Did you know that the earth is losing topsoil? It is simply eroding faster than it is being created. Part of the magic of this system, is that worms create topsoil! After worms eat the food waste, they produce a solid material called vermicast, which is a nutrient rich component of topsoil.
Another product of the process is worm tea. Worm tea is a nutrient rich liquid that can be used directly as fertilizer. From 2000 to 2006 in the US, the amount of natural gas based ammonia that was imported to serve as fertilizer increased from 15 percent to 44 percent. We are looking for ways to use organic worm tea instead of synthetic imported fertilizer to produce food.
One solution we are exploring is the use of worm tea in hydroponics systems.
Do you want to get involved and learn how to compost with worms? Click here to join the 2008 Can-o-Worms Challenge!