Red Worm Composting in the News
The Knoxville News, that is. A little over a week ago I received an e-mail from Rebecca Williams - a writer with the Knoxville News Sentinel - requesting a short interview relating to worm composting (my winter vermicomposting experiment in particular caught her attention).
Here is a blurb from the actual article (published today):
Worm composting is a growing trend all over the world, says Sherman. Large-scale worm growers can sell their compost at a premium. Some cities use worms to reduce landfill waste. Farmers use it to process cattle waste, and home gardeners use worms indoors to compost in the winter.
What makes the worm’s body a perfect little composter?
“Scientists really don’t know,” says Sherman. “That’s one the mysteries about worms.”
There is some debate about the best type of worm for a home compost bin, but most experts agree a type of redworm, Eisenia fetida, is best. They are also called bandling or manure worms, or red wigglers. This is not the same black earthworm you’ll find in the garden.
Redworms are surface feeders who like to eat rich organic matter and don’t mind crowding in a compost bin. They can survive in temperatures from the low 40s up to the 80s, so closed garages, porches or utility rooms are all good spots for them indoors.
Gardeners in northern climates keep worms, too. “My goal is to overcome the cold weather and compost outdoors year-round,” says Bentley Christie of Ontario, Canada. He writes the Web site www.redwormcomposting.com and offers many tips for keeping worms in cold climates.
[emphasis mine]
Pretty hilarious given the long answers I submited to her questions (I replied via email). Oh well! You gotta start somewhere, right? (nice that the website got a mention anyway 
)
Be sure to check out the full article here:
Classroom experiment demonstrates red wigglers’ ability to produce rich fertilizer
Technorati Tags: worm composting, vermicomposting, winter composting, worm bin, red worms, red wigglers
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Written by Bentley on November 27th, 2007 with
6 comments.
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Bentley
#1. November 27th, 2007, at 2:33 PM.
I’ve been reading your blog for a few weeks now and have become intrigued with vermicomposting.
I live in central Utah, temps down to 20F and up to 100F, I have a two-car garage, two sheds, and a food storage area in my basement. I am not sure if the worms can survive in the sheds (uninsulated) so I am going to set up thermometers that will record high and low temps to get the full scoop for those and the garage.
Is there someway of insulating the bins to keep them outside while allowing them to breathe? Will they create an unpleasant odor bad if I have to keep them inside?
Also, I am unclear about how to harvest the castings without digging through and possibly damaging the worms.
This sounds like a great alternative to throwing food waste on the compost pile and attracting rodents.
I enjoyed the Knoxville News article. Thank-you for posting about this intriguing topic.