VERMICOMPOSTING IN PARLE

Vermicomposting is particularly suitable for those Parlekars with a passion for gardening. Vermicompost is the best nutrition for plants, even better than commercial fertilizer. Plus being natural and organic, it has other benefits also.

One can do vermicomposting in one of the ready commercial kits. Following can be availed by Parlekars

Kalpataru Goldbox

1. 3- tier kit- from Mr Koustubh Yadre who operates with the company MYCO- COMPOST.

 www.myco-compost.com/ org

2. Kalpataru Goldbox- from Mr Prakash Dandekar, details easily on the internet

3. HPDE material system provided by one mr Mahadik operating from his office at Mahim...unfortunately not having details with me.

4. Inora composter container in which one can directly grow plants

5. Mr Shrotriya’s vermicomposting basket available at Goregaon near the office of the water department of bmc.

Alternatively one can start vermicomposting in any plastic or earthen vessel. Plastic vessel will need to have lots of holes and be of a dark colour. Worms need air and darkness. A layer of brick pieces, should be followed by a layer of sugarcane fibre or coconut husk and then a layer of fine soil or sand. All these should be thoroughly watered and the water should drain easily through holes at the bottom. On top of this one should add worms, vermiculture or even a bag of vermicompost which often has worms and cocoons. Worms can be had from Mr Shrotriya of water department of BMC. He has kept some demo systems at Goregaon. Otherwise one can have vermiculture from Inora farms at Pune or from Mr Prakash Dandekar. Many years ago I also collected loads of worms from roadside soil where I identified them by presence of vermicasts. But this is possible only in the Monsoon. And best place to collect castings is actually Aarey colony or National Park. One small 200g curds dabba full is enough to start the composting. Ideally one must put a mug of cow dung to vitalise the worms- but this is optional. This whole set up should be covered with moist gunny sack and kept in cool shade with good access and air circulation.

Also available from NEW PARK SUN GARDENS, C- 505, Shree Ganasiddivinayak CHS, Lt Dilip Gupte Marg, RBI Qtrs, Mahim, Mumbai- 16. Ph- 9322296887

One should start adding the peels and unedible parts of raw vegetables and fruit. Except garlic, onion, lemon and similar strong and sour ones. Give a light stir about two times a week. After about a month stop adding material for 2-3 days. Shift the coarse material on one side and harvest compost from other side. Put back the coarse material and continue use.

Composters with two or three compartments make harvesting very easy and do not involve much handling of worms. They also reduce worm mortality because fresh matter is not in close proximity to them.

Once in about a year or two you will have to empty the full bin to remake the layers, Particularly the sugarcane fibre or coconut husks. These being organic materials, they get degraded. Changing the layers also helps to check the health of worms and it is better to add few worms from a different source than last time- to provide ‘new gene pool’. (I think)