Pre-composting Substrate/Bedding
Introduction
Everyone has their own way of vermicomposting. But among all the methods, there are two main ways to prepare bedding: the pre-composting method, and the regular method (without pre-composting).
Whether you’re a commercial worm farmer or a small-scale household, knowing which method is right for you is key to achieving the optimal results. This article outlines the pros and cons of each method, and will help you choose which method to use for your situation.
Farmers in the Philippines often vermicompost by first pre-composting substrate before letting the worms take over. This breaks down the substrate, making it safe for the worms. For others, including most households, pre-composting would be impractical. Instead, we skip this and use low nitrogen substrate such as newspaper, cardboard and rotten leaves as bedding. Although it is feasible for farmers with large swathes of land and tonnes of waste, it is almost impossible on a small scale. Here is a quick comparison between these two methods:
Pre-composting
- Can Use Nitrogen-Rich Bedding
- Nutrient-Dense Bedding
- No Need for Feeding
- Requires Much More Space
- Takes Lots of Time (1-2 Months)
No Pre-Composting
-
Carbon-Rich Bedding
(ex. Newspaper and Cardboard) - No Prep Time
- Lower Bedding Nutrient Content
- Requires weekly feeding
- Less Space Needed
The Verdict
For most households, it’s impractical to pre-compost your waste. Hence, we recommend preparing carbon-rich or slow-rotting material for your bedding. Examples include: CocoGro Worm Bedding, Newspaper, and Cardboard.
If you don’t plan on pre-composting your waste, stick to materials that won’t rot quickly as your bedding. Then, feed your worms once or twice a week with fast-rotting material such as fruit and vegetable scraps, used coffee grounds, and lawn clippings.
Now What?
In fact, we sell starter kits that come with the worms, bedding, and a container. All you have to do is feed them once a week and replace it with new bedding every month or so. If that sounds appealing to you, visit our store, or click below.
There are a ton of ways to go about vermicomposting. Whatever you do, don’t be afraid to choose whatever suits your needs.
Now, it’s your turn. What type of bedding do you most commonly use in your worm bins? Leave your answer below in the comments section. If you found this helpful, share it on social media to help other worm farmers like yourself.
I need 30 kilos vermi meal. If you have available I know and the price per kilo.