Soils & Pastures
where I had to truck in 60 ton manure to get 30 ton vermicompost , my mind was made up . I only had to feed the earthworms in the soil and keep them happy and they will produce compost where the plants needs it most , i . e . at root level . H o w d o y o u k e e p y o u r s o i l ' s earthworms happy ? It is by farming with them and not against them . I stopped every practice that might harm the earthworm popultion on my farm . I stopped tilling between my trees . I stopped using herbicides and pesticides . Instead of killing the weeds I started mowing or mulching them . In three years time I can say that I don ' t use any chemical fertilisers anymore . In a year or two ' s time , the nitrogen fixing plants in my system will also make applying extra N redundent . The easiest way to start farming with e a r t h w o r m s i s b y a d o p t i n g Conservation Agriculture ( CA ) Principles . With CA principles you minimize soil disturbance , armour the soil ( covered it with mulch ), have a living root system inside the soil all year around ( cover crop ) focusing on biodiversity and introducing animals in the system . I don ' t want to say that farming with earthworms is superior to earthworm farming . I still have a vermiculture and – composting system going on my farm . What I want to say is that one has to determine what your needs are . If you want to reduce on-farm waste , vermicomposting is the way to do it . If you need to truck in manure and other organic waste to make compost to fertilise your crops , I suggest going the CA route and start farming with earthworms . The rewards in both cases are much more than the money you make or save . The rewards also extends to the local environment , community and healthy lifestyle .
By Erdwurmboer
Eisenia Fetida ( Red wigglers ) in vermiculture & compost system
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