Compost Is The Natural Way

by Walford Alexander

Use of Worms for Natural Compost

Worms naturally find a home in compost bins. The worms will migrate to the new bedding and you can  harvest the compost. The nutrients are a source for the soil organisms and compost is the best all around. If you add tea bags, the worms will chew up the porous paper in no time, but take off the tea bag tag with the little metal tab. The uses for this material are endless. And if you get the hang of it you'll be able to dispose most of your organic waste, even the meat scraps.

When you need to add worms, it is also possible to purchase worms at a freshwater bait shop. Drill a 1/2" hole through each junction centered 1" in from the inside edge for proper drainage. Earth worms are the best type of worm for your bin. Spread the scraps in a thin layer on top of the bedding to feed the compost bins.

 The worms will follow the food scraps around the bin to aerate the soil and aid decomposition. It is also acceptable to throw non-meat food waste such as coffee grounds, vegetables, fruit, eggshells, etc. To ensure proper use, you must also routinely check for bin contamination and overflow problems.

Making Compost the Natural Way

Compost is the rich dark result of the breakdown of plant and organic material. Compost is made by billions of microbes to include fungi and bacteria that digest the yard and kitchen wastes. To aid in the process the worms will burrow into the bedding away from the light. It is the imbalance introduced by modern farming practices that has created many problems in the soil.

You can buy a compost container in most garden centers and hardware shops. The uses of compost and mulch may vary due to the situations. In some bins, the worms will begin migrating to the fresh food almost immediately. However, make sure the grass is not more than 2 1/2' deep and leaves up to 6" deep. After that, all you need to do is decide how big you want your bins to be.

Keep Your Natural Composting Manageable

 Be sure your compost pile is a manageable size. For the bins, smother and shred newspaper or computer paper into strips. This helps the worms move away from the light and burrow into the bedding, so that your compost can play its essential role in feeding and maintaining the soil.

 A good compost bin helps the environment by improving the soil and by encouraging the growth of plants. It even can use your cut grass that can be added in thin layers so that they do not compact. This is important because, grass should be added to support the decomposition. They must be green or brown in color. You can also help improve drainage and ventilation in the bin by having it slightly off the ground.