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Worm composting is a process by which red worms, usually red wriggler worms, also known as Eisenia foetida, are added to organic matter to assist in the breakdown of bacteria growth, hence assisting in the decomposition of such matter. The result is broken down into two categories, worm compost or vermicompost and worm castings (worm droppings).

Vermicompost is what remains after organic matter is broken down into a mix of compost and worm castings, which smells like virgin black soil. This is even a better by-product than regular compost for your gardening needs. The finished results are reliable as the pH is

consistently

between 6 to 7 and the mixed in worm castings are loaded with beneficial microbes.

Worm castings are the remains left over in your worm composting bin after about a few months, which is also known as "Black Gold." This product is as good as it gets for your garden! Again this does not smell bad, but rather like fresh topsoil.

If you have ever walked through the woods somewhere, you have experienced worm composting in its most natural setting. Here you can smell the virgin earth from what creatures such as birds and worms have naturally produced.

Worms have been around for over 120 million years. Aristotle called them "the intestines of the Earth."

Worm composting can be done on a small or large scale as well as indoors or outdoors.

If your worm composting bin is maintained correctly, it does not produce an odor. In fact, when I first became more serious about my vermiculture I ended up with over 15 bins in my home. I got away with this even though my wife freaks out over just the site of a single worm!

A great site for information on worm composting or vermiculture is the Worm Composting Blog and as for a discussion forum, check out The Worm Expert online forum.

Worm compost and worm castings are by far the best organic fertilizer for your plants with added benefits as well.

Results of tests conducted at universities were astonishing not only in the growth difference by simply adding five percent or more of worm composting or worm castings to the soil but also produced disease resistant plants! Test showed that plants without vermicompost exposed to over 150 plant diseases and carcinogens did not fare well as most died. The plants with ten percent or more of worm compost added did survive and did not display any signs of the diseases or carcinogens!

Worm composting offers other benefits as well. Vermicompost retains moisture better than regular soil. Simply mix in your soil or apply on top of the soil around your garden plants. Worm tea, a by-product made by adding worm castings or worm compost to water, can be used to fertilize plants by spraying and help in prevention of dry fungus on plants.

Releasing some worms from your worm composting bin into your garden not only helps to convert organic material in the garden, but also aerates your soil as they burrow through and around the roots of plants.

Darwin, who studied worms for 39 years, stated: "The plow is one of the most ancient and most valuable of man's inventions; but long before he existed the land was in fact regularly plowed, and still continues to be thus plowed by earthworms. It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organized creatures."

As a fisherman, there is another benefit to worm composting by which you have a never-ending supply of red worms for your adventures! The better types for fishing are the European Nightcrawler, African Nightcrawler and the Alabama Jumper worms. The African nightcrawler has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid, and hence my first worm composting bin was established.

If you are looking to release red worms in your garden or lawn areas, here are a few tips.

If you live in an area with a lot of clay or sandy soil, go with Alabama Jumpers as they have a tougher skin permitting them to penetrate and survive either clay or sandy soils.

If starting your own worm composting bin and are mainly into gardening the Red Wriggler worms are the way to go! Otherwise try the African nightcrawler as it makes an excellent composting and fishing worm.

To order worms, Organic Worm Farm offers an array of top quality composting and fishing worms.

Remember, the better the soil, the less effort is required to have a better and greater abundance of pickings!