3 posts tagged “vermicast”

This big kumara (aka 'sweet potato') was one of several dug up from a garden in Tauranga which uses liquid vermicast last weekend. We can't be sure how much credit to give the worm juice but this giant of the Convolvulaceae family has some impressive statistics:

• Circumference 45cm
• Length 27cm
• Width 15cm
• Weight 2.4kg
  

By the way, a recent carbon-dating study indicates that of the ancient middens found so far which contain varieties of kumara, those from Papua New Guinea appear to be significantly older than those from Central or South America - no real surprise there

Anybody got a good recipe?

 

 

 

The research site at Onepu (near Kawerau) was established last year by Dr. agr. Michael Quintern of Scion.  It contains 18 plots that are being used to trial combinations of different biosolids toward optimisation of the vermicomposting process around primary sector 'waste-streams'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wormtech began in 1999 following the desire by Greg Walker - one of the founders of the innovative company - for a career change from farming.  Located near Te Teko in the eastern Bay of Plenty, Wormtech now have more than 2km of vermicomposting windrows which are fed around 10 tonnes of tutae from local piggeries each week

Initially the focus was on producing worms for sale rather than liquid fertiliser or vermicast.  Wormtech have since established a partner company that offers liquid fertiliser services for orchard and pasture throughout the Bay of Plenty via soil aeration technology

A point of interest was that the early windrows contained a mixture of both red and tiger worms but over time the red worms have nearly all disappeared whereas the tiger worm population continues to thrive 

Thanks Greg for your excellent korero and cheers Michael for organising the trip - WormPower!