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	<title>Garden Tool Store &#187; vermicomposting</title>
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		<title>Start You Own Worm Farm</title>
		<link>http://garden-tool-store.com/vermicomposting/start-you-own-worm-farm</link>
		<comments>http://garden-tool-store.com/vermicomposting/start-you-own-worm-farm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:04:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>gardening</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[vermicomposting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[composting]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Go Green with Composting! Composting is a great way to Go Green. By composting, you recycle yard and kitchen wastes, which reduces the volume of garbage that would otherwise end up in landfills. And it&#8217;s easy to learn and use. The concept is simple: set up your bin(s), throw in your compost materials, and let [...]]]></description>
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<p>Go Green with Composting!</p>
<p>Composting is a great way to <a href='http://theideaslibrary.com/Entries?categoryId=20&amp;order=1' target='_blank'>Go Green</a>. By composting, you recycle yard and kitchen wastes, which reduces the volume of garbage that would otherwise end up in landfills. And it&#8217;s easy to learn and use.</p>
<p>The concept is simple: set up your bin(s), throw in your compost materials, and let the microbes and/or worms work their magic.</p>
<p>Plant remains and other once-living materials slowly decompose to make an earthy, dark, crumbly substance that makes for the best fertilizer possible for your plants and garden!</p>
<p>For those living in apartments and condos, you can compost too. Set up a vermicomposting bin (worm farm) indoors. When done properly, it does not emit any smell or attract insects.</p>
<p>Follow these steps to set up your own <a href='http://theideaslibrary.com/Home' target='_blank'>worm farm</a>:</p>
<p>1. Get a plastic bin or polystyrene box with a lid on top<br />
puncture holes on the bottom to allow the liquid (worm wee) to drain</p>
<p>2. Use a second lid or box to collect the liquid</p>
<p>3. In the top bin, add a thick layer of bedding (shredded newspaper is best, with hay and/or leaves) and soak with water</p>
<p>4. Get some compost worms (Reds, Tigers or Blue) at a garden store or online</p>
<p>5. Add some soil to help the worms get started<br />
let the worms settle for a few days as you start to collect food scraps</p>
<p>6. Add food in one corner of the bin, rotating through different corners each week</p>
<p>Red wiggler worms<br />
What to feed the worms?</p>
<p>Worms can eat a variety of organic material. As they do not have teeth, it is best to cut up the compost materials into small pieces.</p>
<p>Worms like fruits and vegetables (except onions &amp; citrus fruits), crushed egg shells, coffee grinds, tea bags, leaves, plant clippings, and grass.</p>
<p>Tips</p>
<p>Be careful to avoid overfeeding your worms. For a medium sized bin, 1 liter per week works well. By the time you rotate through the 4 corners, the food in the first corner should be pretty much decomposed.</p>
<p>Make sure to keep adding bedding to your compose bin on a fairly regular basis and that it is kept damp by regularly spraying with water.</p>
<p>Collect the worm wee in the bottom box or lid (a turkey baster works well for this). Add small amount to watering can when you water your plants &#8211; they will absolutely love it!</p>
<p>Collect the vermicast (the soil-like substance the worms create) from the bedding using a gardening trowel or your hands. The worms should wriggle away because of the light. Use vermicast as a fertilizer that you can sprinkle around your plants. Again, they will absolutely love it!</p>
<p>It is best to use composting worms rather then earth worms as they will breakdown the food quicker.</p>
<p>Get realistic things to know about <a href='http://www.elitehomeimprovement.com/home-improvement-videos/alternative-ways-to-suspended-ceilings-installations-free-suspended-ceiling-how-to-guide/' target='_blank'>how to install suspended ceiling</a> &#8211; please  read the webpage. The time has come when proper info is truly only one click away, use this chance.</p>
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		<title>How To Compost With Red Wiggler Composting Worms</title>
		<link>http://garden-tool-store.com/vermicomposting/how-to-compost-with-red-wiggler-composting-worms</link>
		<comments>http://garden-tool-store.com/vermicomposting/how-to-compost-with-red-wiggler-composting-worms#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:17:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>gardening</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[vermicomposting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[worms]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Composting with worms is really not that hard at all to do . Red wiggler worms ( manure worms , tiger worms etc etc . ),the most common type of composting worms , are available are very forgiving little creatures .Jeff at Lone Star Worms will help us out We will want to begin our [...]]]></description>
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<p>Composting with worms is really not that hard at all to do  . Red wiggler worms ( manure worms , tiger worms etc etc . ),the most common type of composting worms , are available are very forgiving little creatures .Jeff at Lone Star Worms will help us out </p>
<p>We will want to begin our journey of compost , with the bin .<br />
Worms are not picky like us. They will live in about any decent environment . I suggest for a beginner that the easiest route to take is to use a Rubbermaid style plastic tote either of the 10 or 18 gallon variety .The bin we will be making will be a simple one layer bin .  I would advise that you choose one that is not clear , as  the worms do not like light . If this is too hard to come by such things as 5 gallon buckets will work or wooden crates cut to size will work fine . really the main thing is to find something that is not clear and that the worms will have room . I would advise at least 6 inches in depth  and if you are a typical beginner a square footage ( length x width ) of around 2-2.5 to begin . The reason I give this advice is that composting worms need surface area more than anything . Red wiggler do not need great depth like there garden worm cousin there more of a surface dweller .In general for every square foot of surface area you have you will need one pound of worms .  </p>
<p>
A step that you may want to take but is not absolutely need is to drill a hole on the bottom to allow drainage of moisture . Be sure to place it where the water ca drain easily and not get stuck . And since you have the drill out drilling some holes along the top under the rim of the tote will allow for air which will be helpful to the worms in making the compost .</p>
<p>Now that you have a bin ready you need bedding . The cheapest way to make bedding is to use newspaper or cardboard . Tear them into strips about a inch wide . If you have a paper shredder this may make the job a little easier . If you do not wish to use newspaper of cardboard , peat moss can be used as well as coconut coir . Wet the bedding , then wring it out it should be damp but not dripping wet . The best way to describe it is that it should be like a sponge . Layers this for a couple of inches . This will be the worms home . A word of advice. Do all this if possible at least a week before you get your worms. Everything you can do before the  worms get there is going to help them out .</p>
<p>
Well now we have our bedding ready and it is set to go  , hopefully it has been waiting for the worms . Now we need worms . Do not unless you want a really smelly mess take the worms you find outside burrowing in the ground and place them in the bin . They will die sadly . The type of worm you will likely get is called a red wiggler worm . These are perfect for composting and they can live in your bin with no issues . They are readily available over the internet and possibly locally through a local worm farmer or friend who has some they can give . I recommend that you place the worms in the bin all together and here is the hard part try to leave them alone .This is especially important when you first get them .They may try to escape . A good way to prevent that from happening is to leave a light on in their area ( remember worms don’t like light <img src='http://garden-tool-store.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' />   Try not to over feed . A good rule of thumb is for every pound of worms you have they will eat about 3 pounds of food a week . The last step will give a list of good and bad worm foods .</p>
<p>So now we have a bin with bedding and worms in it . We have allowed them some time to adjust ( about 2-3 days if possible ) Now we feed them . Good news again worms eat about anything you will give them . Everything that is organic material they can eat . Some of those organic materials are better than others though . Here is a good list to follow .</p>
<p>Do Feed :<br />
  Vegetable scraps ( cut up if you can )<br />
  Fruit scraps ( be light on the citrus scraps )<br />
  Used coffee grounds and filters ( ask your local coffee shop for  theirs for a good source of free food )<br />
  Newspaper and cardboard<br />
  Teabags <br />
  Leaves<br />
  Egg Shells ( good for grit )<br />
  Manure ( horse of rabbit is great for them )</p>
<p>Please do not feed the worms the following or be very careful with these.</p>
<p>   Dairy and meat and fish ( these can be fed but&#8230;they stink )<br />
   Metal<br />
   Dog or cat or human feces <br />
   Wood ( it takes a long time to break down and be useful for them )</p>
<p>After you have fed them it is a good idea and practice to put   additional layer of newspaper on top to act as a kind of filter . </p>
<p>
    Now what do we do after all is done ? Here is the beautiful part , let the worms make wonderful compost for you . Jeff says  <a href='http://worms4sale.blogspot.com' target='_blank'>bait</a></p>
<p>&#8220;Have fun&#8221; , believe it or not you will come to &#8220;love&#8221; those squirming little fellas .</p>
<p>Read practical info about <a href='http://www.elitehomeimprovement.com/home-improvement-videos/alternative-ways-to-suspended-ceilings-installations-free-suspended-ceiling-how-to-guide/' target='_blank'>suspended ceiling</a> &#8211;   read the site. The times have come when concise info is really at your fingertips, use this chance.</p>
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		<title>Make A Worm Bin &#8211; The Economical Worm Bin Solution</title>
		<link>http://garden-tool-store.com/vermicomposting/make-a-worm-bin-the-economical-worm-bin-solution</link>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2009 23:37:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurelhilke</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[vermicomposting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Compost]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organic gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[worm bin]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://garden-tool-store.com/?p=650</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Make A Worm Bin &#8211; The Economical Worm Bin Solution By: Chris Dailey It is a well known fact in the organic gardening community that red worms create some of the best compost that you can use in your garden. It is actually a very simple process which I am going to oversimplify to get [...]]]></description>
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<h3>Make A Worm Bin &#8211; The Economical Worm Bin Solution</h3>
<p>By: Chris Dailey<br />
It is a well known fact in the organic gardening community that red worms create some of the best compost that you can use in your garden.  It is actually a very simple process which I am going to oversimplify to get to the main point.  The process is that you procure a container, fill it with dirt, some kind of bedding, add water, add worms, and add organic waste and this will set you on the path to having worm created organic compost.  The problem with this process is that most people that do this often have the space and the time to make this process work on a continual basis.  Some very large organic farms have entire hangers dedicated to the composting process.  But what if you live in an urban area?  Here are a few tips on how you can make a worm bin that will work in any urban or rural indoor situation.</p>
<p>The first thing you will need to do is go to the store and purchase some plastic storage boxes.  They do not need to be very large but they should be sturdy.  If you do not have a drill, you will need to borrow one or buy one in order to make ventilation holes.  Do you read the newspaper?  If so then you have what you need in order to begin the composting process.  And finally, aside from dirt, you are going to need some red worms.  About a pound of them will do.</p>
<p>Two very important things are air and water.  All creatures need air and water to exist and composting worms are no different.  The first thing you must do is cut large holes on the bottom of each bin with a keyhole saw.  If you are following this particular format, you are going to need two bins because you are going to stack them on top of each other.  This gets into separating the two worm end products, which will be talked about later.</p>
<p>Next you need to drill ventilation holes so that the worms can get air.  Remember that these holes are not going to be as large as the drainage holes that you just drilled on the bottom of each container.  The holes for water drainage should be at least an inch in diameter.  Ventilation holes on the other hand can be one quarter of an inch so make sure that you have enough drill bits to choose from.  The number of holes should be adequate to properly ventilate and drain the entire bin.</p>
<p>You will need to get your daily newspaper out now.  If you just raked the lawn, all the better.  Used shredded newspaper and leaves, get them wet, and place them so that you have about four inches of this material on the bottom.  Also, if you have ever raised any kind of bird, you will know that they need grit in order to eat their seeds.  Likewise, worms also need a small amount of grit to help digest their food.  You can purchase corn meal or sand or if you have some dirt available from outside, throw a handful in the mix and they will be just fine.</p>
<p>If you are using two containers, you will do the following: take the lid from your top container and place it on the ground.  Place the second container that does not have worms, but has dirt, on four blocks on top of the lid.  Pending of course that you did not drill holes in the bottom lid, this will act as a catchall for excess water that will drain out of the containers over time.  This liquid is what you may have heard being called worm tea.</p>
<p>The container with the worms will be placed on top of this with a sheet of cardboard that is soaked on top of the organic material and worms.  Finally, to conclude this journey to make a worm bin, place your remaining lid over the top of the cardboard and seal it and check on it every couple days.</p>
<p>Worms actually do each quite a bit of food depending upon how many you have.  With about a thousand worms per pound, and with each thousand worms eating half their body weight a day, you will need to add at least half a pound of organic material to your worm composting bin every few days in order to keep them happy, full, and processing compost.</p>
<p>Other things to check that you will learn over time is how moist soil is, and you might also check how many worms have replicated since you began the whole process.  Too many worms in one small area can cause them to die if bin conditions and food amounts are not properly maintained.</p>
<p>You are done.  You have just created your very own worm bin and now that you know how to make a worm bin, you might think of showing a friend or even making another one and expanding on your composting endeavor.  Hopefully, you may use some of the organic compost or even the worm tea that will be produced over time to fertilize any plants or garden vegetables that you decide to grow during the year.</p>
<p><strong>Author Resource:-&gt;</strong> Chris Dailey is the owner of Super Organic Gardening Secrets, a free online service that provides valuable information on organic gardening and how to <a href="http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com/" target="_blank">make a worm bin</a>. To download his 7 free organic gardening reports, go</p>
<p>to <a href="http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com" target="_blank">http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Article From</strong> <a href="http://read-write-here.com/" target="_blank">Read Write HERE .com</a></p>
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		<title>Compost Tea &#8211; The Tea Of Worms Explained</title>
		<link>http://garden-tool-store.com/vermicomposting/compost-tea-the-tea-of-worms-explained</link>
		<comments>http://garden-tool-store.com/vermicomposting/compost-tea-the-tea-of-worms-explained#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2009 22:29:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurelhilke</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[vermicomposting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Compost]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[compost tea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vermicast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[worm tea]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Compost Tea &#8211; The Tea Of Worms Explained By: Chris Dailey Many people are tea drinkers. Whether they are drinking Oolong tea or black tea from their local grocery store, that person has a certain image as to what it is, what it tastes like, and what it is for. There is a certain kind [...]]]></description>
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<h3>Compost Tea &#8211; The Tea Of Worms Explained</h3>
<p>By: Chris Dailey<br />
Many people are tea drinkers.  Whether they are drinking Oolong tea or black tea from their local grocery store, that person has a certain image as to what it is, what it tastes like, and what it is for.  There is a certain kind of tea that no one should drink but is one of the most beneficial, nutrient filled solutions that has ever existed.  It is called worm tea. What is worm tea? Here are a few tips on how you can create and use worm tea otherwise known as compost tea to enhance your organic gardening needs.</p>
<p>Used for hundreds of years, organic gardeners and farmers that have known of the value of vermicomposting have been creating this potent nutrient filled liquid that is better known as worm tea or compost tea.  This liquid which some say has a fragrant odor or is completely odorless can be used on the leaves of potted plants and also in the soil to enhance plant growth as well as help protect the plants that you grow.</p>
<p>It is actually a very simple process with a couple of not so simple steps if you have never done it before.  Basically, the vermicast is put into a filter like a nylon and added to a jug of water and oxygenated in order to encourage microbes within the mixture to flourish and grow.  Some additional ingredients to add to this tea include molasses or sea kelp. The oxygenation process will continue for about a day or sometimes longer.</p>
<p>Once done, it can be bottled and sprayed on plants or poured into soil at the base of the plants in order to inject a kind of a topical fertilizer that not only helps plant growth but also repels insects and disease such as spider mites and various pathogens, respectively.</p>
<p>There are various ways to get compost tea and one of those ways is through the collection of worm castings.  Worm castings are essentially the poop of the worms.  Their manure feels like soft little nodules that can be bagged up and cooked like a tea (except at room temperature water) and then used in the same manner that the worm tea was used in liquid form. Usually distilled water is used in the sifting process when using the castings and can actually be a much neater process when doing this on a large scale.</p>
<p>Most compost tea is concentrated so even if it does come in a bottle that looks ready to use, treat it the same way you would miracle grow or other non organic fertilizers.  Castings tea should not burn the leaves of plants or over fertilize the soil but it is a good idea to use it more often in diluted form than less often in concentrated form.  Red worms and their castings have become a hot commodity for all of those in the organic gardening field.</p>
<p>In essence, you are putting healthy microorganisms back into the soil which can then begin to thrive and multiply creating the ideal environment for your plants and a natural barrier at times for things that would come to destroy them.  And unlike most nonorganic fertilizers, if you happen to spill too much into an area of your crop, it will not burn your plants.</p>
<p>By taking the time to create your own worm farm, and making your own tea for your garden or crops, you should see not only a positive growth in your vegetables or fruit, but a noticeable taste difference and production difference in how long it takes your crops to grow.  You will also notice that your plants succumb less to fungus and other pathogens and diseases.</p>
<p>Also, by regularly adding this special tea into your garden area, it will also help you regulate the watering of your garden which is very important for crop growth.  If you are doing this on a larger scale, you may need special equipment in order to harvest the worm castings and process them, and also to make worm tea on a commercial scale requires significantly different equipment than a small scale operation.</p>
<p>Overall, it will be worth your while to go the natural way and create a worm farm that will supplement the nutrient needs of your garden no matter how big or small.  The use of compost tea as not only an additive of nutrients but also as an insecticide to protect your crops will make your organic gardening growing experience more pleasurable each and every year.</p>
<p>So the next time that you hear about a special tea that can enhance the growth of your crops, make your food taste better, and increase your overall yields, you will not think about the kind of tea that you sip quietly at the kitchen table, but of natures key that is given to us by red worms to help all organic gardeners grow more plentiful crops called compost tea.</p>
<p><strong>Author Resource:-&gt;</strong> Chris Dailey is the owner of Super Organic Gardening Secrets, a free online service that provides valuable information on organic gardening and <a href="http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com/" target="_blank">worm tea</a>. To download his 7 free organic gardening reports, go</p>
<p>to <a href="http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com" target="_blank">http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Article From</strong> <a href="http://read-write-here.com/" target="_blank">Read Write HERE .com</a></p>
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		<title>Worm Castings &#8211; Natures Time Release Fertilizer</title>
		<link>http://garden-tool-store.com/vermicomposting/worm-castings-natures-time-release-fertilizer</link>
		<comments>http://garden-tool-store.com/vermicomposting/worm-castings-natures-time-release-fertilizer#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2009 19:20:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurelhilke</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[vermicomposting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Compost]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[red wiggler worms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[redworm compost]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[worm casting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[worms]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Worm Castings &#8211; Natures Time Release Fertilizer By: Chris Dailey When a gardener goes out to his fields to start planting, one of the top concerns that he has on his mind is what will potentially be able to kill his crops. Modern man has created many alternatives to natural protection of crops such as [...]]]></description>
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<h3>Worm Castings &#8211; Natures Time Release Fertilizer</h3>
<p>By: Chris Dailey<br />
When a gardener goes out to his fields to start planting, one of the top concerns that he has on his mind is what will potentially be able to kill his crops.  Modern man has created many alternatives to natural protection of crops such as pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides which can be harmful not only to the soil but also to the people that eat the plants as well as the aquifers that hold our drinking water beneath the ground.  One of natures natural fertilizers as well as insect and disease repellents is called a worm casting.  These small nodules are created by red worms as they participate in the composting process, something that they naturally do and have done for millions of years.  Here are a few ways that you can use worm castings to not only enhance your organic garden but also protect it from harmful invaders.</p>
<p>Redworm compost is used by many people as a source for organic compost.  By simply feeding them some organic scraps from their garden, over a period of time these scraps are processed into a compost that can be used as a mulch or a fertilizer.  As the worms process the waste into compost, they also create what are called worm castings.  Basically, the poop of the worm, castings can be used for a variety of reasons.</p>
<p>Primarily used as an organic fertilizer, most organic gardeners rely on worm composting and castings to not only balance the pH levels in the soil but also to help retain as much moisture as possible, something that all worms need an abundance of.  Unlike most fertilizers, castings will not burn plants or roots if used too much.  Moreover, they act as repellents for both insects and diseases that may strike your crops without you knowing.</p>
<p>Worm castings also contain a great variety of nutrients that are used by almost all plants today.  Some of these nutrients include magnesium, nitrogen, and potassium which are necessary ingredients for a healthy crop or garden regardless if it is organic or not.  What is also interesting is the castings are almost like a time release capsule that will, over time, release the necessary water soluble ingredients into the soil thus making it possible to simply top dress the castings on the soil and allow them to disintegrate over time.</p>
<p>Another aspect of castings are that they have many living components such as aerobic bacteria, the good kind, and organisms that will actually take gasses such as nitrogen from the atmosphere and fix them into usable nitrogen in the form of nitrate, thus feeding the roots of the plants even more.</p>
<p>Castings are naturally harvested over time.  They tend to move to the lower levels of the worm bin and if the worms and their environment are regularly aerated by moving the dirt around, through vibration and churning, the castings will fall to the bottom of the bin to be harvested.</p>
<p>Many people are confused as to what worm castings actually are because some people have been shown a bag of castings mixed with compost.  Pure castings look like black sand grains with no compost or dirt mixed in.  If you get a bag of compost, and there is anything that does not look uniform, like sand grains, then you know that the castings were also not sifted properly from the compost itself.  Having a mixture of vermicompost and castings can be beneficial as it will provide a steady stream of fertilizer as bacteria continue to break down the compost over time.</p>
<p>As a general rule, you can spread 10 pounds of worm castings over 150 foot to 200 foot area and be assured that this will properly fertilize your soil in the days to come as it begins to break down in a natural way.  Many people that have large gardens or if they are growing crops on a commercial level may have their very own red worm compost generating system where they can access thousands of pounds of castings in order to maintain the vast spread that they are growing.</p>
<p>Another way to extract the nutrients from the castings is to add water to them and aerate them, then spray this castings tea which is high in organic nutrients onto the leaves, called foliar feeding, and into the soil.  This is used by those who will use the bacterial nature of the castings to fight outside microorganisms that may land on the leaves and begin to sicken or weaken the plant.  These beneficial microorganisms will destroy bad bacteria, fungus, and molds that may be growing on the leaf surface.</p>
<p>If you ever do decide to create a little organic garden, be sure to find a way to get worm castings for your garden.  If you like the aspect of doing very little manual labor to achieve compost and fertilizer for your garden then create a supply of vermicompost and spread the compost and castings over your garden soil.  Then let nature begin to naturally decompose these castings, through regular watering, so that your soil will have the optimum amount of nutrients necessary for a successful organic crop.</p>
<p><strong>Author Resource:-&gt;</strong> Chris Dailey is the owner of Super Organic Gardening Secrets, a free online service that provides valuable information on organic gardening and <a href="http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com/" target="_blank">worm castings</a>. To download his 7 free organic gardening reports, go</p>
<p>to <a href="http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com" target="_blank">http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Article From</strong> <a href="http://read-write-here.com/">Read Write HERE .com</a></p>
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		<title>Vermicomposting Systems &#8211; Fast Composting On A Shoestring Budget</title>
		<link>http://garden-tool-store.com/vermicomposting/vermicomposting-systems-fast-composting-on-a-shoestring-budget-2</link>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2009 18:20:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurelhilke</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[vermicomposting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Compost]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[red wiggler worms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shoestring budget]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Vermicomposting Systems &#8211; Fast Composting On A Shoestring Budget By: Chris Dailey One of natures most underrated workers are the eisenia fetida or red wiggler worms. Commonly found in organically rich soils that they help to create throughout the world including North America and some parts of Europe, these special creatures do an absolutely amazing [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
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<h3>Vermicomposting Systems &#8211; Fast Composting On A Shoestring Budget</h3>
<p>By: Chris Dailey<br />
One of natures most underrated workers are the eisenia fetida or red wiggler worms.  Commonly found in organically rich soils that they help to create throughout the world including North America and some parts of Europe, these special creatures do an absolutely amazing thing: they can take vegetation that is currently rotting and process it in a way that creates compost as the natural end product of what they do with this organic matter.  Contrasting this to the regular composting process, red worms have become a staple product for organic gardening enthusiasts not only by the worms used to create their own compost, but also in the way of helping decrease waste in our landfills and at the same time creating fresh organic compost.  Here is a very easy vermicomposting system that anyone can do in order to create their own worm compost machine.</p>
<p>Organic gardening is slowly becoming one of the most popular hobbies of not only environmental enthusiasts but people that happen upon this natural way to improve their health.  Organic food is known for its ability to retain more nutrients per gram of dryweight of almost every vegetable or fruit grown in this manner.  One of the key ingredients is making sure that proper amounts of rich compost are added to the soil in order to ensure that the final product is in rich with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that will help a persons general health through regular eating of organic foods.</p>
<p>Vermicompost or worm compost is an ideal additive for any garden because of not only the nutrient value, but the system that is so easy to set up which almost anyone can use to create their own natural fertilizer.  Depending upon the size of your garden and your needs, you can take a simple container in the shape of a box or a large garbage can and begin this composting process.</p>
<p>The first thing to consider with your vermicomposting bin is that you need to have proper aeration and drainage.  Remember that your container will have a living population of red worms so it is important to consider their needs.  You will want to provide fresh air and also a way for water to flow out so that it does not become stagnant.  You are, in essence, creating a community of workers that will create a product for you and all they ask is that you feed them organic waste from your table on a regular basis along with keeping proper moisture and ph levels.</p>
<p>There are several types of vermicomposting systems that you can try out.  Some have a continuous vertical flow of air and water.  These are stacked on top of each other in the format of trays that our filled from the bottom up.  The top tray is where you will put the organic matter that the red wigglers will eat and process.  The subsequent trays will be used to catch various things such as compost, worm castings, and worm cocoons.  It is also okay to build your trays horizontally but this of course takes more room.  Depending upon the size of your operation, and how much space you have, you could literally create a business of creating compost from worms given enough organic waste and room in which to grow.</p>
<p>Thinking again from the worms perspective, you want to create an environment that is similar to the natural environment that the worms are used to in a natural setting.  Imagine walking through the forest and considering the temperature underneath the trees and the layers of leaves which will soon be decomposing on the forest floor.  Likewise, you want to have a similar soil makeup in your bedding as well as an equivalent temperature so that the worms feel as if they are in a natural setting and will begin to process your organic waste.</p>
<p>Therefore, the bedding should be moist.  The bedding materials that you can use that will mimic a natural setting would include peat moss, dried manure, or even newspaper from your local store.  The bedding should also allow aeration so that the decomposition process, as well as the worms ability to access air, is available.  The temperature should be about where humans feel comfortable or a round 60 to 70 degrees.  Lastly, there needs to be a ratio between carbon and nitrogen in the bedding mix so that not only the worms, but the other organisms that will be living with and helping the worms decompose the organic material, can feel comfortable.  This ratio is about thirty to one with the majority of the bedding content being carbon based and the rest being nitrogen based.</p>
<p>Once you have thrown all of this together which should not take longer than a few hours of your time, especially if you have access to soil and a source for worms, you should begin adding organic material to your vermiculture system and let the process begin.</p>
<p>A last thing to consider is the maintenance of the worms and their habitat.  The most important thing to ensure the health of your population of worms is to make sure that it is aerated properly.  There needs to be enough oxygen to allow their habitat to be aerobic and not anaerobic.  The difference is aerobic allows for the decomposition process to occur via the worms.  Anaerobic is just the opposite and that is similar to what you would smell if you left your organic material on your counter for several days or smelled meat rotting.  This is more of a stagnant process whereas the worms perform a natural processing of the waste.</p>
<p>The entire project should cost you no more than forty dollars to get access to worms and a container, and a few hours of your time for setup and maintenance.  In doing so, you will create a small vermicomposting system that will produce for you not only the freshest compost that you will ever smell but also a rich compost that will add flavor and nutrients to your organic garden products in a way that you have never seen, or tasted, before.</p>
<p><strong>Author Resource:-&gt;</strong> Chris Dailey is the owner of Super Organic Gardening Secrets, a free online service that provides valuable information on organic gardening and <a href="http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com/" target="_blank">vermicomposting</a>. To download his 7 free organic gardening reports, go</p>
<p>to <a href="http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com" target="_blank">http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Article From</strong> <a href="http://read-write-here.com/" target="_blank">Read Write HERE .com</a></p>
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		<title>Vermicomposting Systems &#8211; Fast Composting On A Shoestring Budget</title>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2009 22:49:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurelhilke</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[vermicomposting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Compost]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eisenia fetida]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[red wiggler worms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vermicompost]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://garden-tool-store.com/?p=613</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of natures most underrated workers are the eisenia fetida or red wiggler worms. Commonly found in organically rich soils that they help to create throughout the world including North America and some parts of Europe, these special creatures do an absolutely amazing thing: they can take vegetation that is currently rotting and process it in a way that creates compost as the natural end product of what they do with this organic matter. Contrasting this to the regular composting process, red worms have become a staple product for organic gardening enthusiasts not only by the worms used to create their own compost, but also in the way of helping decrease waste in our landfills and at the same time creating fresh organic compost. Here is a very easy vermicomposting system that anyone can do in order to create their own worm compost machine.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<!-- ALL ADSENSE ADS DISABLED -->
<h3>Vermicomposting Systems &#8211; Fast Composting On A Shoestring Budget</h3>
<p>By: Chris Dailey<br />
One of natures most underrated workers are the eisenia fetida or red wiggler worms.  Commonly found in organically rich soils that they help to create throughout the world including North America and some parts of Europe, these special creatures do an absolutely amazing thing: they can take vegetation that is currently rotting and process it in a way that creates compost as the natural end product of what they do with this organic matter.  Contrasting this to the regular composting process, red worms have become a staple product for organic gardening enthusiasts not only by the worms used to create their own compost, but also in the way of helping decrease waste in our landfills and at the same time creating fresh organic compost.  Here is a very easy vermicomposting system that anyone can do in order to create their own worm compost machine.</p>
<p>Organic gardening is slowly becoming one of the most popular hobbies of not only environmental enthusiasts but people that happen upon this natural way to improve their health.  Organic food is known for its ability to retain more nutrients per gram of dryweight of almost every vegetable or fruit grown in this manner.  One of the key ingredients is making sure that proper amounts of rich compost are added to the soil in order to ensure that the final product is in rich with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that will help a persons general health through regular eating of organic foods.</p>
<p>Vermicompost or worm compost is an ideal additive for any garden because of not only the nutrient value, but the system that is so easy to set up which almost anyone can use to create their own natural fertilizer.  Depending upon the size of your garden and your needs, you can take a simple container in the shape of a box or a large garbage can and begin this composting process.</p>
<p>The first thing to consider with your vermicomposting bin is that you need to have proper aeration and drainage.  Remember that your container will have a living population of red worms so it is important to consider their needs.  You will want to provide fresh air and also a way for water to flow out so that it does not become stagnant.  You are, in essence, creating a community of workers that will create a product for you and all they ask is that you feed them organic waste from your table on a regular basis along with keeping proper moisture and ph levels.</p>
<p>There are several types of vermicomposting systems that you can try out.  Some have a continuous vertical flow of air and water.  These are stacked on top of each other in the format of trays that our filled from the bottom up.  The top tray is where you will put the organic matter that the red wigglers will eat and process.  The subsequent trays will be used to catch various things such as compost, worm castings, and worm cocoons.  It is also okay to build your trays horizontally but this of course takes more room.  Depending upon the size of your operation, and how much space you have, you could literally create a business of creating compost from worms given enough organic waste and room in which to grow.</p>
<p>Thinking again from the worms perspective, you want to create an environment that is similar to the natural environment that the worms are used to in a natural setting.  Imagine walking through the forest and considering the temperature underneath the trees and the layers of leaves which will soon be decomposing on the forest floor.  Likewise, you want to have a similar soil makeup in your bedding as well as an equivalent temperature so that the worms feel as if they are in a natural setting and will begin to process your organic waste.</p>
<p>Therefore, the bedding should be moist.  The bedding materials that you can use that will mimic a natural setting would include peat moss, dried manure, or even newspaper from your local store.  The bedding should also allow aeration so that the decomposition process, as well as the worms ability to access air, is available.  The temperature should be about where humans feel comfortable or a round 60 to 70 degrees.  Lastly, there needs to be a ratio between carbon and nitrogen in the bedding mix so that not only the worms, but the other organisms that will be living with and helping the worms decompose the organic material, can feel comfortable.  This ratio is about thirty to one with the majority of the bedding content being carbon based and the rest being nitrogen based.</p>
<p>Once you have thrown all of this together which should not take longer than a few hours of your time, especially if you have access to soil and a source for worms, you should begin adding organic material to your vermiculture system and let the process begin.</p>
<p>A last thing to consider is the maintenance of the worms and their habitat.  The most important thing to ensure the health of your population of worms is to make sure that it is aerated properly.  There needs to be enough oxygen to allow their habitat to be aerobic and not anaerobic.  The difference is aerobic allows for the decomposition process to occur via the worms.  Anaerobic is just the opposite and that is similar to what you would smell if you left your organic material on your counter for several days or smelled meat rotting.  This is more of a stagnant process whereas the worms perform a natural processing of the waste.</p>
<p>The entire project should cost you no more than forty dollars to get access to worms and a container, and a few hours of your time for setup and maintenance.  In doing so, you will create a small vermicomposting system that will produce for you not only the freshest compost that you will ever smell but also a rich compost that will add flavor and nutrients to your organic garden products in a way that you have never seen, or tasted, before.</p>
<p><strong>Author Resource:-&gt;</strong> Chris Dailey is the owner of Super Organic Gardening Secrets, a free online service that provides valuable information on organic gardening and <a href="http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com/" target="_blank">vermicomposting</a>. To download his 7 free organic gardening reports, go</p>
<p>to <a href="http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com" target="_blank">http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Article From</strong> <a href="http://read-write-here.com/" target="_blank">Read Write HERE .com</a></p>
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