Earth-Kind Kitchen Worms Eat My Garbage Pest Free Homes Jheri-Lynn McSwain, M.Ed., M.S. Shelby County Extension Agent Family and Consumer Sciences Denita Young, M.Ed. Rains County Extension Agent Family and Consumer Sciences
Are you Bugged by Pests? Cockroaches, flies, rats, mice Dust mites Fleas and ticks Spiders Ants Mosquitoes
Keeping Your Home Free of Pests Easier to prevent pest problems than to control infestations once they have become established. Pests need water, food, and habitat to flourish inside a home.
Cockroaches Live in moist, dark, warm out-of-reach places. Usually search for food during the night. Seeing them during the day could be a sign of a large infestation. Signs Small black droppings Strong oily smells Egg cases Antennae wriggling from hidden locations
Flies Feed on decaying garbage, fruits, and vegetables that are left out. Prefer calm air. Drawn to decaying materials. Reproduce quickly.
Rodents Feed at night and hide during the day. House mouse requires no free water. Evidence of rodents Chewed food, cardboard, cloth, paper Smell of urine (urine fluoresces with UV light) Shiny black/gray fecal droppings Nests and nesting materials
Keeping Your Home Free of Pests Sanitation Remove what attracts pests. Exclusion Keep pests out of house. Elimination - Get rid of places where they can hide. Extermination Kill the pests.
Sanitation Clean food and grease from stove daily. If possible, clean under and behind stove. Clean up food spills, crumbs, and liquid on countertops and floors immediately. Empty trash daily. Clean and disinfect garbage cans and recycling bins weekly. Keep the cabinet under your sink dry and clean.
Sanitation Wash and dry dishes as soon as possible after eating. Wash floors at least weekly. Eat at the table or at least in the kitchen. Store food and pet food in sealed containers. Clean the outside and inside of the refrigerator. If possible, vacuum underneath.
Exclusion Seal cracks and crevices around pipes and electrical wiring. Check bags/boxes for pests before bringing them inside. Keep window screens in good repair. Keep pets either inside or outside. Place screen wire over vents and other points where pests could enter.
Eliminate Hiding Places Get rid of clutter. Store clothing in chests or covered plastic containers. Wash bedding weekly. Dispose of old newspapers, magazines, and plastic bags.
Non-Chemical Control Control can be with non-chemical methods. Trapping devices such as fly paper, mouse traps, or roach prisons. Use a vacuum cleaner to help control pests such as fleas, moths, or beetles and to remove food sources.
Chemical Control Control can be with chemical methods. Baits are safe and effective. Use gel formulations along cracks and crevices. Insecticide sprays may be used in cracks and crevices and along baseboards.
Storing and Disposing of Pesticides Store where children and pets cannot reach them. Store only in the container they came in. Follow the label directions for disposal. Never reuse a pesticide container. Never pour a pesticide down a drain or toilet.
Why Compost? Landfills are Overflowing ¾ of Household Waste could be Composted Could reduce annual volume of waste by 35% Improve soil health
Decomposers of Food Waste
Home Vermicomposting Physical Structure Worm Bedding Biological Organisms Controlled Environment Maintenance Production
Physical Structure Shape Size Structural Material
Worm Bedding Newsprint Animal manure Coconut fiber Leaf mold
Worm Bedding Newsprint (Hand shredded or machine shredded) Advantages: No cost Readily available Odorless No dust Disadvantages: Requires preparation time Can be dirty to handle Can dry out if in large strips Tends to mat into layers
Worm Bedding Composted Animal Manure (horse, rabbit, cow) Advantages: Disadvantages: Can be free May not be available Natural worm habitat Initial odors Nutrients present Can compact easily Makes good castings May initially heat up
Worm Bedding Coconut Fiber Advantages: Disadvantages: Retains moisture well Must be purchased Clean High transportation costs Odorless Good for mixing with other beddings
Worm Bedding Leaf Mold Advantages: Disadvantages: Can be free May not be available Natural worm habitat Initial odors Variety of nutrients May heat up initially Makes good castings Can compact easily
Types of Worms Eisenia fetida Eisenia andrei Lumbricus rubellue Lumbricus terrestris A worm is a worm is a worm. Right?
Controlled Environment Temperature Moisture Ventilation
Maintenance Number of worms Adding food waste Taking care of your worms
Maintenance Number of worms Use 2:1 ratio of worms to waste 7 llll gggggggggggggg pppppp wwwwwwww 7 dddddddd iiii oooooo wwwwwwww = 1 lb garbage/day 3.5 llll gggggggggggggg pppppp wwwwwwww 7 dddddddd iiii oooooo wwwwwwww = ½ lb garbage/day
Maintenance Adding waste Vegetables Leftovers Meat and Bones Non-biodegradables Pet feces
Maintenance Taking Care of Your Worms Adding food waste Solving excess water problems Changing the bedding Harvesting worms
Production How to use vermicompost Seed beds Transplants Top dressing Compost tea
Demonstration Moist bedding Adding worms Adding food waste Cover container