Current installation

I check my notes and found that I started this work in 2009.    Over the years I have had a many as 9

bathtub worm bins in operation composting more than #200 of veggies per week (from local farm market) and who knows how many pizzas and coffee grounds (from a truckstop).

My outdoor compost heat (lasagna style), at that time, was 6' wide, 30' long and 3' deep.  I brought a complete truckload of leftovers from a caterer at a weekend horse show and it all went into the heap.

Here are some photos from my Worm Factory 360 in my garage today.

The cabinet was built for the factory and is insulated with 1" Styrofoam and heated with a 60 watt bulb.  Worms need to stay warm to be productive.  This year there is a very  healthy population and, even with just the two of us, they seem to be happy with what we offer them.  I'm not adding as much newspaper as I could, but the composted leaves offer similar quantities of carbon.

Vermiculture, anyone?

Vermiculture, anyone?

About 10 years ago I stopped at a both at the garden show in Harrisburg, PA.  Ther

e was this guy who's display consisted of a teacup full of what appeared to be dirt and a teaspoon.

That was my first exposure to worm castings and the field of vermiculture.

Since then my garden and house plants have flourished year-round, my recycling has increased by tons and I've sold thousands of pounds of castings, worms and Worm Factories.

https://www.amystewart.com/books/the-earth-moved/

The link above is to Amy Stewart's book The Earth Moved.  I've read it several times and find it to be terrific on the subject, covering everything from the history of Vermiculture to modern applications for home and commercial composting.

From her website:  The Earth Moved
On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms
Algonquin Books • 2004

The New York Times called it "a completely original combination of science and passion." This is a fascinating exploration of the underground world and one of its most amazing denizens. The earthworm may be small, spineless, and blind, but its role in the ecosystem is profound. It tills the soil, destroys microscopic organisms that cause plant disease, breaks down toxins, and turns the ground into rich compost, creating the most fertile areas on earth. In her witty and offbeat style, Amy Stewart shows just how much depends on the humble worm.