Perhaps it is the wisdom I have gained through age, or (more likely) the reality of extra aches and pains each passing spring that has been the impetus of my search for finding easier ways to expand and maintain my gardens. While I’ll still pay homage to my mentor John Jeavons whenever I pass through Willits, California, gone I’m afraid are the days of double dug French intensive raised beds in my Eden of plant, shrubs and trees. Nor will I be engaged in the composition of any large unwieldy compost piles in the near future, for I have found a better way. From now on I will harness the indomitable work ethic of the red worm for our composting chores, and a sheet mulching method called lasagna gardening to make my beds.
Vermicomposting is a composting method which utilizes red worms to turn organic matter from your kitchen into nutrient rich castings (nice word for worm poop). According to research done by Clive Edwards at Ohio State University worm castings are a time-released supply of the primary nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium – NPK), and provide necessary micro-nutrients, enzymes, beneficial bacteria, fungi and other organisms needed to create the perfect biological environment for the accelerated growth of plants. In addition worm castings have been found to be a biological control used in the elimination of many diseases and insects which may hurt your plants. Making a tea from worm castings and spraying it on your plants will control fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and damping off. It will also control white fly, aphid, and spider mite outbreaks all of which tend to be a problem in the greenhouse. Additionally, worm castings improve the soil by balancing the pH, retaining moisture, and improving soil structure for better drainage and aeration. This reduces watering requirements and improves the drought tolerance of plants.
Red worms can be raised in wet newspaper, shredded cardboard or peat moss (bedding) and eat just about anything except meat, dairy and citrus). They eat about half of their weight in food everyday and leave behind approximately the same amount of castings. Red worms live 2 to 5 years and will double their number every 60 to 90 days depending on their growing conditions. They can be raised indoors in a vermicomposting bin, or can be raised in beds outside. With a population of 1 pound per square foot of surface area, red worms can create in days what a regular compost pile would produce in weeks or months.
Lasagna bed making is a type of sheet mulching or composting brought to the world by Patricia Lanza, author of the Lasagna Gardening Series. Lasagna gardening requires very little work from the gardener. There is no digging, nor do you have to till and yet by allowing the biological processes of composting to work for you a bed of fluffy, rich humus will be your reward. The idea is to layer organic materials that will “cook down” over time. By alternating layers of brown materials (leaves, pine needles, shredded newspaper, peat moss) with green materials (grass clippings, food scrapes, manure) you will create the perfect carbon / nitrogen ration to start the decomposition process which will result in your bed.
This is so easy you don’t even have to remove sod or weeds because the first layer is corrugated cardboard laid directly on top of the area you want to plant. This will smother any weeds and or grass underneath the cardboard and create a space for earthworms to start moving into the bed. After this first layer is down then it is as easy as stacking alternate “brown” and “green” materials in layers of about 4 to 6 inches each. When your pile reaches 2 ½ feet in height finish the bed with a 6 inch layer of premium garden soil, compost, manure or a mixture of all three. You can plant seeds right away and transplants after the pile has cooled down from its initial heating period (about 7 to 10 days).
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