Vermiculture Composting

Vermiculture composting uses worms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost. The practice of vermiculture was started by biology teacher Mary Appelhiff (Worms Eat My Garbage, 1982) to convert her kitchen waste back to healthy soil. Since being introduced in the 1970’s vermiculture composting has been gaining significant traction in the 20th century as environmental awareness continues to grow.

The process involves using red wigglers (Eisenia fetida) to break down food scraps and other organic materials. These worms are highly efficient at decomposing waste, producing castings that are excellent for enriching soil. Vermiculture composting is particularly suited for urban environments, making it an ideal solution for cities like Austin, where soils are low in organic matter.

In December 2023, Tend worked with local Austin vermiculture experts The Austin Worm Lab to put our materials through the test of being broken down by the worms. Within 30 days, our scraps were no longer detectable and the worms were all healthy and doing well. Sampling of the compost after 30 days showed the presence of healthy, diverse biological life. These results were not only promising in terms of soil impact, we gained valuable insights into fungal activity that is driving further research.

Vermiculture composting holds tremendous potential as a regenerative solution for organic waste. As more people are recognizing the need to urgently address our topsoils and embrace regenerative practices, we anticipate vermiculture becoming a norm.