Traditional Composting v. Worm Composting

When most people hear the word "compost", the image of a pile of yard trimmings automatically pops into their head. The general concept of composting has been around a long time, dating as far back as the ancient Greeks. It certainly makes a lot of sense: if it came from the ground naturally, it can return to the ground naturally. By composting, you're reducing the amount of material that goes to a landfill - and what could be easier than just chucking your food and yard waste into a heap in the corner of your yard?

It sounds easy, but if your goal is to get usable, nutrient rich soil fertilizer out of the deal, you have to do more than just have a good underhand lob. In order for any compost heap to produce healthy soil, there are three conditions that have to be taken into consideration: moisture, temperature, and aeration (availability of oxygen). If these three thigns aren't controlled and looked after, the beneficial microbes that make compost nutrient rich can expire. Worst case scenario: harmful, anerobic microbes can take their place.

What a lot of people don't realize is that there are several ways to compost, and that some methods are far more beneficial and efficient than others. For yard trimmings, grass clippings, and general outside refuse, a traditional compost pile is a fine way to go. But when it comes to your vegetable and fruit scraps from your table, there's a much, much more attractive alternative, especially if you are also a gardener or have house plants.

When it comes to composting (and recycling) your kitchen scraps, worm composting is undoubtedly the easiest, most beneficial, and even the most fun of all composting methods. And thanks to the developing vermiculture industry, worm composting has become accessable, no matter where you live or how much space you have. Worm composters worldwide have come to know the Red Wiggler as the champion of the vermiculture world. Not to be confused with the typical, fat earthworm that you might find in your typical garden, Red Wigglers are slightly smaller worms who specialize in breaking down organic matter with the help of tiny microbes and an extremely efficient digestive system. Red Wigglers, and other composting worms, produce "worm castings" (worm poop). Worm castings have been found to have high levels of the basic minerals and nutrients that plants need, and have been shown to hold these nutrients better than any commercial fertilizer on the market. In short - worm castings are by far the best fertilizer you can give to your plants.

There are plenty of resources out there that can point you in the right direction if you want to make your own worm composter, and there are a lot of great commercial bins, such as the Worm Factory®, that make it easy and educational. When shopping around for a worm composter, the decision to make v. buy is the first big decision that you're likely to encounter. The right decision is to buy a bin, and here's why...

On the surface, it might appear that making your own worm composter is the cheap and easy way to go. I mean, how hard can it be, right? You just need a container with some holes in it, some food scraps and some worms.

Let's revisit the three conditions that have to be met in order to sustain a healthy and productive composting system: moisture, temperature, and aeration. A basic, homemade worm bin will most likely set you up to fail in regards to these requirements. First off, Red Wigglers are epigeic, which means surface dwelling, worms. They typically live in the top 6-12 inches of soil, and that's where they're most comfortable feeding and breeding. A homemade bin is usually too deep for Red Wigglers, and, if not, it's too shallow to adequately process your food scraps. This means that, if your homemade bin is too deep, the worms won't get down to the stuff at the bottom, and this can result in an anaerobic (oxygen deprived) environment.

Temperature and moisture present similar problems in a DIY worm compost bin, for similar reasons. The solution that many commercial bins have come up with is a stackable, flow-through tray system approach. Shallow trays with holes in the bottom provide "levels" for the worms to live in, and also provide a way for oxygen and moisture to escape the system. In this system, the worms can process the food in one tray, and then, through the holes in the bottom of the tray, work their way up to the next tray. A person simply adds food to each tray until it's full, stacking trays and adding more as they go. The worms do the rest! The stackable trays also make it much easier to separate the worms from the final product - the worms natural sort themselves from their worm castings by moving to the fresher source of food in the tray above.

Commercial worm bins are typically much easier to manage, in general. From the stacking trays, to the spigots that many of them include to allow for drainage, to the accessories and useful information that comes with most models, commercial bins are a great way to get started and to keep worm composting going year round without interruption. Homemade bins can be made for indoor use, but often, because of their poor design, can attract pests and become odorous.

In conclusion, let's examine the pros and cons, shall we?...

So, if you're currently on the fence and trying to decide between making your own worm composting bin and springing for a commercial bin, consider the time, money and effort that you'll save in the long run by opting for the commercial bin. There is a strong chance that your worms will not survive in a DIY bin, at least not at first, and this can cost you more than you bargained for when you have to reorder worms and retool your design. Most commercial bins, on the other hand, are easy to set-up, easy to operate, and designed for long-term, year round use. The bin we recommend is the Worm Factory® 360. The manufacturer will even help you find local worm farms!

Whatever route you choose, have fun, and happy composting!