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Exciting news on the vermiculture front! Christophe Kreis, molecular biologist, and the mastermind behind our compost operation, recently returned from North Carolina State University’s 13th annual three-day conference on vermiculture. He learned a lot and we are looking forward to putting worms to work for us on the farm.
Vermiculture is the process of using worms to compost waste. Worms make quick work of turning everything from cardboard, chipped tree trimmings, food waste and manure into castings, which are loaded with microbial life and nutrients that are an excellent soil amendment. As you know, we are very pleased with our compost operation and all of the vitality it has brought to our soil fertility program.
However, research indicates that worm castings are a similar product to compost but contain more of the nutrients our trees love. Castings also contain higher levels of the microbiology that is responsible decomposing and recycling nutrients, and in turn, making them available to plant life. Our plan is to develop a comprehensive vermiculture program to compliment and work in tandem with our compost program. We are excited to embark upon the journey of farming worms, as well as fruit!
Coincidentally, I ran into Robert Woolley, one of CA’s premier nurserymen, from whom we have purchased many of the trees in our orchard, at the Larkspur Landing Farmers Market Saturday, while working on establishing our new Larkspur Landing CSA drop site. (Read about Robert’s work in the July 23rd & 30th edition of our newsletter archived online). Robert has been working on his vermiculture progsram for the Dave Wilson Nursery orchards for three years and has been exceedingly happy with the results. He was very pleased to hear the news of our intention to start farming worms, and will be making a trip up to Frog Hollow Farm for a social visit and to deliver a bin of Dave Wilson Nursery’s worm castings for us to play with while we get our operation up and running.
One of the joys of working in the world of sustainable agriculture is the continual evolution of knowledge in how to steward the land using nature as a guide and resource. Another great joy is the collaboration that happen between farmers, chefs, scientists, artists, writers, eaters, and more to build and grow a healthier, more beautiful, interconnected, and sustainable world.
Stay tuned for more news from the vermiculture conference soon!
