FAQ
What's the difference between compost and vermicast?
Heat creates compost. The temperature of a well-controlled compost pile must reach 106 degrees or more, and be monitored and maintained over several weeks. Think of compost as a cake. You mix grass clippings and wood chips with feedlot animal manures and bake them. The ingredients and ratios must be carefully calibrated. To manage the heat, gigantic machines blend and turn the compost cake, and expensive equipment checks on the moisture content and carbon dioxide levels.
Worms create vermicast. These animals work 24/7 and never take a break. They eat. They poop. They reproduce. The body of an earthworm transforms the food scraps, shredded newspaper, and sawdust into vermicast. Working right alongside the worms, we have a whole team of microbes. (They break down the organic material so the worms can eat it). Just the opposite of compost piles, worm beds need to be managed so that they do not heat up and kill the diverse workforce.
Why do people choose to compost with worms?
Worms create a soil amendment superior to compost
It keeps food and paper waste from landfills
It can be done by folks living in apartments
It saves money on buying fertilizer for your plants or garden
Kids love it and it is a fun activity for families
It creates soil amendment three times faster than hot composting
People who cannot physically manage an outdoor pile can do it
You can help others learn to compost their food waste at home
It's amazing to watch the Red Wigglers do their thing
How should I apply soil amendments like vermicast and compost?
Vermicast is a stable material, meaning that the microbes and worms have completely broken down the organic material into organic matter. Unlike fertilizer, it cannot "burn" your plants. Vermicast may be worked directly into the garden soil before planting, added to each hole as bedding plants are put in, or sprinkled around established plants throughout the growing season. Because it is stable, nitrogen and other nutrients feed the plants slowly and continually over time.
Compost is not a stable material, and the organic material still needs to be broken down by bacteria, bugs, and worms. It should not be worked into the soil, because these very same composters require energy too! They will actually be in direct competition with the growing garden plants for food and will be stealing these nutrients from the plant roots.
Bottom line: only stable soil amendments should be blended into garden soil. Peat moss, compost, and the like should be used as a top dressing, allowing nature's workforce to consume, transform and deliver nutrients to the plant roots.
Click here for step-by-step instructions!
How does vermicast improve soil quality?
Vermicast is a stable organic material, and studies show that it increases soil structure by causing minerals in the soil to clump up. The worms add a kind of mucus that binds diverse particles together. This improves the soil's ability to absorb and hold on to moisture, which helps gardeners reduce the need for watering plants. Vermicast is also well-known for containing a host of microbes, plant growth hormones, and beneficial acids that supply minerals to growing plants. All of these factors combine to increase the amount of oxygen and moisture in the soil, and to increase the amount of nutrients available to the plants.
What charges will I pay for shipping?
Annie’s Home Farm offers free shipping throughout the entire USA!