Worm Compost / Worm Castings / Vermicompost Has Many Benefits
Just a few are: landfill reduction; making a valuable soil conditioner that has many plant benefits including plant growth and rooting hormones(auxins and cytokinins); ability to increase the amount of water stored in a soil and its ability to release that water and nutrients (cation exchange) and many many more.
1/ More and more research proves worm composting products are excellent soil conditioners 🙂
“Worm compost can suppress plant disease, regulate nutrients, research finds” (Cornell)
http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2011/12/research-worm-compost-can-suppress-plant-disease
2/ The articles keep coming – synthetic nitrogen (think chemical fertiliser) is destroying our soils by reducing soil carbon: http://grist.org/article/2010-02-23-new-research-synthetic-nitrogen-destroys-soil-carbon-undermines/
3/ I have heard of this guy several times. He’s a mushroom guy. A VERY interesting read 🙂
http://www.ecosnippets.com/environmental/patent-that-could-destroy-monsanto/
4/ So, so true – worms can save our planet 🙂 http://theconversation.com/earthworms-are-more-important-than-pandas-if-you-want-to-save-the-planet-74010?
5/ And yet, in Australia, composting and especially worm composting is taught in absolutely NO agricultural/horticultural course. Shaking my head in sadness 🙁 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/only-60-years-of-farming-left-if-soil-degradation-continues/
6/ Interesting article on “cold composting” (Mesophyllic) https://rodaleinstitute.org/mesophyllic-fertilizer-and-soil-culturing/
7/ Playing with your composting worms can make you happy: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/antidepressant-microbes-soil.htm
(And another about our health: https://www.thestar.com/life/2016/10/20/children-need-microbes-not-antibiotics-to-develop-immunity-scientists-say.html )
8/ This is an interesting article – using worms to clean up water and to make fertiliser for a vineyard: http://www.mnn.com/money/sustainable-business-practices/blogs/earthworms-double-duty-fetzer-vineyards
Similar articles featuring the same company:
http://modernfarmer.com/2016/05/biofiltro-wastewater/?platform=hootsuite
9/ This article caught my eye. It briefly discusses the role of humus (either vermicompost or plain normal compost for want of a better description) and how it effects water retention in soils
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Role-of-Bacteria-in-Soil-Water-Management&id=8171076
10/ The researchers keep telling us – stop (or at least reduce) chemical fertilisers, pesticides and fungicides – they are killing the soil biology. The products of composting worms have been proven to help do just that. A great article: http://e360.yale.edu/features/why-its-time-to-stop-punishing-our-soils-with-fertilizers-and-chemicals
11/ Here’s yet another great article, starring our friends, the worms 🙂 https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/wonder-worm-to-the-rescue
12/ A friend of mine (thanks John Bonitz) is into this “Biochar” stuff.
The more I read about it, them more I like it. Here’s an article about how theyre using it to help trees manage transplant shock, drought and a heap of other things:
https://www.biochar-journal.org/en/ct/77
13/ Biochar – over the last 12 months I have seen an increase in the awareness of and interest in Biochar.
In short – a valuable soil amendment: http://www.biochar-international.org/biochar
14/ My friend john posted this link on how to make biochar 🙂
http://www.dyarrow.org/CarbonSmartFarming/docs/BiocharUseInSoil.pdf
15/ This is an interesting machine – a solar powered composter.
Invented by an aussie worm farmer 😀
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-23/queenslander-invents-solar-power-compost-machine/8049028?pfmredir=sm
16/ This article just got my attention: “Stop treating soil like dirt” :O
It coincides with me formalizing a lesson that I had to do for my training & assessment course, which I subtitled: “Sustainability – How worm farming can help save the Earth”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/25/treating-soil-like-dirt-fatal-mistake-human-life
17/ More great info on soil biology and soil health 
🙂
18/ Some more interesting stuff 🙂
Especially look into the stuff on the arthropods – a necessary critter 🙂
https://extension.illinois.edu/soil/SoilBiology/soil_biology_primer.htm#Contents
19/ This site seems to have interesting info and links 🙂
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/soils/health/
20/ Someone posted this in the wfa – its a really good article on the future of cancer treatment, utiliing worms in some way ( i havent read it all yet )
21/ Worms could clean up toxic waste :O
http://cleantechnica.com/2010/12/07/what-a-twist-earthworms-could-clean-up-toxic-waste/
22/ Interesting article: Giant mounds are actually worm casting !
23/ This sort of info just keeps coming out.
The days of chemical fertilisers, fungicides and pesticides may be running out. http://modernfarmer.com/2014/04/microbes-will-feed-world-real-farmers-grow-soil-crops/
24/ Worms produce GOLD!
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/science/worms-produce-another-kind-of-gold-for-farmers.html?_r=0
25/ Wonder worm to the rescue?
https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/wonder-worm-to-the-rescue
26/ Black Soldier Fly Larvae used to divert food waste – then the larvae are fed in an aquaponics farm (to fish)
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-15/maggots-eat-food-to-make-fish-food-for-aquaculture-industry/8528332
27/ In the USA certain species are thought to be invasive – this article discusses it:
http://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2017/5/3/invasion-of-the-earthworms
28/ Fertility Without (Chemical) Fertiliser:
http://www.rootsofnature.co.uk/fertility-without-buying-fertiliser/
29/ How fungi can awake bacteria from their slumber (after the soil dries out/drought)
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170607085344.htm
30/ The Evolution Of Worms:
http://blogs.biomedcentral.com/bmcseriesblog/2017/06/01/the-evolution-of-earthworms/
31/ About half the food grown in Australia is THROWN AWAY each year !!
Up to 44 MILLION TONNES !!! Shaking my head 🙁 Imagine what worms could do with that !
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/food-waste-shapes-up-as-a-national-scandal/news-story/8bef06ef1b7f731cbe8a80620fbd6b57
Interested in starting a worm farm to help save the environment?
I have published a FREE Frequently Asked (Worm) Questions guide; download it for free/donation here: https://gum.co/Worms-FAQ
Bait worms – are they environmentally friendly?
Raising worms to sell as fishing bait is a sustainable, green, environmentally friendly business.
In Australia, worms that are wild caught are needed where they are found – helping our environment, reducing erosion and increasing organic matter.
A valuable by product of raising bait worms to sell, is the worm castings – a rich organic matter which holds a host of great properties. Using the castings not only benefits plants but also helps the soil food web by supplying food and micro organisms.
Using bait worms that are sustainably farmed is a great way to help the environment.
This is a fully registered and insured business – and a member of Logan & Albert Fish Management Assoc.