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Common Ground  Digital Gardener San Diego Gardener |
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Digitalseed IndexDigital ComposterWorldwide Gardener |
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Common Ground Digital Gardener San Diego Gardener |
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Back to... What is Compost?
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RedwormsAmong the larger compost organisms, redworms do much of the decomposition work. During the daylight hours, they're constantly tunneling and feeding on decaying organic matter. Their tunneling aerates the compost and enables water, nutrients and oxygen to filter down. Redworm excrement (or castings) is one of the richest amendments you can add to your soil;"As soil or organic matter is passed through an earthworm's digestive system, it is broken up and neutralized by secretions of calcium carbonate from calciferous glands near the worm's gizzard. Once in the gizzard, material is finely ground prior to digestion. Digestive intestinal juices rich in hormones, enzymes, and other fermenting substances continue the breakdown process. The matter passes out of the worm's body in the form of casts, which are the richest and finest quality of all humus material. Fresh casts are markedly higher in bacteria, organic material, and available nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium than soil itself." (Rodale)Vermicomposting is an alternative composting system using these critters.
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