ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES DIVISION

A Guide to EasyHome Composting

What is Worm Composting?Worm composting, also known as vermicompost-

ing, is the process of using worms to break down food scraps

into a valuable organic compost called castings (worm manure).

Worm composting is easy to do: give worms the proper environment and let them go to work! Worms love the dark, so a worm bin is the per-fect place for them to thrive and produce castings. Worm bins are simply dark, closed boxes that contain red worms, moist shredded newspaper (or other bedding material) and food scraps.

Where can I get worms for my bin?

Some area garden supply stores carry red-worms. Other resources include internet sites such as www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organic/Worms/WrmSuply.htm, or contact the City of Oxnard at 385-8060 for local listings.

What will worms eat?

Coffee grounds are a favorite of the worms. Worms can also eat your leftover non-animal product food scraps like banana peels, apple cores, carrot tops, and egg shells. Bury the scraps under the bedding (an inch or so). Add only as much food as the worms seem to be able to handle. Ignoring the box for weeks may reduce the population, but they will recover. It is best to avoid dairy prod-ucts and oily foods due to potential odor and pest problems. Also, it is best to avoid citrus wastes, due to a chemical compound (limonene) which is toxic to worms.

How to use your Worm Castings?

The fi nal product can be used as a soil amendment for house plants or cured (dried) and mixed with soil for use in the garden.

For more information

For more information or to obtain a discounted compost or worm bin (while supplies last), please call the City of Oxnard at 385-8060.

111 South Del N

orte Blvd.

Oxnard, CA

93030

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Printed on 100% Post Consumer Recycled Paper

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES DIVISION

Trouble Shooting Guide for Home Composting

Basic Recipe for Composting

Getting started Add Water Add AirPlace your bin or pile in a shady location. Chop the material as small as possible to speed up the process.

Turn the pile with a shovel or pitchfork each week to expose all the free material to the high heat of the center of the pile.

Add enough water so that your pile is as damp as a wrung-out sponge.

There are fi ve ingredients needed to create rich compost:

Carbon – Approximately 60% brown rich materials

(dry grass, leaves, hay, pine needles, and sawdust)

Nitrogen – Approximately 30% green rich materials

(vegetable kitchen scraps, grass clippings, coffee grounds, and horse manure)

Soil – Approximately 10% garden soil or compost

Water

Air

Composting is the recycling of organic materials, such as yard trimmings, into a valuable soil prod-uct that can be used in your garden or potted plants.

Composting benefi ts the envi-ronment by recycling valuable organic resources and extend-ing the life of our landfi lls.

Composting can be practiced in most backyards in a hand-made or manufactured compost bin, or simply in an open pile. The City of Oxnard offers both com-post and worm composting bins at a reduced rate, while supplies last.

What can be composted?

The following can be added to the compost bin or pile: grass clipping, leaves, fl owers, twigs, horse manure, and vegetable and fruit scraps (bury in your pile to discourage animal pests).

What cannot be composted?

Do not compost cat or dog wastes, meat, bones, dairy or grain products, greasy foods, poisonous

plants, diseased or pesti-cide sprayed plants, woody plants or palm fronds.

When is the Compost Ready?

It usually requires several months for good compost to be produced. Your com-post is ready to use when it

is brown, uniform in consistency, crum-bly and has a sweet, earthy smell. You may want to sift your compost through a screen before use.

After your compost pile gets to optimal size (3’ x 3’ x 3’), you may want to stop adding to it and start a new pile or compost bin so that your fi rst pile can fi nish decomposing.

How do I use my compost?

Mix fi nished compost with garden soil and use it as a mulch on top of the soil, dig it in the soil or use it as a potting mix for plants in containers. Enjoy!

Want to learn more?

The City of Oxnard sponsors yearly compost work-shops, and offers discount compost bins for City residents. For more information, call 385-8060.

Symptom Problem Solution

The pile will not heat up

The pile smells bad

The pile attract fl ies, rats, pets

Not enough air

Too much moisture

Turn the pile

Add dry materials such as brown leaves or sawdust

Pile contains bones, meat, fatty or starchy foods

Alter materials added to pile: bury fruit/vegetable scraps in the middle of the pileDo not place animal-based food products in the pile

Not enough moisture

Pile size is too small

Lack of nitrogen rich material

Particle size is too big

Add water

Collect more materials and build to 3’ x 3’ x 3’

Mix in fresh manure, grass clippings or fruit/vegetable scraps

Chop or grind materials

What is Composting and Why Do it?