Top Harvest Vermicast Production

VERMICULTUREin the Tropics

• VERMI is Latin for “bulati” or worm• Make sure you have composting worms (Epigeic), “manure worms”

like: 1. Red wiggler, Tiger, Indian blue2. Best for tropics: African night-crawler

Soil dwelling (Anecic) worms will not survive in compost. They live vertically in burrows and eat through soil.

Compost worms do not survive in soil for long, they need high concentrations of organic matter

Endogeic worms build complex lateral burrow systems through all layers of the upper mineral soil. These worms rarely come to the surface.

Soil dwelling (Anecic)

composting worms (Epigeic)L

ive vertically in burrows and eat through soil

do not survive in soil for long, they need high concentrations of organic matter

live horizontally

Endogeic

Vermicast is the enriched fertilizer left on the surfacefrom the earthworm’s digestive processes while

eating the feedstock

100% pure vermicast

Vermicast close up

Vermiculture: The African Vermiculture: The African Night crawler produces a Night crawler produces a natural pelletized fertilizernatural pelletized fertilizerNaturally

Pelletized

Deposited on the surface so you don’t need to screen

No Screening

100% pure vermicast

Vermi Uses

• Soil amendment

• Potting soil

• Live Bulati Sales

• Potting soil

Universal MixUniversal Mix1/4 Soil1/4 Soil1/4 Sand1/4 Sand1/4 Vermicast1/4 Vermicast1/4 Uling na ipa1/4 Uling na ipa

Potting cups

Solder ironRe-use plastic

No TransplantNo TransplantShockShock

Chinampas in Xochimilco

The "floating gardens", actually an artificial

peninsula.

Mucking for blocks

Chinampero scooping up canal muck.

Chinampero, or canal farmer, poking holes and dropping seeds in his soil blocks. Most men are Aztec descendants and have continued on today the craft of canal farming. However, fewer and fewer families are sustained with their farms, due to the drainage of the shallow lake basin to make room for buildings and resorts.

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are needed to see this picture.

Definition of Chinampas:An artificial island, orA long, narrow strip of farm land surrounded on at least three sides by water. Properly maintained, they can produce several crops a year and will remain fertile for centuries without having to lie fallow. Each Chinampa is 300 feet long and between 15-30 feet wide(and any size with this proportion). The surface of the garden is a 2-3 feet above the water and is topped every year with the sediment found at the bottom of the water canal that surrounds it.

Management Principal 1

1. Feedstock - use composted or EM aged manures, fermented kitchen waste or aerobic composts

Cover new beds with a coco lumber sawdust mulch or straw mulch to prevent ants from infecting bed

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Bokashi Production

Vermi Bokashi• Mix 2 sacks manure

1 sack sawdust or wet dayami• Add EM/molasses

150ml ea. diluted in 3.0 liters water

• Remix materials• Add 20-40 L water for 30-40% moisture content

CowManure

Sawdust

CowManure

Mol EM

2. Air - O2 - oxygen is needed

• do not allow compaction

• 0.4-meter max depth allows air to exchange

• use fork to aerate bed weekly

Management Principal 2Management Principal 2

Small hand rakeSmall hand rakeSmall hand rakeSmall hand rake

Large rakeLarge rakeLarge rakeLarge rake

Management Principal 3• 3. Bedding/structure- Contained

in a vessel, box, plastic container or a drum. A cover or roof is required for regulating moisture. Surface area is the limiting factor, not depth of substrates. Keep protected from predators.

• Compacted soil or cement flooring is good

• More than 40cm depth is not beneficial as the worms compete for surface area not depth, plus compaction limits their activity.

Hollow Block

PrecastPrecastCementCement

C.I.B.C.I.B.

Manure Catchment

Vermiculture

ContainersDrumsPailsBoxesTires

Hardiflex

Coco Lumber

Materials Schematic

70 cm 70 cm 60 cm20 cm 20 cm

70 cm

8 ft

4. Water 4. Water - - after aeration get moisture between 50%-80%after aeration get moisture between 50%-80%

Management Principal 4Management Principal 4

4. Water 4. Water - - Sprayer heads can be installedSprayer heads can be installed

Tumble Harvest

Bait Harvest

•To harvest Vermicast: you can run the entire bed to completion in 2 - 3 months. You then hand separate, table harvest, bait harvest or sort with tumbler.

Table Harvest

You loose your eggs and onlyrecycle your adults- 6 week delay for your replacement stocks that you sell at P500/K

30% vermicast70% glorified cow manure

vermicompost

Tumble Harvest

Bait Harvest

Table Harvest

You loose your eggs

100% pure vermicast

Top Harvest Method vs. Complete Bed Harvest

30% vermicast70% glorified cow manure

vermicompost

T.H.M. Pure Vermicast Harvesting• We use the weekly Top Harvest Method.

With T.H.M. you are able to harvest the vermicasts each week without disturbing the worms.This promotes better breeding and propagation

• THM with African Night crawlers yields 10 liters vermicast/m2/week

• Just gather with finger or rake action the finished pure vermicasts from the surface of the bed. The worms will avert your activity and burrow deeper down while you take the finished casts from on top. The top is where the African night-crawler leaves its “tae”.

No need toScreen!

No need toScreen!

100% pure vermicast

THMTop Harvest Method

Rain protected container

First FeedstockingFill bed with manure,Kitchen waste, vegetables30% moistureMulch surface to prevent ants and flies

First FeedstockingWait 2 weeksThen add bulati - wormsIncrease to 50%-80% MC

First Worm Stock

Wait 2 -3 weeksThen harvest when castings accumulate

First Harvest

Harvest every week Or 2 inches

Aerate, Water and Wait

Next Harvest

Every weekOr 2 inches

Aerate, Water and Wait

Next Harvest

Every weekOr 2 inches

Refill

Move to one side

Refill

Move to one side

Old beddingNew bedding

Worms move in


Worms move in


Harvesting ToolsHarvesting Tools•20 Liter pails20 Liter pails•1/2 gallon scoop1/2 gallon scoop•Vermicast rakeVermicast rake•Hand fork orHand fork or

Large forkLarge fork

Harvesting ToolsHarvesting Tools•20 Liter pails20 Liter pails•1/2 gallon scoop1/2 gallon scoop•Vermicast rakeVermicast rake•Hand fork orHand fork or

Large forkLarge fork

Stepby

Step

Withhold water 2 days Withhold water 2 days prior to harvestingprior to harvesting

Withhold water 2 days Withhold water 2 days prior to harvestingprior to harvesting

8.4 M X•6.5 pales•130 L

8.4 M X•6.5 pales•130 L

96 cm = 8 M2

X 20 Liters/ 8 M2 = 16 L/M2

= 130 L

1

2

3

4

56

6.5The WeeklyHarvest

Bed Date Volume (L) /area L/M 2 InA September 2, 2008 100.0 8.4 11.9B September 2, 2008 100.0 5.5 18.2C September 2, 2008 80.0 5.4 14.8D September 2, 2008 60.0 2.5 24.0E September 2, 2008 60.0 2.4 25.0F September 2, 2008 80.0 4.0 20.0G September 2, 2008 80.0 5.2 15.4A September 11, 2008 100.0 8.4 11.9B September 11, 2008 100.0 5.5 18.2C September 11, 2008 80.0 5.4 14.8D September 11, 2008 60.0 2.5 24.0B September 15, 2008 60.0 5.5 10.9C September 15, 2008 40.0 5.4 7.4B September 18, 2008 40.0 5.5 18.2A September 24, 2008 90.0 8.4 10.7C September 24, 2008 20.0 5.4 14.8

Record KeepingYield

1,190.0 93.8 12.7

Vermicast ppmManganese 110.55Iron 677.93Copper 6.45Zinc 206.00

Fertilizer Analysis

NPK % Lbs/1000gal. K/1000L Lbs/ton k/tonNitrogen(N) 0.51 42.33 5.06 10.2 4.64Phosphate (P2O5) 0.82 68.37 8.18 16.47 7.49Potash (K2O) 0.25 20.64 2.47 4.97 2.26

Aloha House June 2008

Vermicast





Water Water - - after aeration get moisture over 60%after aeration get moisture over 60%

1/3

dept

h

Refilling Vermicast BedRefilling Vermicast Bed

Molasses,Water

and mulch

Worms will migrate Worms will migrate To new feedstockTo new feedstock

In 1-2 weeksIn 1-2 weeks

Compost + h2o + molasses + air

Basic Compost Tea

AquariumAir Pump

Avoid anaerobic pockets!

Tilt pail to prevent

Putrifaction

Spacer

CirculateCirculateCompostCompost

1/2 Liter Molasses1/2 Liter Molasses1 L Vermi Compost1 L Vermi Compost20 L H2O20 L H2O

Aquarium Air Pump

Whizbang Double Vortex Compost Tea Brewer

ClockwiseCounter

Clockwise

ChaosExchanger

AirPump

CollectionPoint

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC): found in humans, cattle, and goats. Virotype is strain O157:H7, which causes bloody diarrhea without fever. EHEC can cause hemolytic-uremic syndrome and sudden kidney failure and possesses toxin that can elicit an intense inflammatory response.

The Giardia parasite lives in the intestine of infected humans or animals. Giardia is found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with the feces from infected humans or animals. You can become infected after accidentally swallowing the parasite;

PestsAnts Rats MolesShrewsPalawan Wild CatsImpatient Farmers who check too much

Vermi Problems

• Digging too often -Don’t interrupt them• Also avoid placing near vibration, they will evacuate your

culture area.• Prevent drying of bed• Standing water is not desirable• Don’t leave raw material on surface, it attracts ants and

other pests. Cover with mulch.

Any questions?

Nutrient Balance ProblemsNutrient Balance Problems

• In compost C/NIn compost C/N• Too much carbonToo much carbon• Slow process, seeds and Slow process, seeds and

pathogens not eliminatedpathogens not eliminated• Stunted small wormsStunted small worms

• Too much nitrogenToo much nitrogen• runs hotruns hot• Fails to maximize carbon Fails to maximize carbon

surplussurplus• Wasted resourceWasted resource

• Kills wormsKills worms

• In soil C/N• Too much carbon• Locks up nitrogen,

stunts growth

Too much nitrogen• Microbial bloom

eats storehouse of nutrients in soil

(loss of humus)

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Soil CorrectionSoil Correction Batch kilos Kilos Kilos totalWEIGHT/ No. scoops per per per No.VOLUME Pails hectare LITER 20L Pail Pails

Carbonized hull 1.56 15.63 500.0 0.4 8 63Livestock Lime 0.38 3.75 300.0 1.0 20 15Ag Limestone 1.25 12.50 1,000.0 1.0 20 50

Bokashi 0.31 3.13 100.0 0.4 8 13Gravel dust 2.00 20.00 2,000.0 1.3 25 80

Gypsum 0.69 6.94 500.0 0.9 12.5 40

Mineral Mix scoops Pails x4 (2 Bag Gypsum) MIX ORDERCarbonized hull 15.00 1.50 6 Gravel dust 1Livestock Lime 4.00 Ag Limestone 1Ag Limestone 3.00 1.00 4 Pre-Blended 1

Bokashi 3.00 Carbonized hull 1Ag Limestone 10.00 1.00 4 Gypsum 0.7

Gravel dust 20.00 2.00 8 Gravel dust 1Gypsum 7.00 0.70 4 Carbonized hull 1/2

NO GYPSUM Correction scoops Pails MIX ORDERCarbonized hull 1.00 Gravel dust 1Livestock Lime 2.00 Carbonized hull 1

Carbonized hull 5.00 = 1.00 Blended 1Bokashi 3.00 Ag Limestone 1

Gravel dust 2.00 Gravel dust 1Ag Limestone 2.00 Ag Limestone 1

Mineral Mix

Carbonized hull24%Livestock Lime

6%

Bokashi5%

Ag Limestone21%

Gravel dust33%

Gypsum11%

Carbonized hull

Livestock Lime

Bokashi

Ag Limestone

Gravel dust

Gypsum

Iwahig Carbon ppm

78.84

63.27

2.40

42.91

2,000.00

2,800.00

2,200.00

Manganese

Iron

Copper

Zinc

Nitrogen(N)

Phosphate (P2O5)

Potash (K2O)

Carbon ppmManganese 78.84Iron 63.27Copper 2.40Zinc 42.91 NPK %Nitrogen(N) 2,000.00 0.20Phosphate (P2O5) 2,800.00 0.28Potash (K 2O) 2,200.00 0.22

Sabang Bat Guano ppm

440.00

5,191.00

36.00

206.00

2,800.00

18,100.00

3,800.00

Manganese

Iron

Copper

Zinc

Nitrogen(N)

Phosphate (P2O5)

Potash (K2O)

Bat Gauno ppmManganese 440.00Iron 5,191.00Copper 36.00Zinc 206.00 NPK % Lbs/1000gal. K/1000L Lbs/ton k/tonNitrogen(N) 2,800.00 0.28 23.00 2.75 5.54 2.52Phosphate (P2O5) 18,100.00 1.81 150.00 17.94 36.22 16.46Potash (K 2O) 3,800.00 0.38 31.00 3.71 7.58 3.45

Aloha approx.Potting Volume Weight moisture commentsSOIL Liters Kilos content

Carbonized hull 200 80 30.0% rained onSand 200 130 10.0% usually dry

Vermicast 200 170 25.0% normalSoil 200 200 25.0% screened

Bat gauno 4.0 4 dry dustyAg. Limestone 2.0 2 dry dusty

Bokashi 2.0 1 30.0% moistTOTAL 808 587

Kilos Kilos Kilos approx.WEIGHT/ per per per moisture commentsVOLUME LITER 2L Scoop 20L Pail content

Iwahig Carbonized hull 0.40 0.8 8.0 30% rained onConst/beach Sand 1.30 2.6 26.0 10.0% usually drySelf Vermicast 0.65 1.3 13.0 25% normalLocal Soil 0.85 1.7 17.0 25% screenedTimbancaya Bat gauno 1.00 2.0 20.0 dry dustyPal. Poultry Limestone 1.00 2.0 20.0 dry very dusty

Self Bokashi 0.40 0.8 8.0 30% moistNew Market Sea Salt 1.10 2.2 22.0 40%? very moistMarcelo Gravel dust 1.25 2.5 25.0 30% rained onOlympic Gypsum 1.00 2.0 20.0 dry dusty

Aloha Bokashi ppm

50.99

175.00

3.37

28.17

7,600.00

5,000.00

8,100.00 ManganeseIronCopperZincNitrogen(N)Phosphate (P2O5)Potash (K2O)

Bokashi ppm Ca 1.41 Ca/MgManganese 50.99 Mg 0.16 8.81Iron 175.00Copper 3.37Zinc 28.17 NPK %Nitrogen(N) 7,600.00 0.76Phosphate (P2O5) 5,000.00 0.50Potash (K 2O) 8,100.00 0.81

Aloha Vermicast ppm

110.55

677.93

6.45

206.00

5,100.00

8,200.00

2,500.00

Manganese

Iron

Copper

Zinc

Nitrogen(N)

Phosphate (P2O5)

Potash (K2O)

Bat Gauno ppmManganese 440.00Iron 5,191.00Copper 36.00Zinc 206.00 NPK % Lbs/1000gal. K/1000L Lbs/ton k/tonNitrogen(N) 2,800.00 0.28 23.00 2.75 5.54 2.52Phosphate (P2O5) 18,100.00 1.81 150.00 17.94 36.22 16.46Potash (K 2O) 3,800.00 0.38 31.00 3.71 7.58 3.45

SourceRice hull charcoal you can makeFiner crushed powder, faster acting, Calcium CarbonateAloha All Around Formula from book, any formula is fineCoarser, longer acting, Calcium CarbonateWaste from gravel crushing, Sometimes called Gravel sandAlso called Plaster of Paris, found in hardware stores, Calcium Sulphate

Mineral Mix 2

1.5

0.4

0.3

3.3

2.0

0.7

Carbonized hull

Livestock Lime

Bokashi

Ag Limestone

Gravel dust

Gypsum

20 liter Pails

Mineral Mix 2 PailsCarbonized hull 1.5Livestock Lime 0.4

Bokashi 0.3Ag Limestone 3.3

Gravel dust 2.0Gypsum 0.7

$200.00$200.00

1,500 Watts

Aloha Mineral Mix

EM Trials

Control

1 kilo Bokashi

1 kilo Bokashi, 1 kilo minerals








Corn

Beans

Rice Root c

rop

Lettu

ce

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Grows microbesImproves the crop

Promotes germination

Self Improvement

Top Harvest Vermicast Production