Biochar and Vermiculture: How to Use Biochar in Your Worm Bin
One of the most exciting innovations in gardening and composting is the use of biochar in worm bins.
As avid gardeners and composters, we've explored biochar's unique benefits to soil health and fertility, and we wanted to share our experiences with using biochar in worm bins.
So, what is biochar, and how can it benefit your worm bin specifically?
Biochar is a type of charcoal, made through a process called pyrolysis, that gives it a porous structure perfect for retaining water, nutrients, and supporting microbial life.
When introduced to a worm bin, this biochar acts as a microbial reef, resulting in a more efficient composting process as the worms eat the microorganisms consuming the food scraps.
With the improved microbial environment, your worms will thrive, and you'll get better quality vermicompost to nourish your plants.
What is Biochar?
Biochar is a highly porous form of charcoal that is made through a process called pyrolysis.
Pyrolysis involves heating organic material, such as plant waste or wood, in a low-oxygen environment. This process breaks down the organic material into biochar, a stable form of carbon that can be used in various applications, including soil amendments.
We want to mention that one of the main benefits of using biochar is its ability to improve soil fertility and structure, as well as its positive impact on the environment.
Because of biochar's porous nature, it can retain water and nutrients, helping plants grow better in areas with poor soil quality. Furthermore, biochar can also help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by storing carbon, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as CO2 in the natural breakdown of the wood.
The most important reason why we talk about biochar in the context of worm bins is that it can also act as a habitat for beneficial microorganisms.
When we use biochar in worm bins, we create an environment where microbes can thrive, contributing to richer vermicompost and a healthier ecosystem for the worms. In fact, some even consider biochar as the "Manhattan of Microbes" due to its unique structure and its ability to support microscopic life (Urban Worm Company).
In conclusion, when we use biochar in our worm bins, we're not only improving the quality of our vermicompost, but we are also contributing to a more sustainable environment. And who wouldn't want that?
Worm Bin Basics
In our experience with worm bins, we have found that understanding the basics can significantly increase the success and productivity of your composting process.
In this section, we'll cover the types of worms, worm bin setup, and feeding and maintenance.
Types of Worms
There are several types of worms that can be used in a worm bin, but the most common and effective species for composting are red wigglers (Eisenia fetida). These are the types of worm we use on our farm.
These little wrigglers are perfect for breaking down food scraps and other organic materials in your worm bin, turning them into nutrient-rich compost.
Worm Bin Setup
Setting up a worm bin is quite simple. Start by selecting a location that is dark, well-ventilated, and has a stable temperature, ideally between 60-80°F (WormBucket).
A good worm bin should also have proper drainage and aeration to ensure a healthy environment for the worms. You can use a plastic container or a wooden box with holes drilled in the bottom for ventilation and drainage.
Fill the bin with a mix of moist bedding materials, such as shredded newspaper, cardboard, or coconut coir.
Feeding and Maintenance
Feeding your worms the right amount and type of food is essential for a thriving worm bin. Here are some tips for keeping your worms well-fed and happy:
Provide a balanced diet of fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, teabags, and eggshells. Avoid acidic, oily, and spicy foods, as well as meats and dairy products. If you have a lot of these types of materials and want to use them, you can use them in your worm bin by first composting them using Bokashi.
Do not overfeed your worms. It's better to wait until they have consumed the majority of the food before adding more. This will prevent the wrong type of microbiology from forming and causing the food to rot.
Keep the worm bin moist by misting it with water when needed, but be careful not to make it too wet, as this can create an unhealthy environment for the worms. If you pick up a handful of the bedding, squeeze it, and more than a trickle of water comes out from between your fingers, your bin is too wet.
Regularly monitor the worm bin for any potential problems, such as unpleasant odors, pest infestations, or excess moisture. Make adjustments as needed to maintain a healthy environment for your worms (Oregon Metro).
By following these worm bin basics, we have found that our composting process has been more efficient and our worms happier and healthier.
The biggest thing you can do to help your worms thrive is maintain the proper moisture level.
This ultimately leads to a more productive worm bin that can provide us with high-quality compost for our garden and plants.
Benefits of Adding Biochar
As enthusiastic worm bin enthusiasts, we've discovered some amazing benefits from adding biochar to our vermicomposting systems.
In this section, we'll discuss why biochar can be a great addition to your worm bins, focusing on four key benefits. Let's dive right in!
Improved Soil Structure
One of the first things we noticed when we started using biochar in our worm bins was the improvement in casting structure. It turns out that biochar's porosity can help maintain structural stability and even out water availability, making it an excellent bedding material for your worms [source].
Worms breathe through their skin, and as a result of the incorporation of biochar, our worm bins have benefited from better aeration, moisture retention, and overall healthier conditions for our wriggling worms.
Increased Microbial Activity
The addition of biochar not only benefits our worms, but also the billions of microbes living in the worm bin. Known as the "Manhattan of Microbes," biochar has a prodigious capacity to store and support these helpful microorganisms[source].
More microbes mean faster decomposition, which ultimately leads to richer and more fertile compost. We like to think of it as a thriving city where everyone benefits from a vibrant and diverse ecosystem!
Enhanced Nutrient Retention
Biochar is known for its incredible ability to hold water, nutrients, and microorganisms[source].
By adding biochar to our worm bins, we've noticed that the castings, or worm poop, are more nutritious and full of valuable minerals.
This helps plants grow stronger and healthier when we use the resulting compost in our garden. It's amazing how these small additions to the worm bin can make such a significant impact on plant growth and overall garden health.
Odor Reduction
An unexpected but welcome benefit of adding biochar to our worm bins is the reduction in odor.
Biochar helps absorb excess nitrogen, which can cause a strong ammonia smell when it builds up. Ammonia is also a key form of nitrogen utilized by plants so this is a win-win situation for us.
This has made our worm bin experience that much more pleasant, and we can't imagine going back to not using biochar.
How to Incorporate Biochar in Worm Bin
In this section, we'll explore how to effectively incorporate biochar into your worm bin. We'll discuss sourcing biochar, preparing it for use, and applying it to your worm bin, as well as the appropriate amount and frequency for optimal benefits.
Sourcing Biochar
When it comes to sourcing biochar for your worm bin, it's essential to choose a high-quality product. You can either purchase biochar from a reputable supplier, or create your own using a variety of organic materials, such as wood chips or coconut shells.
Be sure to select a biochar product that has a fine particle size as it will be easier to mix with the worm bin's bedding and will provide better water retention and aeration.
Preparation and Application
Before applying biochar to your worm bin, it's essential to prepare it properly. One popular preparation method is precharging the biochar with worm tea, as seen in this video. Simply soak the biochar in worm tea for approximately 24 hours. This helps to inoculate the biochar with beneficial microbes and nutrients from the worm tea.
Another option to pre-charge your biochar for your worm bin is adding in Terraganix EM-1 and Blackstrap Molasses mixed 1 part EM-1 to 1 part molasses to 20 parts of water, and soaking the biochar in that mixture. This pre-loads the biochar with a mix of Lactic Acid Bacteria, Yeasts, and Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria, all of which the worms love to eat.
After the precharging step, you can mix the biochar into your worm bin’s existing bedding. Be sure to distribute the biochar evenly throughout the bedding to create a consistent environment for your worms.
Amount and Frequency
The optimal amount of biochar to add to your worm bin will depend on factors such as the size of your bin and the number of worms you have. Generally, adding a 10-15% ratio of biochar to the bedding material is a good starting point. You can always adjust the amount based on your observations of the worm bin's moisture levels and worm activity. For example, you might add more biochar if you're experiencing issues with excess moisture, as demonstrated in this video.
It's also important to monitor your worm bin regularly and be prepared to add additional biochar as needed. Depending on your setup and the needs of your worms, this may be every few months or just once or twice a year. By staying attentive to your worm bin's condition, you'll ensure that your worms continue to thrive and produce nutrient-rich vermicompost for your garden.
You can also add a dusting of biochar when adding food to your worm bins. The biochar will soak up any extra moisture and odors, and microorganisms from the food will find a great place to live among the biochar.
Potential Drawbacks and Limitations
As enthusiasts of worm bin composting and the usage of biochar, we want to make sure we present a balanced perspective. In this section, we will discuss the potential concerns and limitations associated with incorporating biochar into worm bin systems. We will examine the quality of biochar, its possible negative effects on worms, and the broader environmental impact of its overuse.
Biochar Quality Concerns
When sourcing biochar, it's important to consider the quality and manufacturing process. Not all biochars are created equal, and some may contain harmful components that could negatively affect the worm bin environment. For instance biochar sourced as charcoal right out of a firepit may contain oils, tars, and the feedstock may have been pressure treated or painted wood.
In order to minimize adverse effects, we recommend obtaining biochar from reputable producers who follow strict guidelines regarding harmful component levels, surface properties, structure, and particle size. Doing so will ensure a safer and more efficient worm bin system.
Possible Negative Effects on Worms
It is important to consider how biochar may impact the health and well-being of the worms in our worm bin system. Some studies, such as Hindawi and ResearchGate, have noted that worms may respond negatively to high concentrations of biochar.
Specifically, large amounts of biochar can lead to pH changes in the worm bin, causing stress and potential harm to the worms. To keep our worms healthy, make sure to weigh the potential benefits of adding biochar against the potential risks and monitor the bin’s conditions closely.
It’s always a good idea to start off slowly as you introduce your worms to biochar.
Case Studies and Research
In this section, we'll look at some case studies and research findings that help us understand the impact of biochar on worm bins.
Experimental Results
Several studies have investigated the effects of biochar on earthworm populations. For example, Hindawi conducted a review where they observed earthworm activity in the presence of biochar. Some experimental results have shown that the outcome of biochar's impact on earthworms can be contradictory, depending on factors like earthworm species, soil type, and pH (ResearchGate).
Despite these mixed results, we believe that an understanding of earthworms' behavior in the presence of biochar can shed light on optimizing their use in worm bins.
We're particularly interested in the idea of vermicomposting organic feedstock with the addition of biochar, as it may create a higher quality vermicompost, or vermichar, containing enzyme and microbe-coated biochar (ScienceDirect).
Conclusion
We hope you found our article on biochar in worm bins insightful and informative. The use of biochar as a worm bin bedding can offer several benefits, including better moisture retention, nitrogen absorption, and structural stability for the worms Permies.
In our experience, it is important to find the right balance of biochar and organic bedding materials for the worms to thrive. As mentioned in Reddit, start slow, but a final target ratio of approximately 70:30 organic material to biochar seems to work well for worm bins.
While there is still ongoing research and limited studies on the impact of biochar on earthworms, it is essential to keep up to date with the latest findings Hindawi.
Before making significant changes to your worm bin, test small amounts of biochar and observe the effects on your worms. Be cautious to avoid any potential pitfalls, such as difficulties in sifting the vermicompost, as shared in Reddit.
Integrating biochar into your worm bin can be a valuable addition to your vermicomposting journey, improving the overall health and effectiveness of the worm bin while benefiting the soil and plants where the vermicompost is ultimately applied. We encourage you to try and share your experiences with the worm farming community.
Happy vermicomposting!
