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How to Make Compost and Raise Earthworms at the same time

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By flemishcap
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Earthworms raised in a compost heap
Earthworms raised in a compost heap

Making compost and raising worms at the same time!

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Supply of organic matter
  • Shovel
  • Fork
  • Space large enough for the compost heap
  1. Step 1

    Compost is the product of allowing organic matter to decay under the influence of bacterial action. It takes place all the time in nature. The product of this decay is an extremely nutrient rich soil that is used in the place of fertilizer. As you make compost the worms come gratis, and they are usually big fat red ones.

  2. Step 2

    You can collect just about anything that is organic to add to your compost heap except animal fats and bones. Some of the better things to make compost out of our table scraps; especially used coffee or tea leaves. That is only the beginning of the things that you can add to your heap they include such things as grass clippings, wood chips, old leaves, plants stalks, bedding and manure. The list of organic matter they can go into a compost heap is practically never ending.

    The compost heap is a good way to get rid of all kinds of scraps they will even take pieces of paper. The product that comes out of a well rotted heap of compost is valuable, and there are even commercial producers of compost would sell it to nurseries and garden shops as a plant food. In many parts of the country commercial composters are even hired by some municipalities to dispose of their garbage.

    All you have to do is heap your organic matter into a pile, and turn the thing over and about once a day while it is actively being acted on by the bacteria. This process creates a great deal of heat inside the pile and by turning it over you lower the temperature of the interior of your compost heap. A compost heap that is not turned over will not make good compost because the heat that is generated will destroy any nutrients that are in the compost.

    After about two weeks the bacterial action should be complete, although on the fall the cooler temperatures make the bacterial action slow down. After the bacterial action is complete you don't have to touch the pile until you want to remove some compost from your heap.

    As you dig into the heat lo and behold you'll discover that the heap has acquired a large population of Earthworms. The worms are part of the composting process because they break down the decay of organic matter even further, and change most of it in the worm casts. The worms and the worm casts are also valuable. Many gardeners are only too happy to buy both the worms and the worm casts from you. You shouldn't forget the fishermen because they also use worms to catch fish.

  3. Step 3

    Now that we have taught you how to compost your various organic wastes, and grow worms in the process you could use the compost in your garden or sprinkle it lightly on top of your lawn. It makes a good mulch. Don't worry about the worms they came by themselves and you didn't have to buy them. You might consider them to be a gift from God.

Tips & Warnings
  • Leave the heap in contact with the ground.
  • Put the heap to finish in an enclosure.

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