The definitive guide to vermicomposting-a process using redworms to recycle food waste into nutrient-rich food for plants. Newly revised and updated, this 162 page manual provides complete illustrated instructions on setting up and maintaining small-scale worm composting systems. Topics include different bins, what kind of worms to use, sex life of a worm, preparing worm beddings, how to meet the needs of the worms, what kinds of foods to feed the worms, harvesting worms, and making potting soil from the vermicompost produced. A 63 page bibliography, 24 annotated references, a glossary,and comprehensive index make this a valuabe reference book as well as a practical manual.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"... people ... will thank [Appelhof] for showing us ... how we can eat better food by growing gardens with wormpower." -- Pete Seeger, folksinger, environmental activist
"You might say that Kalamazoo has become the epicenter of vermiculture (a fancy name for worm composting) ..." -- Anne Raver, The New York Times
"[This book] supplies everything you want to know about worm composting but didn't know where to ask." -- Green Living Magazine
"You might say that Kalamazoo has become the epicenter of vermiculture (a fancy name for worm composting) ..." -- Anne Raver, The New York Times
"[This book] supplies everything you want to know about worm composting but didn't know where to ask." -- Green Living Magazine
About the Author
Mary Appelhof, prepared by master's degrees in biology and education, has spent the past 25 years working with earthworms to develop a system for using redworms to process organic waste. As a leader in recycling and composting, she has received the National Recycling Coalition's "Composter of the Year" award and Renew America's special merit for the environmental success of her work.
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More About the Author
Mary Appelhof, prepared by master's degrees in biology and education, has spent the past 25 years working with earthworms to develop a system for using redworms to process organic waste. As a leader in recycling and composting, she has received the National Recycling Coalition's "Composter of the Year" award and Renew America's special merit for the environmental success of her work.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
116 of 122 people found the following review helpful
By Taiji 218
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was a fun book about the little creepy crawlers! It gives a very solid scientific introduction to the little critters and answers most of your basic questions about worms. The focus of the book has to with vermiculture--the use of worms for developing super-rich compost material for organic gardens. Vermicompost is without a doubt the best composting material available for organic gardeners, and setting up your own vermicomposting bin is the best way to get yourself some of this richly organic fertilizer.
The book details how you can set up your own vermicompost bin, either by making it yourself or by purchasing a commercial worm bin. It also even describes how some school systems have saved themselves bundles of money by having worms eat the schoolkids' lunch scraps rather than pay for commercial garbagemen to haul the stuff away!
I would most strongly recommend this book for anybody interested in either worms, vermicomposting or organic gardening. It's a very fun read!
71 of 76 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mary Appelhof's book is both amusing and educational. This is the "Vermi Bible" for most people who compost their household waste with worms (vermicomposting).
This 2nd edition includes description and discussion on commercially-available vermicomposting bins. Unfortunately, with the excitement and growing interest in worm composting, there are bins now available that are not reviewed in the book. (I guess we'll need a 3rd Edition!)
For the beginner as well as the worm hobbyist, I recommend this book highly.
This 2nd edition includes description and discussion on commercially-available vermicomposting bins. Unfortunately, with the excitement and growing interest in worm composting, there are bins now available that are not reviewed in the book. (I guess we'll need a 3rd Edition!)
For the beginner as well as the worm hobbyist, I recommend this book highly.
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By Dan Knauss
Format:Paperback
This is a cute and eccentric, rather dated, oddly organized, and not very scientific guide to vermicomposting. It's fine on the basics of keeping a worm composter, but much of its advice is easy to misunderstand or understand incompletely due to the lack of good pictures and hands-on, detailed description of specific scenarios. On some issues it is simply wrong. If you really want to understand your worms and the compost ecosystem you're creating for them, you'll be better off reading multiple online sources devoted to vermicomposting and talking with people who do it.
"Worms Eat My Garbage," like many guides, provides fine advice as far as it goes; it just doesn't explain much about *why* you should do this or not do that. It also fails to put the key issues front and center for people new to worm and compost care: how the worms will behave in your vermicomposter if they are healthy or unhealthy, what they need or like and don't like in their environment and diet, how to understand what you see, and the main ways you can screw up.
I don't believe the book ever points out that worms live on *microbes* in decomposing organic matter, and they only eat your "garbage" in the process of getting at microbes. Explaining the chemistry of composting and decomposition processes (aerobic and anaerobic) would be really helpful, but that's not really covered here either. For example, nitrogen and sugars or starches can break down into wet, potentially toxic byproducts like ammonia and alcohols, which are not good for worms in quantity, especially if the worms can't get away from them. How pH/acidity levels rise and fall is a related concern you won't learn much about from this book.
Here is an example that is typical of the book's main flaw. There is a rambling discussion about how worms may not like something in lemon rinds or orange rinds, or citrus fruits in general. The author talks about a kid who wrote to her about this, explaining how limonene works, apparently based on experiments or expertise of a parent who may or may not have worked at a laboratory. Wouldn't you rather have some hard science and real sources about the relative toxicity of limonene and acidity in your compost, what fruits have it in quantity, and so on? Instead you just get this long anecdote that shows the author does not understand the chemistry and can't tell you definitely how to handle certain fruits in your compost based on an actual known risk. You will find other sources online that say citrus is fine, including lemon and orange peels, but some worms dislike their acidity, as well as other food, like onions, that is acidic. Worms will only eat things they don't like when there is nothing else to eat or the disagreeable food is decomposed enough to be full of microbial life and attractive to worms. I am not sure what the 100% correct view is on this subject, but it's clear "Worms Eat My Garbage" provides more opinion and anecdote than science.
Some things I've read in this book and others like it are confusing because they're presented as rules to follow but are contradicted later, or by other sources. For example, "Worms Eat My Garbage" advises blending up and microwaving your food waste before adding it to the vermicompost, but it doesn't explain the pros and cons, especially if your bin doesn't allow much airflow. Breaking down the food before adding it to the bin can actually help offset the potential problems of foods worms like less, especially if you let the blended mush dry out and get moldy before you add it to your worm bin. In "Worms Eat My Garbage" there's no explanation like this, and no warning about how too much finely chopped food waste -- especially if it's wet -- can also create a sludge the worms can't enter. Too much dense sludge will result in anaerobic decomposition as well, creating a stinky mess and leachate that may be toxic to worms and houseplants. The importance of surface area, air flow, and loose solids should have been emphasized to offset the idea that you should put a lot of "compost smoothie" in your bin.
What you're dealing with are many variables in a dynamic system, so it's really not a matter of "don't ever do this" or "always do this" -- it's "do A if you also B this under these other conditions C and D, but look out for E and F happening." I don't mean to make it sound like vermicompost is a very delicate system but that it's much more educational and fun to understand as a variable and dynamic system that provides certain feedback you can understand and respond to as conditions change.
"Worms Eat my Garbage" is, like many worm guides, insufficient on the subject of proteins in a similar way it mishandles acidity and citrus. Meats, eggs and dairy, raw grains and processed grains or breads are generally not wanted in compost due to the odors, flies and critters they can attract. Nevertheless, these foods will break down and be enjoyed by worms, so with sufficient care in a well-sealed (or basement/garage) composter you can add them if you take care to understand what you are doing and maintain appropriate moisture and airflow levels. "Worms Eat My Garbage" says small amounts of meat are OK but should probably warn the reader that meat is generally a bad thing to add to compost due to the smell and leachate meats will produce and the creatures it may attract, especially outdoors. On the other hand, dairy and grains can work fine--a subject not covered in this book. Wet, spent (brewing) grains or breads are a special case, as adding a thick pile of them may cause anaerobic decomposition that creates alcohols and ammonia. Yet grain can work out fine if it's not overdone in a well-drained and aerated composter.
This level of detail is entirely lacking in "Worms Eat My Garbage." If you want more than dos and don'ts, if you want to experiment and explore or learn the science of worms and decomposition, this book won't satisfy you.
"Worms Eat My Garbage," like many guides, provides fine advice as far as it goes; it just doesn't explain much about *why* you should do this or not do that. It also fails to put the key issues front and center for people new to worm and compost care: how the worms will behave in your vermicomposter if they are healthy or unhealthy, what they need or like and don't like in their environment and diet, how to understand what you see, and the main ways you can screw up.
I don't believe the book ever points out that worms live on *microbes* in decomposing organic matter, and they only eat your "garbage" in the process of getting at microbes. Explaining the chemistry of composting and decomposition processes (aerobic and anaerobic) would be really helpful, but that's not really covered here either. For example, nitrogen and sugars or starches can break down into wet, potentially toxic byproducts like ammonia and alcohols, which are not good for worms in quantity, especially if the worms can't get away from them. How pH/acidity levels rise and fall is a related concern you won't learn much about from this book.
Here is an example that is typical of the book's main flaw. There is a rambling discussion about how worms may not like something in lemon rinds or orange rinds, or citrus fruits in general. The author talks about a kid who wrote to her about this, explaining how limonene works, apparently based on experiments or expertise of a parent who may or may not have worked at a laboratory. Wouldn't you rather have some hard science and real sources about the relative toxicity of limonene and acidity in your compost, what fruits have it in quantity, and so on? Instead you just get this long anecdote that shows the author does not understand the chemistry and can't tell you definitely how to handle certain fruits in your compost based on an actual known risk. You will find other sources online that say citrus is fine, including lemon and orange peels, but some worms dislike their acidity, as well as other food, like onions, that is acidic. Worms will only eat things they don't like when there is nothing else to eat or the disagreeable food is decomposed enough to be full of microbial life and attractive to worms. I am not sure what the 100% correct view is on this subject, but it's clear "Worms Eat My Garbage" provides more opinion and anecdote than science.
Some things I've read in this book and others like it are confusing because they're presented as rules to follow but are contradicted later, or by other sources. For example, "Worms Eat My Garbage" advises blending up and microwaving your food waste before adding it to the vermicompost, but it doesn't explain the pros and cons, especially if your bin doesn't allow much airflow. Breaking down the food before adding it to the bin can actually help offset the potential problems of foods worms like less, especially if you let the blended mush dry out and get moldy before you add it to your worm bin. In "Worms Eat My Garbage" there's no explanation like this, and no warning about how too much finely chopped food waste -- especially if it's wet -- can also create a sludge the worms can't enter. Too much dense sludge will result in anaerobic decomposition as well, creating a stinky mess and leachate that may be toxic to worms and houseplants. The importance of surface area, air flow, and loose solids should have been emphasized to offset the idea that you should put a lot of "compost smoothie" in your bin.
What you're dealing with are many variables in a dynamic system, so it's really not a matter of "don't ever do this" or "always do this" -- it's "do A if you also B this under these other conditions C and D, but look out for E and F happening." I don't mean to make it sound like vermicompost is a very delicate system but that it's much more educational and fun to understand as a variable and dynamic system that provides certain feedback you can understand and respond to as conditions change.
"Worms Eat my Garbage" is, like many worm guides, insufficient on the subject of proteins in a similar way it mishandles acidity and citrus. Meats, eggs and dairy, raw grains and processed grains or breads are generally not wanted in compost due to the odors, flies and critters they can attract. Nevertheless, these foods will break down and be enjoyed by worms, so with sufficient care in a well-sealed (or basement/garage) composter you can add them if you take care to understand what you are doing and maintain appropriate moisture and airflow levels. "Worms Eat My Garbage" says small amounts of meat are OK but should probably warn the reader that meat is generally a bad thing to add to compost due to the smell and leachate meats will produce and the creatures it may attract, especially outdoors. On the other hand, dairy and grains can work fine--a subject not covered in this book. Wet, spent (brewing) grains or breads are a special case, as adding a thick pile of them may cause anaerobic decomposition that creates alcohols and ammonia. Yet grain can work out fine if it's not overdone in a well-drained and aerated composter.
This level of detail is entirely lacking in "Worms Eat My Garbage." If you want more than dos and don'ts, if you want to experiment and explore or learn the science of worms and decomposition, this book won't satisfy you.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Vermicomposting Introduction
There's tons of information in this book. It's not just limited to vermicomposting. It talks about all different kinds of uses of different types of worm bins (vermicomposting... Read more
Published 16 hours ago by Eddie Bush
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book
Book is well written and lets the reader know why and how to make earthworms as a composter. A lot of useless and background information that was not necessary but overall worth... Read more
Published 8 days ago by V. M. Coniglio III
4.0 out of 5 stars
worms eat my garbage
This book was helpful. It would probably be most useful for a person interested in building their worm composting bin versus buying one. Read more
Published 9 days ago by ShayAnna Romine
4.0 out of 5 stars
fun book to read
I thought it would be fun for my children to have a worm bin. I learned some good tips on raising worms and the kids love it. Easy to read.
Published 9 days ago by j chandler
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE vermicomposting how-to book
I've been vermicomposting for 4 years now; got things set up with help from this book. My copy walked, and I wanted to get another to give to the next friend inspired to... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Huntspatch Bookworm
5.0 out of 5 stars
good book
I like it very much. I is not difficult to read , it shows you that it is very easy to make your own compost. I recomend it.
Published 1 month ago by milenka
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it!
It's very informative. I'm using this book as a reference guide to keep my bin maintained and cleaned. Thank you.
Published 1 month ago by Amy Joseph
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book on Earthworms
A companion to the book on worms titled, The Worm Book. Both books read together provides all the information, in simple and easy to understand terms, needed for raising... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Frederick E. Watt Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars
love it
Takes the fear out the stinky smells I thought went with having a worm farm by explaing in details the do's and dont's.
Published 3 months ago by Sheila Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worms Eat my Garbage
This book as described,received purchase within time specified, pleased with purchase, will be helpful to begin worm compost bin, thanks!
Published 4 months ago by Joan Brosnan
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 16
books:
See all 16 books this book cites
23
books
cite this book:
See all 23 books citing this book
- Earthworm Ecology by J. Satchell in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- Soil Animals (Ann Arbor Books) by Friedrich Schaller in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener by Grace Gershuny in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Nightcrawler Manual by Ray Edwards in Back Matter
- Soil Biology Guide by Daniel L. Dindal in Back Matter
See all 16 books this book cites
- The Encyclopedia of Country Living: An Old Fashioned Recipe Book by Carla Emery on page 84, and page 86
- Spineless Wonders: Strange Tales from the Invertebrate World by Richard Conniff on page 150
- Oriental Vegetables: The Complete Guide for the Gardening Cook by Joy Larkcom in Back Matter
- 1,001 Ingenious Gardening Ideas: New, Fun and Fabulous That Will Change the Way You Garden - Forever! (Rodale Garden Book) by Deborah L. Martin in Back Matter
- Dirty Knees by Nancy E. Johnston on page 216
See all 23 books citing this book
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