How to make Vermicompost at home from kitchen waste.

Vermicomposting is the process of using worms that feed on organic matter and produce worm castings that can be used on plants. Vermicomposting is an easy process and you can get good compost for your plants when it is done in the right manner. Find out how to make vermicompost at home.

Benefits of using vermicompost

• Restores soil nutrients and soil stability over a long period.
• Improves soil aeration and increases microbial activity
• Increases water retention capacity
• Highly organic contains no chemicals. Vermicompost is a slow-release fertiliser and does not damage the plants.

It is necessary to know the right kind of worms needed to make vermicompost. There are a variety of earthworms but the worms for composting are the red wrigglers. These worms feed on kitchen scraps and organic waste to produce worm castings. Earthworms have a huge appetite and they eat a lot. Earthworms eat food that is half their weight every day. Besides eating a lot they also reproduce quite fast. An earthworm’s population can double within 90 days!!

A vermicompost bin requires the right kind of soil and water to thrive well. 

The optimum temperature that is needed should be between 15°C to 27°C. Avoid keeping the bin in direct sunlight as it can affect the worms. The compost bin should be moderately moist but at the same time avoid overwatering as it can create a foul smell. You can also add cocopeat, shredded cardboard and dry leaves so that they can help to absorb the excess moisture. 

How to make vermicompost at home

• Take an opaque container. The size of the container depends upon the amount of vermicompost you will need for your plants.
• Drill holes on all sides of the container so that the worms can breathe.
• To make the bedding you can add shredded newspaper and cardboard. Avoid using paper that contains too much ink as it can harm the worms. You can fill at least a quarter of the container with this bedding. Keep the bedding moist as worms require moisture to thrive.
• Then you can add some soil to the container as it can help the worms to digest the food better. If the soil is dry you can moisten it. Add a layer of food scraps. Then close the container and let it sit for 2 to 3 weeks. You can introduce worms after that. You can feed the worms with food scraps every day. The number of food scraps to be added depends upon the number of earthworms that are present. If your worms have multiplied you have to add more food every day. You can check your vermicompost bin once a week to see how much bedding is left. When all bedding is turned into compost, you can scoop the compost out leaving the worms and then add fresh new bedding for the worms to feed again.