Vermicomposting

Composting is an excellent way of turning organic wastes into fertilizer for crops.  Although it's not a survival skill, it's useful to know how to recycle your old food and put it to good use.  One of the more interesting ways of composting uses worms to help break matter down, and is called vermicomposting.  It involves a layer of bedding (shredded newspaper, cardboard, a bit of soil) in a tub or tray where the worms reside (only Red Wiggler worms are suited for vermicomposting). Organic waste is occasionally mixed in with the bedding for the worms to feed on.  Coupled with natural decomposition, the worms help turn bedding and waste to a rich brown color, at which point it's considered compost and ready for use in the garden   There are a few different ways to vermicompost, but cost was a factor for my setup so I went the simple route.

Supplies
-10 gallon plastic bin with lid (Think wider not deeper, worms will stay on the top 8 inches of soil)
-Shredded paper or cardboard
-Organic waste
-Drill
-Handful or two of soil
-1 lb. of Red Wigglers

The process is quite simple.  Drill approximately 30 holes in the bottom of the plastic bin to allow for proper drainage. Do the same for the lid. It may also be a good idea to drill a few small holes around the edge of the container.  All these holes with help with aeration, as a compost bin that isn't aerated will start to smell rotten.  Once you have enough bedding, place it into the bin along with the worms, and make sure that everything stays consistently moist. Its best to keep the bin elevated with something beneath it to catch all the excess drainage which can then be used to water plants Now the worms can get to work for you (and you for them).  See the link at the bottom of this post for a list of foods that should and shouldn't go into the bin.

Unfortunately I could find nobody in town who had the worms in stock, so I had to order them.  But now that everything is set up it will make things much easier once they arrive. This was the most expensive supply ($25 for a pound).  However, vermicomposting helps keeps food out of landfills and come springtime I shouldn't need any additional fertilizer for the garden.

I found all my vermicomposting information in one spot: City of Sacramento's Department of Parks and Recreation.  They have a vast amount of information on the subject, so take a look if you'd like to know more.