How does a vermicomposter work?

Thanks to the earthworm, it works silently and without odour, making the vermicomposter a super composter!

Vermicomposting (composting with earthworms) allows you to transform your kitchen waste into an ecological fertiliser, the vermicompost, and also produce an organic liquid fertiliser. It allows composting to be done indoors. It is perfectly suited to the needs of city dwellers: it is odourless and decomposes quickly.

Vermicomposting consists of placing earthworms in a container known as the “vermicomposter” that feed on the waste we provide them. The earthworm droppings accumulate and make up the vermicompost with the consistency of potting soil and with no odour. In order to ensure rapid decomposition of the waste, we recreate an environment that is favourable to the development of the lovely earthworms and their appetite.

The Vermicomposter is undoubtedly the easiest to use. Several platters are placed one on top of the other and the trays can be rotated easily, leaving the maturing vermicompost at the bottom and the waste deposit at the top. The base module with a cone is always used to collect liquid fertiliser, also called “worm tea”, which is easily removed using a valve.

The vermicomposters are sold with 2, 3 or 4 trays, which is sufficient for the needs of a family of 1 to 6 people. Additional platters can be bought in the Accessory section.

To start your vermicomposter, you need at least 250 grams of earthworms, they will then reproduce. The more worms you have, the faster they’ll work.

Please also see our Earthworm FAQ.

Principle of vermicomposting:

It’s the recycling of our daily organic waste by earthworms.

Previously sorted (extraction of plastics, glass, metal, etc…), the waste is then treated and decomposed by the worms.

The recovered vermicompost is then used as an ecological fertiliser.

In nature, earthworms are responsible for most of the work in decomposing organic matter.

Earthworms:

There are many species of earthworms. Only a few can be put in a vermicomposter. The large earthworms we find in the garden (when digging) are not suitable for vermicomposting. They are soil workers and generally live at a depth of more than 20cm.

Compost earthworms are surface worms that are found at a maximum depth of 10cm. As a result of this high predation, these worms reproduce very quickly and feed on organic and/or decomposed matter. A single worm (with a life expectancy of less than 2 years) can produce more than 800 individuals.

The decomposition of organic matter is therefore mainly entrusted to 3 species of earthworm.

-1. Eisenia Andrei: this is the “manure worm”. Red speckled with grey or yellow, they prefer decomposing materials.

-2. Eisenia Foetida: this is the “California worm”. But there is nothing American about it. They are very red and prefer fresh material.

-3. Eisenia hortensis (Dandrobaena venata): bigger and well known to fishermen, they are more efficient on hard materials.

The best way to achieve optimum vermicomposting is to combine these three species of earthworms.