Traditional Composting, Vermicomposting, and Bokashi: What’s the Difference?

Through our educational outreach, Solana Center strives to present our community with a range of options for diverting their food waste and creating healthy soil through composting. But sometimes, when presented with many choices, we can be left wondering, “What’s the right method for me?” In this article, we’ll explore some common composting practices to…

Read More

Which Composting Method is Right for You?

Have you ever wondered “what is the best composting method for me?”  There are many options for how to personally deal with food waste and a lot of different factors to consider. Not everyone is ready to jump in headfirst with a pile or a worm bin (but if you are more power to you!)…

Read More

Climate Solutions: Worm Bedding

Question: Why do I need bedding in my worm bin? Is it okay if I just give the worms my food scraps? Answer: Bedding, which can be made of shredded paper, coconut coir, cured manure, or dry leaves, is an absolute necessity in your worm bin. Supplying your wiggly workers with bedding has a number…

Read More

Climate Solutions: What Is the Right Moisture Content for My Worm Bin?

Moisture content is very important when composting with worms. This is because your red wigglers breathe through their skin and need appropriate moisture to do so. Often times the materials you add will give your bin moisture, but you will likely still need to add water to obtain the appropriate amount (especially with warmer weather).…

Read More

Climate Solutions: What should I do with my worms while on a trip? 

Question: “What should I do with my worms while on a trip?” Answer: Depending on the length of your trip, you will likely not need to do anything at all. Even a new population of worms only needs to be monitored every few days to assess how much food was eaten, moisture levels, and whether they need…

Read More

Composting worms don’t like citrus or spicy foods – here’s why!

If you have a worm bin at home you may already know that red wriggler composting worms have a big appetite. Some would say that the way to a worm’s heart is through their stomach! But just like humans, worms have food preferences and favorites. As a general rule, scraps that you would normally put down the…

Read More

DIY: How to build your own in-ground worm bin

An in-ground worm bin is an alternative to multi-layer worm bins that sit above ground level. Though an in-ground bin can be made from various materials, a simple and cost-effective bin can be made with a 5-gallon bucket; we’ll share how in this tutorial in a few simple steps! In-ground worm bins have a number…

Read More

From the Rotline: How Can I Harvest My Worms’ Castings?

The ability to harvest small handfuls of worm castings as needed is a thing of composting beauty. However, in order to ensure that your vermicomposting system diverts the greatest volume of organic material and supports the healthiest worm population, it’s important to fully harvest and refresh the tray(s) every so often! You will know that…

Read More

Learnings from a Master Composter Course

These observations were originally shared by Kaitlin Mitchell of Rutabega Education and have been edited for cohesiveness. Solana Center’s Master Composter courses are a unique opportunity to gain a more in-depth understanding of the art and science of the composting process and empower participants to share this knowledge and passion with others. One participant in…

Read More