Raising Worms and Producing Castings for Profit: Brian Rosa, Organic Recycling Specialist NC DENR, Div of Pollution Prevention & Environmental Assistance
Bedding and Feedstock's Getting Started: ~ Utilizing earth worms and microorganisms to convert organic waste into a nutrient-rich rich humus like material known as vermicompost (worm castings) ~ Eisenia fetida, commonly called Red Wiggler, Manure Worm, Tiger Worm
Bedding and Feedstock's Getting Started: ~ Can consume half it s weight of food per day ~ Requires 70% moisture to breath ~ Temperature 60-85 Degree F ~ Acidity ph 6 ph 8 ~ Aeration Good ventilation and drainage ~ Bedding and Food ~ Surface area ~ Darkness
Bedding and Feedstock's Getting Started: Vermi Reproduction Cocoons
Bedding and Feedstock's Getting Started: Things to consider: ~ What is your goal? ~ Produce castings or worms to sell? ~ What is your feedstock? ~ What quantities? (pounds or tons) ~ Where is your feedstock? ~ Is the feedstock a consistent volume? ~ Can you get paid idto remove the feedstock k? (One persons waste, some bodies gold)
Bedding Material: ~ Worms consume and live within decomposing organic matter. This includes: ~ Manure s bedding of choice ~ Cardboard and other paper products ~ Coconut fiber ~ Leaves, straw, saw dust, peat moss
Bedding Material: ~ Note: ~ Recommend that all bedding be ground or shredded ~ Moisture at 80 percent + ~ Peat moss not recommended, too acidic, amend with calcium carbonate ~ Soil is not a good bedding!
~ Manure ~ Horse ~ Hog ~ Cow ~ Sheep ~ Goat ~ Rabbit Typical Beddings:
Bedding Preparation ~ Use aged or composted manure ~ Yard waste should be aged or composted ~ Hot Composting will provide several benefits ~ Less likely that the bedding will heat up ~ Kill off weed seed and pathogens ~ Accelerate the decomposing process, allowing the worms to consume more readily
Bedding Preparation ~ Leaching the manure ~ Recommended ~ Removes urine, salts and de-worming medication ~ Test the bedding before introducing worms ~ Place several worms in a sample of leached manure for 24 hours, see if worms are escaping or dying!
Setting Up the Worm Beds ~ New beds optimum conditions ~ Bedding, 8-12 deep, (deeper in colder weather) ~ Monitor the ph - should be between 6 8 ~ Moisture 80 % 90 % ~ Temperature 72 74 degrees F ~ Aerobic ~ Salt content - low
Feedstock's s ~ Worms consume decomposing organic matter (material that once was living ) ~ Worms prefer a carbon-to-nitrogen nitrogen ration (C:N ratio) of 20:1 40:1 in their diet ~ Manure, food and yard waste have a CN C:N ratio in that range
Manures: Composted ~ Horse, cow, hog, sheep, goat, rabbit and bio-solids to be composted and/or leached. ~ Same reasons as bedding ~ Get the heat out stabilized ~ Enhances the worms ability to consume ~ Weed seed and pathogen destruction ~ Leach out worm medications ~ Remove salts
~ Chicken & Turkey ~ Use smaller quantities Poultry Litter ~ Too low C:N Ratio (7:1 15:1) ~ Considered too high in nitrogen and protein
Sources of Feedstock's s ~ Fairgrounds ~ Boarding Stables ~ Dairies and Farms ~ Zoos ~ Feed lots ~ Slaughter Houses Manures
Yard and Landscape Debris ~ Grass ~ Leaves ~ Brush Sources ~ Municipalities ~ DPW, Park Dept. ~ Landscapers
Food dw Waste ~ Food Waste pre-consumer food waste is abundant ~ Easy to collect, contaminant free ~ Excellent food source ( good moisture and c:n ratio) ~ Note: Food waste should be pre-composted if collected in large quantities!
Food Waste Sources ~ Supermarkets, small grocery stores ~ Food growers ~ Restaurants ~ Farmers markets ~ Packing houses ~ Institutions ~ Breweries (brewery waste- spent grain)
Feedstock Considerations: ~ Working with businesses ~ Be professional if you say you are going to do something, you must do it. (Say what you will do, do what you say!) ~ Work with your supplier make the agreement work for both of you. Reduce the waste for them, get them to pay for your services. ~ Work with waste haulers, charge $5 less tipping fee then area landfills.
Containers and ds Systems
Containers and ds Systems
Containers and Systems
Containers and Systems
Containers and Systems
Containers and Systems
Equipment
Containers and Systems
Worm Casting Utilization
Worm Casting Utilization
Worm Casting Utilization
Worm Casting Utilization ~ Sales of Castings: Per pound Per 5, 10, 40 LBS bag Per ton or cu yard Compost Tea Brewing Compost Tea Brewing Soil Amendment
Final Note: ~ If you are handling waste in the State of North Carolina, you are required to have a permit! Please contact: Michael Scott NC DENR Div of Waste Mgt, g, Solid Waste Email: michael.scott@ncmail.net
Questions??