VermiDirtTM What is VermiDirtTM? VermiDirtTM is as close to pure worm castings as can be produced (100% worm castings is virtually impossible as it cannot be collected through any conceivable screening method without including other materials). What are "worm castings"? Worm castings are the excrement of worms (worm poop). Do worm castings have an odor? Yes, the odor is the same as fresh earth after a spring rain for those that know the smell of aerobic, nutrient rich, uncontaminated soil. Are worm castings harmful? NO!!! After the worms ingest the organic material with potential harmful microbes, their own intestinal bacteria kills the harmful bacteria and replaces it with their own safe and beneficial bacteria.  Worm castings, no matter the concentration, will not harm humans, animals, plants or the environment.  Harmful insects are another story.  What will worm castings do FOR me? Worm castings, when applied to plants, trees and vegetables will rejuvenate the soil allowing the plants to better absorb the nutrients contained not only in the worm castings but also locked into the soil.  Due to the screening process, a very small amount of organic material is packaged with the worm castings.  The microorganisms will continue to compost that material providing nutrients to the plant. How do worm castings help plants? To best illustrate the process I will use a simple illustration.  It is nearly impossible to suck an ice cube through a small straw.  If the ice melts then the water from the ice can pass through the straw.  Using that example, think of the nutrients in the soil and worm castings as the ice cube and the roots of the plant as the straw.  The bacteria in the worm castings acts not only as the "heat" that melts the ice cube but also makes the straw larger.  The bacteria in the worm castings make the nutrient pieces smaller and the plant roots effectively larger by inducing the plants to grow a more fibrous root system. What is soil rejuvenation? Rejuvenation of the soil is the reestablishment of all the beneficial bacteria in the soil that has been eliminated by the use of chemicals. Rejuvenated soil vs. chemical fertilizer. Again I would like to illustrate the difference.  Normally a person ingests nutrients (food) by mouth.  A person unable to eat is given nutrients intravenously.  A plant in a living and breathing soil can feed itself but a plant living in soil killed by chemical fertilizer needs to be fed by the periodic addition of chemicals.  A living and breathing soil can continuously breakdown the nutrients for the plant to ingest without any chemical addition. If you have any knowledge of organic farming then my question and answer session was simplistic and mundane.  However, if an interest is sparked as to the truth of my answers then please do a "Google" search under the phrases "worm castings", "vermicomposting" and what ever related terms of which you can think. p.s. Please do a price comparison of items listed on the various company's web sites with our local prices.  Before you purchase from them, please visit us first. How is VermiDirtTM produced? Our herd of worms are permitted to "graze" on a mixture of compost (that has met the Federal Class A Standard), grass clippings (that are chemical free) and shredded newspaper.  After the worms have completed their "business" the castings are harvested by screening their bedding material. Why do I have to use non-chlorinated water? The purpose of chlorine in water is to kill all bacteria whether they are good or bad.  The bacteria from worm castings are good bacteria and should not be inadvertently killed. Why should I not use chemical fertilizer after applying VermiDirtTM? Chemical fertilizers are toxic by nature.  Used in excess they will burn your plants and harm you during preparation and application.  Imagine the genocide of the microbial life in the soil by that toxic mixture.  Documentation has shown, excess chemical fertilizers have adversely affected ground water and open waterways. Application of Worm Castings: Earthworm castings are even richer in nutrients than compost, so they must be used more sparingly. Castings are rich in bacteria, calcium, iron, magnesium, and sulfur and 60 other trace minerals. N-P-K is about 1-.1-.1 according to one source.   Lawn: Apply castings once per year at 20 lbs. per 1000 square feet.   Annuals and Perennials: Put a small handful of castings into each hole as you plant. Four times a year, apply castings at a rate of 10 lbs. / 1000 square feet -- OR -- once per year at 20 lbs. per 1000 square feet. When preparing beds, mix 6 inches of compost into the soil, then mix in castings at the rate of 20 pounds per 1000 square feet.   Garden: When germinating seed, place in bottom part of soil. At transplanting time, put a small handful of castings into each hole as you plant. This is also true for bulbs, vegetables, herbs.   Potted Plants: Mix a small amount of earthworm castings to your potting soil. Castings are very potent, so you don’t need to overdo it. One-fifth of the ingredients should be castings. Plants can be grown in 100% castings with zero negative effects.