An interesting small-scale addition to traditional composting, a wormery provides a novel method of recycling kitchen waste. Rich compost and a liquid fertiliser can be produced.
Getting started
Many gardeners already use compost heaps to manage their organic waste and return valuable organic matter back to the soil. However, a less-common sight in the garden is a wormery.
How does it differ from compost?
A wormery is a purpose-built vessel designed to complement traditional composting practices by providing a means of recycling kitchen waste. Wormeries come in a variety of designs, but all provide the ideal conditions for worms to break down organic waste and produce a nutrient-rich soil conditioner and concentrated liquid plant feed. Unlike traditional composting, the material does not go through a thermophilic (heated) stage. Instead the material is broken down by the action of worms and micro-organisms.
Selecting the species
Ideally a wormery should be started with around 1,000 composting worms (like wormeries themselves ,they are available
from specialist suppliers). These are not earthworms, but usually native manure
worms or red worms such as Eisenia fetida and Dendrobaena veneta (left). The worms are found naturally in rich organic material and are able to eat up to half their own body weight in
waste every day. Earthworms are adapted to living in the soil, and would find the high-nutrient conditions in a wormery inhospitable.
Composting waste
Organic waste such as raw and cooked vegetables, fruit, teabags, eggshells, coffee grounds and small amounts of cardboard can all be added to the wormery; but meat, fish and dairy products should all be avoided. Once established, nutrient-rich, odour-free compost and liquid feed will be produced in a matter of months.
Application
The liquid drained from the wormery can be diluted with 10 parts water and used as a liquid fertiliser on garden plants; the compost can be used as a general soil conditioner. In its neat form, however, worm compost should not be used in place of growing media, as it is too high in nutrients and may cause scorch.
Recycling organic household waste in this way reduces the amount of waste transported to landfill and provides an excellent way of increasing the environmental awareness both of adults and children.
Need to know more?
For further information please send
a stamped, 22x11cm (9x4in) sae to:
Soil Science (Wormery Leaflet)
RHS Garden Wisley
Woking
Surrey
GU23 6QB
Rachael Tanner and Ian Waghorn