Commercial Composters Put to the Test - Part 2 - Worm Factory

by Amy Jo Ehman

Composting is naturess way of recycling, but sometimes in the rush of modern life, we may want to give nature a boost. There are commercial composters on the market offering to compost household waste faster, more easily, indoors and in less space than the traditional outdoor compost pile.

The Worm Factory
Worms are right at home with Sandra Rose. She keeps thirty or more containers wriggling with worms. In order to provide enough food for all those critters, she supplements her household kitchen waste by collecting organic material from her neighbours, at her workplace and from a local restaurant. "The worms are amazing critters," she says. "They work so hard. They're nature's farmers!" So, when Sandra was asked to try a worm 'condominium' called the Worm Factory, she jumped at the opportunity.

The Worm Factory consists of three stacking trays, with the option of adding more trays to the stack. The worms start in the bottom tray full of organic material, while fresh organic material is added to the upper trays. As the worms finish composting the lower level, they multiply and migrate upward into the tray above. The bottom tray is then emptied, cleaned and added to the top. A rich liquid by-product gathers at the base and is removed through a spigot.

"After eight weeks, the first layer had decomposed to a nice consistency that I can now spread on my garden," she says.

Sandra experienced no off odours; in fact, it was a pleasant smell. "It has an earthy smell, like you've been outside after a rainfall." This was due in part to the addition of torn newspaper. During vacations, she says a mix of newspaper and coffee grinds will keep residents of the Worm Factory contented and well fed.

Sandra offers her surplus worms on kijiji and through the SWRC website, so others can get started with indoor vermicomposting (vermi is Latin for worms). She liked the Worm Factory so much she has decided to supply it too. Her business is called EcoMunchers, a nickname for her efficient red wigglers. "I just love them," she says. "They're like family!"

Worm Factory - thumbs up.

Visit the Worm Factory website for information or to purchase on-line.

(Source: Feb. 2010 WasteWatch)

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