European & African Nightcrawlers
and Red Wigglers for sale
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Vermicomposting Classes
What is Vermicomposting?
Vermicomposting is composting with worms. The vermi in vermicomposting comes from the Latin word for worm – Vermis. Vermicomposting differs from normal, or microbial, composting. In vermicomposting, worms do most of the work breaking down organic matter instead of fungi and microorganisms. There are other differences: vermicomposting bins do not heat up, and bins do not need turning. You do not even have to touch a worm.
The average American creates 4.3 pounds of waste each day. Nine percent of this is food waste, 14 percent is yard waste and 32 percent is paper and paperboard. All of this is organic matter that can be composted or vermicomposted. By removing the organic portion of the waste stream by home composting, residents can reduce the cost of municipal solid waste collection and disposal, prolong the life of landfills, add value nutrients and organic matter to soil and reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers used in gardens and lawns.
Vermicomposting makes a lot of sense for many reasons and is often easier to do than regular composting.
1. Its ecofriendly- Food waste accounts for about 30 percent of landfill material. Vermicomposting can reduce you household waste significantly and keep tons of material out of the landfill.
2. Valuable Worm castings are all yours -There's a reason worm castings are called black gold. Pound for pound Vermicompost worm castings are one of the best fertilizers available. A 5 pound bag fetches around $10.00.
3. It's environmentally safe -Vermicomposting produces an all-natural fertilizer that lawns, vegetable gardens and house plants absolutely thrive on.
4. Brew some Worm Tea - No you don't drink it. Worm tea is the liquid that collects in the bottom of your worm bin. Dilute it with water and spray it on your lawn or house plants and watch them take off. Worm tea is also pretty expensive to buy.
5. Raise your own Fishing Worms - Once your Nightcrawlers start to multiply, your worm bin will have plenty of extra worms for fishing or for selling to anglers.
6. Soil Improvement - Vermicomposting worm castings added to lawns, flower beds, vegetable garden beds and potting soil enrich soil with vital nutrients that help plants fight disease and grow strong.
7.Make some money - Once you get into vermicomposting, don't be surprised if friends who fish want to buy your worms; or local gardeners want to buy your castings or worm tea.
8. Start a Business - There are many ways to make money with worms. You can raise fishing worms, sell composting worms, and market worm castings. These are just a few ways to make money with a worm farm.
Heidi Hopp
store owner
Heidi's love for gardening is the reason she purchased her home in the Lake Hodges area and includes 1/3 acre of land that is home to 38 fruit trees and includes raised beds and a worm house (formerly her hen house). She originally became interested in vermicomposting as a way to make good use of kitchen scraps and has spent endless hours learning the proper care of her red wigglers and nightcrawlers. Trial and error, countless YouTube videos and online articles have helped her find a way to turn her kitchen scraps into some of the best fertilizer for her garden.
Heidi's Happy Worms also sells nightcrawlers that are fat & happy and make great bait for the local fishermen. In addition, she is now offering classes in basic vermicomposting, including how to start it on a budget and in limited space.
This is a home-based business and therefore appointments are mandatory. Please make arrangements prior to coming by. For classes, please make sure to park in the driveway or along the fence next to her home.
Address
1242 Via Rancho Parkway Escondido, CA 92029
