Vermicomposting: A Wiggly Solution to Waste

Keith O'Dell of Castaway Compost

Unless you’re a fisherman, the subject of worms probably doesn’t cross your radar too frequently—except for the times you’re trying to avoid smooshing the little critters on your driveway after a rainstorm. Fishers resident Keith O’Dell sees worms, specifically red worms or red wigglers, in a different light. An engineer by trade and a composter by choice, O’Dell has formed a vermicomposting company called Castaway Compost. Vermicomposting uses red worms and microorganisms to convert organic waste into compost.

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O’Dell has been composting for years, but stumbled onto vermicomposting in 2009. At that time O’Dell was researching ways to increase the productivity of farming land in Kenya and Honduras for two missionary friends; vermicomposting seemed perfect. Although implementing the vermicomposting for the missions is still a work in progress, O’Dell is spreading his message to a local audience. “It really is no muss, no fuss” he said. “You just put what you bought back into the soil.”

O’Dell has partnered with Tim Saunders of As the Worm Turns to man a booth at the Fishers Farmers Market. Together they sell worm bins, worms, compost and compost tea. O’Dell sees this as being a process that is doable for everyone, a way to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfills, while at the same time producing the rich vermicompost. “You’re adding microbes and substance to your soil versus the synthetic fertilizers, which are giving chemicals to your plants,” said O’Dell.

“The good thing about worm castings (worm waste) and worm tea is that it won’t burn the plants,” said O’Dell. “You can basically add it whenever you want, how much you want.” Experts recommend between a 20%-50% mix of castings to soil. You can also use the compost as a top dressing.

Vermiculture How-To

• Keep your worms in a bin. They need a temperature of 50℉ or above to be productive, so a shady location outside is ideal. Many people move their bins indoors for the cold months. A pantry closet, laundry room, basement or heated garage works well.
• If you purchase a bin from Castaway Compost, they come stocked with bedding and worms. Otherwise, you need to line the bottom of your bin with a few paper towel tubes. Add a pound of red worms. (Red worms and earthworms are not the same.) On top of that add moistened bedding. Shred newspapers, junk mail, paper towel and toilet paper tubes, phone books, or pizza boxes, and fill the bin. You can also add old leaves and a handful of sand.
• Tuck a handful of food underneath the bedding (to prevent the bin from smelling) in one corner. Fruit and vegetable scraps, plant matter, coffee grounds and filters and tea bags (remove the staple) make good food. Avoid meat and dairy products and dog, cat and pig manure.
• In a few days, check the food. If it is mostly gone, add another handful of scraps in a different corner. “The rule of thumb is a pound of worms will eat about a half a pound of food and a half a pound of bedding a day,” said O’Dell. As the bin settles, the worms will begin to eat more. Add new bedding about one time a week. Worms will double in about 60 days. You should begin to use the compost in just a few weeks.

For more information and supplies on vermicomposting including a recipe to make compost tea to use in your garden, visit www.castawaycompost.com.