We love worms. If you can look past their damp, wiggly appearance, you will see that they are one of nature’s most benevolent, non-toxic garden helpers. Aside from their crucial role in aerating soil and decomposing garden and food waste, worms produce some of the richest, nutrient-dense fertilizer around.
It starts with red wigglers. One of the classic compost-producing garden worms is commonly known as a red wiggler (Eisenia fetida). Many people raise worms for compost in a backyard worm bin. They are also raised commercially for large-scale compost production. These humble worms have a voracious appetite for all kinds of organic waste, such as fruit and vegetable trimmings, coffee grounds, paper, manure and yard waste.
Photo care of Simple Grow Soil
Then come the castings.The waste that worms produce is a rich, earthy “manure” that is loaded with beneficial bacteria, fungi and micro-nutrients. Also known as worm castings, it is considered some of the best soil amendment for your garden. Castings can be applied directly to the soil, or can be steeped and concentrated into a compost “tea,” also called vermi-extract.
Finish with fertigation.
Here at Equinox, we use a commercially produced vermi-extract on our clients’ gardens, giving the soil a much-needed nutrition boost. Instead of hand-feeding individual plants, we take the concentrated liquid vermi-extract and inject it into the ground via the irrigation system, a method also known as fertigation. Using equipment originally designed for chemicals, “fertigators” are well-adapted for organic methods and allow us to time the release of vermi-extract based on soil type and condition. It’s akin to spreading compost on your plants, but in a fraction of the time.
Commercially produced vermi-extract ready for fertigation. (Photo by Sonoma Valley Worm Farm)
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Dig Deeper
- Check out the Sonoma Valley Worm Farm, a terrific local source for worms, compost and vermi-extract.
- If you’re interested in home worm composting, click on this helpful CalRecycle site for more info.
Spring is just around the corner, and the perfect time to feed your landscape. Why not consider a worm extract treatment for your garden? Give us a call at 707-789-9786.
Red wigglers, happily making compost. (Photo: Sonoma Valley Worm Farm)