo sensitive and will dig in quickly when exposed
to bright light.
When
you are finished watching your Redworms crawl down place
the cover on tightly as they will crawl around the bin
while adjusting to their new home.
TROUBLE
SHOOTING
Caring for your REDWORM CAFE is a simple process involving
little time and after you understand the basic principal
you'll wonder why you didn't start VERMI-COMPOSTING
sooner. If you do run in to any adverse condition in the
bin these tips will help, so stick with it and may all
your REDWORMS be happy ones!
1.
Odor in the bin:
Cause:
A. Over feeding.
B. Bedding to wet
C. Anaerobic condition (no air) exist.
D. Rotting meat or dairy in the bin.
E. Not enough bedding over waste.
Solutions:
A. Stop feeding for a week.
B. Add more dry bedding.
C. Fluff bedding.
D. Discontinue or cut back meat and dairy in the bin.
E. Bury waste deeper in bedding.
2.
Too many Fruit Flies:
Cause:
A. Bin to wet
B. Bed to acidic.
C. Scraps are not buried deep enough in bedding.
D. Scrap pail is open to fruit flies.
Solutions:
A. Add dry bedding B. Sprinkle some oyster flour or egg
shells on surface. C. Bury waste deeper. D. Place a
screened lid over scrap pail.
3.
Redworms crawl extensively in bin:
Cause:
A. Too many castings in bin.
B. Bed pH. is out of balance.
Solutions:
A. Harvest castings and begin cycle again.
B. Bring pH. into balance.
4.
Too many mites:
Solution:
A. Take the bin outside and remove mites.
B. Keep numbers under control (if necessary) when you feed
the bin. If mites become a problem (which is rare) dump
the bin, remove the worms and bury the bedding.
OTHER
HELPFUL CRITTERS IN YOUR BIN
Although
Redworms (Eisenia fetida) are wonderful composters they
can not do it alone, they require the help of other
composting organisms.
Mold,
bacteria and fungi break down and decay organic matter so
that the Redworms can convert it more readily, and these
organisms are also consumed by Redworms and other critters
in your bin. Note: If you are allergic to mold spore's you
may want someone else to tend the bin for you and keep the
bin where it won't effect you.
Sow
bugs and pill bugs (Isopods) may be in the soil you add to
your bin. Isopods are land crustaceans, related to crabs
and lobsters. They breath through gills and eat decaying
matter, they are great composters.
Mold
and beetle mites (Acarina) are so tiny they are difficult
to see. They eat mold, algae and decaying matter. They
tend to congregate near the vents and lid, you can keep
their numbers down by squishing them or brushing or
rinsing them off outside.
Fruit
flies are also composters but are a nuisance in large
numbers, placing a screened lid on your scrap pail will
help keep them from entering your bin.
Spring
tails are tiny white creatures that also help compost they
live up to their name by springing around the bin.
Pot
worms (Enchytraeids) are tiny white worms that resemble
baby Redworms, they eat decaying matter and are
beneficial.
FEEDING
YOUR REDWORMS
After your Redworms have settled in for a few days you may
begin feeding them. Feed may consist of just about
anything organic, avoid vinegar, oils, salt, large amounts
of citrus, meat and dairy waste. Painted paper, cedar and
redwood chips are also harmful to your Redworms.
Place
a container under your sink or other convenient location
for your food scraps. A vented lid will help keep fruit
flies from entering the system. Feed once or twice a week
and always change burial location each time you feed.
When
your REDWORM CAFE is well established 1 lb. of Redworms
will convert about 1/2 lb. of waste per day. The 20 gal.
REDWORM CAFE is designed to house 1 lb. of Redworms and
will convert between 2 1/2 & 3 1/3 lbs. of waste per
week. The 33 gal. REDWORM CAFE is designed to house 2 lbs.
of Redworms and will convert between 5 & 7 lbs. of
waste per week. It may be wise though to feed no more than
5 or 6 lbs of waste per week so you won't stress the
system. Over feeding will sour the bed. Weigh your scraps
on a bathroom scale, produce or mail scale even a fishing
scale will work well and ensure your ecosystem will stay
in balance. Start out feeding lighter amounts and then
gradually increase.
Pull
back the bedding in one corner of the bin leaving a little
bedding on the bottom, dump in your scraps and then cover
it up with 1 or 2 inches of bedding. Redworms have
gizzards that function like a chickens so adding a handful
or two of soil will give them the hard particles they need
to digest their food.
MAINTENANCE
Maintaining
your REDWORM CAFE is relatively easy and it is interesting
to witness the process that takes place in your
micro-environment. With a little observation and care it
will function beautifully.
Try
to maintain the bin temperature between 45 and 85 degrees
F. Redworms are most active and will covert your waste
faster between 60 and 80 degrees F.
Maintaining
moister content is also important because Redworms absorb
oxygen trapped in water through their skin, so you don't
want your bin to dry out. Too much moisture will sour the
bedding and pack it down creating anaerobic condition (no
oxygen) which will cause odor and make harvesting your
compost and castings a messy job. Fortunately the REDWORM
CAFE is equipped with a cleverly designed vented floor
that allows excess water to drain through and air to
ventilate the bedding to help maintain an aerobic system
(having oxygen).
Compost
water that collects in the basement of the bin can be
drained into a pan diluted with an equal amount of water
and given to your plants, they'll love it. If the spout
becomes clogged unscrew it and poke a stick through, it
may be best to do this outside.
Adding
bedding when you feed in the form of paper, cardboard,
sawdust or coir (coconut fiber) will keep the bed fluffy
and absorb excess moisture from the table scraps.
HARVESTING
THE END PRODUCT
When
you harvest your precious castings will depend on the type
of end product you want. In three or four months you could
harvest a rich compost, the longer you let it go the more
pure castings will be deposited and the darker and richer
it will become. The down side of that is the Redworm
population will decrease as the amount of castings
increase.
After
about a month there will be enough castings deposited on
the sides of the bin to scrape off and use immediately on
your house plants and you can repeat this during the hole
cycle.
Stop
feeding the bin 1 or 2 weeks before you harvest. One
method is to pull half of the top layer to the other side
collecting the castings from the bottom. Fill the void
with fresh bedding and then repeat the process on the
remaining half. Place your harvest on a plastic sheet or
garbage bag in a couple of smaller piles with plenty of
light, the Redworms will crawl to the bottom and you can
rake the surface off the piles a little at a time until
you reach the pile of worms at the bottom.
Weigh
the Redworms if there are more than you need for your bin
use the excess in your garden and be sure to provide them
with lots of organic mulch to eat and convert to castings.
You
can also dump the bin in your garden and start your bin
with new Redworms. You should dump the entire contents of
the bin and rinse it out once or twice a year and then
begin again with fresh bedding.
Buy
Earthworms here!
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