Vermicompost is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by some species of earthworm – or to be less delicate: it’s worm poo. Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich, natural fertilizer and soil conditioner – and excellent for horticulture.

Small-scale vermicomposting is well-suited to turn kitchen waste into high-quality soil, where space is limited.

Together with bacteria, earthworms are the major catalyst for decomposition in a healthy vermicomposting system, although other soil species also play a contributing role: these include insects, other worms and molds.

Worm castings (a slightly more poetic word than poo) is richer in many nutrients than compost produced by other composting methods. It is rich in microbial life which helps break down nutrients already present in the soil into plant-available forms. Unlike other compost, worm castings also contain worm mucus which keeps nutrients from washing away with the first watering and holds moisture better than plain soil. For this reason, some fruit and seed pits are reported to germinate in vermicompost more easily than in other composts. Vermicompost made from ordinary kitchen scraps will contain small seeds, especially those of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, that may sprout weeks later.

Vermicompost benefits soil in many ways by improving its physical structure, enriching soil in micro-organisms, adding plant hormones such as auxins and gibberellic acid, and adding enzymes such as phosphatase and cellulase.  It also improves water holding capacity and enhances germination, plant growth and crop yield.

Compost tea or worm tea is made by mixing some vermicompost in water and steeping for a number of hours or days. The resulting liquid is used as a fertilizer.  The dark brown waste liquid that drains into the bottom of some vermicomposting systems, as water-rich foods break down, is also excellent as fertilizer.

Because the pH and nutrient contents of these liquids (as well as vermicompost) can vary, depending on the food fed to the worms and whether or not lime has been added to the system it is a good idea to source your worm casting products from a reputable firm like 2005 Franklin Country Business Award winner, Envirofert. 

The industry icon for greenwaste and cleanfill disposal Envirofert leads the way in the development and supply of quality vermicompost and compost based products. 100% New Zealand owned the company  operates a 90 hectare recycling operation at Tuakau, 40 minutes south of Auckland.