|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Sunday, 11 September 2005 |
by S. Zorba Frankel, from our issue #22
Quite often when we vermicompost, some amount of liquid drains to the
bottom of our bins. If the bin has holes on the bottom, that liquid
seeps out. Many people assume that this is “castings tea” and will
collect it and use it on their plants. Some also add water occasionally
to increase the amount of liquid that runs through the vermicomposting
bin.
Unfortunately, this liquid is not castings tea, but leachate. When a
liquid seeps through a material containing decomposing organic matter,
some of that organic matter is carried along in the water. When it
leaves the system, carrying with it undecomposed organic matter, we
call it leachate. Now, water does not allow enough Oxygen to diffuse
into it to support aerobic microorganisms, and so anaerobic
micororganisms are encouraged. These anaerobes produce some undesirable
byproducts that are not good for plants. Our nose warns us of the
presence of anaerobes’ byproducts — anaerobic decomposition stinks!
Vermicompost, by its definition, contains some decomposing organics,
some aerobically-decomposed organic matter, and vermicastings. The
longer the worm bin remains aerobic and with a large population of
redworms (or another composting species), the higher its content of
worm castings will be. This is what we want our worm bins to produce.
Castings tea is the liquid we create when we soak worm castings in
water. |
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 October 2005 )
|
Latest News 
