Editing Vermicompost (section)

==Design considerations==
===Suitable worm species===
All worms make compost but some species are not suitable for this purpose. Vermicompost worms are generally [[epigean]]. Species most often used for composting include:

* ''[[Eisenia fetida]]'' (Europe), the red wiggler or tiger worm. Closely related to ''[[Eisenia andrei]]'', which is also usable.
* ''[[Eisenia hortensis]]''  (Europe), European nightcrawlers, prefers high C:N material.
* ''[[Eudrilus eugeniae]]'' (West Africa), African Nightcrawlers. Useful in the tropics.
* ''[[Perionyx excavatus]]'' (South and East Asia), blueworms. May be used in the tropics and subtropics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/HG-46.pdf |title=Composting Worms for Hawaii |access-date=2009-02-22}}</ref>
* ''[[Lampito mauritii]]'' (Southern Asia), used locally.

These species commonly are found in organic-rich soils throughout Europe and North America and live in rotting [[vegetation]], compost, and [[manure]] piles. As they are shallow-dwelling and feed on decomposing plant matter in the soil, they adapt easily to live on food or plant waste in the confines of a worm bin. Some species are considered [[invasive species|invasive]] in some areas, so they should be avoided (see [[earthworms as invasive species]] for a list).<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nrri.umn.edu/worms/ |title=Great Lakes Worm Watch |access-date=2009-02-22}}</ref>

Composting worms are available to order online, from nursery mail-order suppliers or [[angling]] shops where they are sold as [[Bait (luring substance)|bait]]. They can also be collected from compost and manure piles. These species are not the same worms that are found in ordinary soil or on pavement when the soil is flooded by water.

The following species are ''not'' recommended:
* ''[[Lumbricus rubellus]]'' and ''[[Lumbricus terrestris]]'' (Europe). The two closely related species are anecic: they like to burrow underground and come up for food. As a result, they adapt poorly to shallow compost bins and should be avoided.<ref name="thf">{{cite web | url=http://herronfarms.webs.com/ | title=Composting with earthworms| publisher=Herron Farms Dawsonville Ga. | access-date=March 26, 2013}}</ref> They are also invasive in North America.

===Large scale===
Large-scale vermicomposting is practiced in New Zealand, Canada, Italy, Japan, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the United States.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1873/5a709af9fea979c004e281d9f41c0e7bdc90.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701201831/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1873/5a709af9fea979c004e281d9f41c0e7bdc90.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-07-01 |title=Vermicomposting: A Better Option for Organic Solid Waste Management |year=2008 |doi=10.1080/09709274.2008.11906100 |s2cid=983903 |access-date=2009-02-21 |last1=Aalok |first1=Asha |last2=Tripathi |first2=A.K. |last3=Soni |first3=P. |journal=Journal of Human Ecology |volume=24 |pages=59–64 }}</ref> The vermicompost may be used for farming, horticulture, market gardening, landscaping, to create [[compost tea]], or for sale. Some of these operations produce worms for bait and/or home vermicomposting.

There are two main methods of large-scale vermicomposting, [[windrow composting]] and raised bed. Some systems use a [[windrow]], which consists of organic feedstock for the earthworms to feed on. Earthworms will move into the windrows and remain within them as long as conditions are favourable; typically involving a balanced mix of feedstock, appropriate moisture content and a comfortable temperature. Often windrows are used on a concrete surface to control and manage leachate.

The world's largest vermicomposting operation by volume is MyNoke, a New Zealand-based operation that's processed over 1.4 million tonnes of organic waste since establishment in 2007.<ref>https://www.mynoke.co.nz/about-us</ref> 

Windrow turners were developed by Fletcher Sims Jr. of the Compost Corporation in Canyon, Texas. The Windrow Composting system is noted as a sustainable, cost-efficient way for farmers to manage dairy waste.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Windrow composting systems can be {{sic|nolink=y|fea|sable}}, cost effective (Research Brief #20) {{!}} Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems|url = http://www.cias.wisc.edu/windrow-composting-systems-can-be-feasable-cost-effective/|website = www.cias.wisc.edu|access-date = 2016-02-21}}</ref>
[[File:Worm bed wave.svg|thumb|350px|Movement of castings through a worm bed]]

The second type of large-scale vermicomposting system is the raised bed or flow-through system. Here the worms are fed an inch of "worm chow" across the top of the bed, and an inch of castings are harvested from below by pulling a breaker bar across the large mesh screen which forms the base of the bed.

Because red worms are surface dwellers constantly moving towards the new food source, the flow-through system eliminates the need to separate worms from the castings before packaging. Flow-through systems are well suited to indoor facilities, making them the preferred choice for operations in colder climates.

===Small scale===
[[File:Wormbin.sample.jpg|thumb|right|Demonstration home scale worm bin at a community garden site (painted [[plywood]])]]
[[File:Wormbin.jpg|thumb|Diagram of a household-scale worm composting bin]]
For vermicomposting at home, a large variety of bins are commercially available, or a variety of adapted containers may be used. They may be made of old plastic containers, wood, [[Styrofoam]], or metal containers. The design of a small bin usually depends on where an individual wishes to store the bin and how they wish to feed the worms.

Some materials are less desirable than others in worm bin construction. Metal containers often conduct heat too readily, are prone to rusting, and may release [[Heavy metal (chemistry)|heavy metal]]s into the vermicompost. Styrofoam containers may release chemicals into the organic material.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Worm Compost Bins - What To Look For and What To Avoid|url = http://www.best-organic-fertilizer.com/worm-compost-bins.html|website = www.best-organic-fertilizer.com|access-date = 2016-02-21}}</ref> Some [[Cedrus|cedars]], [[yellow cedar]], and [[Coast Redwood|redwood]] contain resinous oils that may harm worms,<ref name=raising>{{cite web |url=http://www.p2pays.org/ref/35/34577.pdf |title=Raising Earthworms Successfully |access-date=2009-03-04}}</ref> although [[Western Red Cedar|western red cedar]] has excellent longevity in composting conditions. [[Tsuga|Hemlock]] is another inexpensive and fairly rot-resistant wood species that may be used to build worm bins.<ref>[http://www.tampalandscaping.org/red-wiggler-compost-worm-bin.png] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724023034/http://vermontworms.com/red-wiggler-compost-worm-bin/|date=July 24, 2010}}</ref>

Bins need holes or mesh for aeration. Some people add a spout or holes in the bottom for excess liquid to drain into a tray for collection.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Build your own Worm Farm|url = http://andreas-heeschen.co.uk/2016/02/02/build-your-own-worm-farm/|website = Growing Organic|access-date = 2016-02-21|last = Andreasheeschen|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160213203115/http://andreas-heeschen.co.uk/2016/02/02/build-your-own-worm-farm/|archive-date = 2016-02-13|url-status = dead}}</ref> The most common materials used are plastic: recycled polyethylene and polypropylene and wood.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Vermiculture|url = http://www.worm-farm.co.za/vermiculture.html|website = www.worm-farm.co.za|access-date = 2016-02-21}}</ref> Worm compost bins made from plastic are ideal, but require more drainage than wooden ones because they are non-absorbent. However, wooden bins will eventually decay and need to be replaced.

Small-scale vermicomposting is well-suited to turn kitchen waste into high-quality [[soil amendment]]s, where space is limited. Worms can decompose organic matter without the additional human physical effort (turning the bin) that [[composting|bin composting]] requires.

Composting worms which are [[Detritivore|detritivorous]] (eaters of trash), such as the red wiggler ''Eisenia fetida'', are epigeic (surface dwellers) and together with symbiotic associated microbes are the ideal vectors for decomposing food waste. Common earthworms such as ''Lumbricus terrestris'' are anecic (deep burrowing) species and hence unsuitable for use in a closed system.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Worm Dictionary and Vermiculture Reference Center|url=http://www.working-worms.com/content/view/43/68/#d|publisher=Working Worms|access-date=3 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028160939/http://www.working-worms.com/content/view/43/68/#d|archive-date=28 October 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Other soil species that contribute include [[insect]]s, other worms and [[Mold (fungus)|mold]]s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Trautmann |first=Nancy |url=http://compost.css.cornell.edu/invertebrates.html |title=Invertebrates of the Compost Pile |publisher=Cornell Center for the Environment |access-date=2012-10-03}}</ref>

===Climate and temperature===
There may be differences in vermicomposting method depending on the climate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/vermicomposting/hot-climate-vermiculture.htm|title=High Heat And Worm Bins – Tips For Vermicomposting When It's Hot|website=Gardening Know How|date=24 April 2014 |access-date=2016-02-21}}</ref> It is necessary to monitor the temperatures of large-scale bin systems (which can have high [[Heat capacity|heat-retentive]] properties), as the raw materials or [[feedstock]]s used can [[compost]], heating up the worm bins as they decay and killing the worms.

The most common worms used in composting systems, redworms (''[[Eisenia foetida|Eisenia fetida]],'' ''[[Eisenia andrei]],'' and ''[[Lumbricus rubellus]]'') feed most rapidly at temperatures of {{convert|15|–|25|C|F}}. They can survive at {{convert|10|°C|°F|abbr=on}}. Temperatures above {{convert|30|°C|°F|abbr=on}} may harm them.<ref>Appelhof, p. 3</ref> This temperature range means that indoor vermicomposting with redworms is possible in all but tropical climates. Other worms like ''[[Perionyx excavatus]]'' are suitable for warmer climates.<ref>Appelhof, p. 41</ref> If a worm bin is kept outside, it should be placed in a sheltered position away from direct sunlight and insulated against frost in winter.