More on worms. Danger danger!

While doing some research on composting worms, I found a fact that's of importance to anyone who is currently doing or thinking of doing vermicomposting.

The worms that are used in vermicomposting are exotic (meaning they're not local species). And worms to begin with have voracious appetites. If these hardy imported species get onto the forest floor, they will chomp away at all the thick leaf litter that nourishes tree saplings, prevents erosion and aside from that, due to their digestive system, the worms change the soil chemistry making it more alkaline. Rainforest floor is acidic and bacteria do not tolerate acidic soil thus this protects plants from disease and insects. However, when worms are introduced, they produce calcium carbonate which acts like lime on acid soil. This changes the microbial fauna from fungal to bacterial. And with rapid chomping and pooping, it overloads the soil with nutrients which injures the plants and/or leaches into streams and lakes. And if you have a tree garden, watch out for them too! 

Earthworms don't belong in forests. Forests decomposers are fungi, microflora and and fauna.

Point is, make sure your worms stay in your composting bins and out of our precious rainforest. 

These information were mainly based on studies done on Woodland floors. I'm not sure yet if they affect our tropical forest floors similarly, but the logic is there. If anyone has a more scientific confirmation on  this issue, please do respond! Thanks.

Vermicompost in Hulu Kelang!

I've been hunting high and low for some composting worm. Well, affordably that is.

Today, coming back from Sungai Congkak, I stumbled upon a place which sells the 'baja' (fertilizer). I drove in. Nobody. 

I'm going to try again tomorow! Well, calling anyway. They had a phone number and email. I'm so excited. I hope he can sell me worms! I'm not out to do it for commercial reasons. I just need it for my kitchen waste!

Wish me luck!

Let's make sure the trees live!

I just thought about it recently after hubbie suggested to me on what to do with my very full tubs of compost. Originally I had planned to bring them to an organic farm that's crazy miles away. But he suggested that we take care of our back yard. Literally.

Living in an apartment means I have no where to efficiently utilise my precious compost. Whether fortunately or unfortunately, right in our back yard almost, there's a nastily turfed up piece of land that's been very recently replanted with trees. Hubbie and I have been very cross to find out that that land is actually forest reserve land, but that's another story. After all the damage that's done to it, the land is parched and the trees don't seem to be doing too well.

Today, armed with a spade, hat, and a curious 2 year old, I finally took my tub of compost out and spread it around two very scraggly trees.

Which made me think. All the exercise I hear about tree planting is all great. In fact, I've also been involved in it myself. However, I don't know about what happens to the tree after that. Really, did it survive? Did it dry out? Is it a glorious tree now? I have no idea.

Now, back to the trees right here in my 'back yard'. They weren't planted by me. But I wanna try and help them flourish.

Kills six birds with one stone. i) eliminate kitchen waste ii) get rid of compost iii) help trees grow iv) contribute to increasing comfort in my home area v) teach kid about nature vi) get a bit of good ol' exercise. Hmm, one more and I'm the like the gallant tailor. Ha, I wish.

There are at least another 20 trees more to go. Two down. Second tub ready in a week.

Nice.

A colony of fruit flies and lots of headache...

No, the headache's not from the fruit flies. I've been very ill since last Tuesday. And so was my daughter. So please do forgive me for not updating my blog. I'll keep it coming when I get better. Oh one more thing, Covert Operations `78 (Ee Lynn) is a dear friend of mine also from MNS. She's an equally if not more amazing greenie. She's very kindly offered to contribute to my blog. I'm so pleased. And if anyone would like to contribute too about how it's like being green here, please do. :)

Well, I noticed the most that came out of not stirring it for 2-3 days (my compost) was that I bred a large colony of fruit flies. Not sure if that's a good thing or bad. But so far, I don't see anything particularly bad. Good thing I don't have a rabbit anymore though. Coz I did read that fruit flies can cause plenty of harm to rabbits. 

The new batch of compost seems to be holding up well. No flies, fairly dry. Nice. :) Not smelly either. That or my nose is just plainly blocked.

Larvae in my compost.. .ewww

I've been busy the past 3 days. So I have not stirred my compost. And I noticed today that it was beginning to smell. Despite the cover, and baking soda. 

Pushed myself and found a few minutes, and yuck, there were these cream colored larvae crawling all over inside. Fruit flies I think... Stirred it. See how it goes tomorrow if I can find time.

Compost smell control

Steps towards smell control is in place. Seems to be working better but can definitely improve. 

The older batch has been given daily supplements of shredded newspaper in addition to stirring. On top of the pile, I've also placed a plastic container with perforated top cover half filled with baking soda. I intend to use the baking soda on my clean up day for scrubbing the toilet. 

This older batch still smells considerably. But it does seem to be reducing. Either that or my nose is acclimatizing. And the moisture is being absorbed by the paper. Perhaps I'm getting my ratio better. Mind you, because neither Hubbie nor I quite like the smells of the compost leacheate, I've opted for no holes at bottom of tub. Hence a very wet compost bin. This makes it more difficult to manage. But it also means we only have to deal with the smells when I stir. Not all day all night.

The newer batch is also given shredded newspaper. One whole sheet per little sieve container full of kitchen waste. And of course, the stirring. 

*fingers-crossed*

I desire... I don't... sigh...

All this experimenting so far has brought me to this very tempting looking contraption on the right. It's known as the NatureMill Indoor Composting Bin by TreeHugger. 

Oooh, you had no idea how tempting it looks and sounds. Takes up minimal space. No odor. No work. Almost all foods, including bones etc. Compost ready in  a neat little tray in 2 weeks. 

Price tag: USD299-USD399 excluding shipping of USD85 (or something like that...). And on top of that, it uses 5kWh. *egads*

I bet a lot of people like me, get so so tempted with machines like this. It takes the work out of composting for time strapped or lazy people like me. 

(Ok, redemption time, I'm not THAT lazy. I've tried different methods of composting but none satisfactory so far. And I live in an apartment. I cook an average of twice a day producing fair amount of kitchen waste. So, you can imagine the number of 'composting bins' I have at home at the moment.)

There are pros and cons. I'll discuss them later when I've had some fuel...

Smelly compost

Bleh... 

It's hard to do composting in an apartment. 

I've got a tub of 'garbage enzyme' compost in my drying area. That stank. I also don't like that it creates methane and ground level ozone. So, I won't be doing that anymore. 

Now back to old composting in a tub. This time without any drain holes (last time I did that, it stank all day all night, not only when I stirred it). But now with a whole lot more effort. Pouring out excess liquid every day. Stirring at least once a day if not twice. Still stinko. Sigh... Well, the first tub anyway. The second tub hasn't got a chance to start yet. 

Still experimenting... 

On the upside, our trips to the garbage bin has reduced to an average of only 1 a week. And only one relatively small bag - smaller than your normal plastic bag obtained from a super market. The medium sized one. Not one of those super large ones. This keeping in mind, we're a SOHO. And I usually cook twice a day. 

Towards ZERO waste and beyond!