|
Vermiculture - It's all about the worms...
Vermiculture is a perfect example of the Alchemy process: unwanted garbage in, "Black Gold" out. Worm castings are often called Black Gold because of their very dark, almost black, color and because they are worth their weight in gold when it comes to growing strong, healthy, and vibrant plants.
Traditional "hot" or "pile" composting relies on heat generated by bacteria to break down the material being composted. In order for this method of composting to kill plant & human pathogens, the temperature must reach at least 140° Fahrenheit for 3 to 4 days. One of the biggest drawbacks of this method is that the high temperatures kill off almost all bacteria - even the beneficial ones. This results in a compost which will improve soil structure and water retention, but does not make it easier for plants to absorb the micro-nutrients they need to thrive. Hot composting does work well, but it requires outdoor space where a suitably large pile can be made. The resulting compost is also better suited for larger garden application where the soil structure needs improvement.
Vermiculture on the other hand works by worms eating the bacteria on the organic matter in a bin. Studies have shown that vermiculture kills pathogens just as well as hot composting, but results in a product that is more bioactive. The beneficial bacteria in worm castings make micro-nutrients easily available for plants to absorb. This is why worm castings work so well as plant food! Worm castings also improve soil structure, improve aeration, and improve water retention capacity. Vermiculture is quiet, does not require large fuel-burning equipment, can be done on a small or large scale, and in my opinion, is a whole lot more fun!
|
|