Worm Castings Turning Waste into Free Organic Fertilizer

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Today I am going to evaluate one of the methods I have promoted in the past on my channel. Worm castings are said to be a fertilizer, improve soil structure and add plant growth hormone and humid acid. 0:07 Reasons why I put garden practices, products and methods to the test 1:39 Do worm castings improve soil structure? 1:59 Are worm castings an organic fertilizer? 3:55 What is the pH of Vermicompost ? 4:51 Growth hormone and Humid Acid 6:00 Methods to make worm castings or vermicompost 6:22 How to make a simple worm bin 6:53 Making worm using mulch 7:54 What is the best way to apply worm castings in the garden? 9:02 Summary and findings Related Episodes: Build Amazingly Fertile Garden Soil Using Free and Local Resources: https://youtu.be/Jh3H2d_WFTE Testing Garden Assumptions Playlist: Putting Practices Products and Methods to the Test: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5mfR-r4BXH3UTGH_3UAG6cB8NnlO8M1U References [1] Vermicomposting: Recycling Wastes into Valuable Organic Fertilizer http://oar.icrisat.org/3677/1/172-2004.pdf [2] Essential Elements for Plant Growth http://soils.wisc.edu/facstaff/barak/soilscience326/listofel.htm [3] Optimal pH range for garden plants http://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/pubs/oh34.htm [4] Neutralization of kitchen scraps through vermicompost http://tropecol.com/pdf/open/PDF_41_1/kp41117.pdf [5] Fertilizer potential over time of vermicompost using a variety of species http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aess/2010/967526/abs/ [6] Effects of humic acids from Vermicompost on Plant Growth http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~soilecol/Full%20articles/2006/Effects%20of%20humic%20acids.pdf [7] What is Humic Acid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humic_acid Check us out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlbertaUrbanGarden/

Comments

I might say ! very good and detailed video

I think worms are meant to work in soil, I don't see the need of vermaculture/vermicompost. I hope you can bring a study to support the new strategy of composting.

I am more than happy to play a role in this. I have been farming worms and working with worm farming systems on my micro farm in Byron Bay Australia.
The solid volume of nutrient of vermicompost is also more bio available for plants,,I did this with chicken manure which is highly acidic
I am lucky enough to have a close friend who has been in the worm farm industry for close to a decade and consults to business.
Lets keep in touch.
Marty Ware (Australian Micro Farmer)

Thanks for your videos. They are well done and cover topics I find useful.

Many of us cannabis growers are basically turning our containers into worm bins and growing directly in them. They call it no till, or living soil. Start with a good soil, add a bunch of worms, feed the worms and soil, and just let the plants grow. I've just started my second season doing this.

As always Stephen, great video, thanks for taking the time to make them :)

Ive often worried i wasnt feeding my worms a verity of scraps, and wasnt producing all 18 plant nutrients. Ive found severial papers claiming that egg shells add roughage for the digestion, but that the calcium trigger worms to lay eggs! Ive also discovered that red wigglers go ape shit for watermelon rine as well as cantaloupe rine. Freezing scraps and then the melting ice flow thru to the drain and i collect worm leche'. There are severial papers stating that is a possible poison for plants, i feed it to all my seedlings and transolanted crops and they just grow new leaves to a color thats almost flourcesent green!! Wirm castings are the greatest stuf on earth! Great video Steven :)

Here is a great tip, if you have problems finding red wigglers, or European Nightcrawlers. These composting worms can also be quite pricey. I have found these worms in live bait fridges, at gas stations, outdoor sport stores, or even your local general store. They come in plastic bags, and are labeled as such. They may come with only a few worms (up to 10), but these worms will multiply over time, if they are healthy, and are worth the wait. They are great if you are starting your own worm bins. I have also tossed them right into my compost bin.

Excellent video! I share your vision!

Hello Stephen, just wanted to say I love your channel!

I love the fact that I can access your channel and get a scientifically tested opinion. So many things are true for one person's garden but is not the same for another person due to so many variables such as climate, soil condition, etc. but you test things that everyone can benefit from. Thank you!

very nice to have a local person provide information relevant to the Alberta climate...thought you had a giant caterpillar on your chest..lol..respect from calgary and thank you for all the great research and information !!!!!!!!!!

I have started a vermiculture and was wondering about the material to feed them. Should one focus on coffee grounds, banana peels and eggshells for kitchen scraps? I have been throwing other food waste in there such as garlic skins, onion skins, fruit rinds, etc.

do you put worms in your containers? I found some in mine and thought mehhh. not hurting me. I am thinking of grinding up some egg shells and banana peels for them.

Hi Stephen, great vid as usual. What are your thoughts about using spent peanut shells in your compost for added nutrients?

I mulched my fruit trees with un-decomposed compost (wood chips and coffee grounds mainly) and finely chopped leaves on top last fall. This weekend, I pulled back the mulch to check the water content in the soil, found damp soil and multiple earthworms right at the top. The average size was 6-8inches long and 1/4inch or slightly larger across. I need to do a soil test myself, but am letting nature handle the processing for the most part. I think I fall into the category of people who dont have any desire to raise a worm farm and let native worms take a little longer in place.

Excellent video, I am currently using store bought worm castings but can't wait to start making my own as soon as I have a proper garden.

I'm convinced that worm castings have played a huge role in the success of our garden, and the science backs it up!

Fantastic and informative video. Thank you!

I'm dying to do a big worm casting for my big raised bed but I have to close the raised bed because it get filled with chickens but pretty soon I will be closing it soon. On my pots I have found wiggly worms. Great video.

I enjoy very much watching your videos. There is always something new to learn about. I have three raised beds and I am following a lot of your advice. Thank you so much for all your help.