#100cd

In Their Own Words:  Interviews With Vermiculture Experts on CD rom

$15

This requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. It is a free download that allows you to read all pdf files.  Click here to get Acrobat Reader 

#100e

In Their Own Words:  Interviews With Vermiculture Experts ebook

$10

CD Rom Package:  Includes 30 pages of text & data Developing A Successful Business Around Earthworms Presented by Peter Bogdanov at Vermillennium, September 2000.

• Principles VermiCo has employed
• How worm workers can impact the marketplace: a few case studies
• Demographics: How do we know who’s out there and what do they want?
• The future of the earthworm industry.

Special Survey of US Vermiculture Operations is included. An examination of 100 Earthworm Growers listed by US State (1996-2001) with observations about rate of industry turnover

See: Slides of several vermicomposting facilities, including: Pacific Southwest Farms (Ontario, CA), Canyon Recycling (San Diego, CA), Ecology Farms (Perris, CA), Yelm Earthworm & Castings Farm (Yelm, WA), Oregon Soil Corporation Continuous Flow Reactor (Portland, OR), American Resource Recovery (Vernalis, CA), Ocoee Florida Biosolids Vermicomposting, Eggen’s Vermitech Digester, Windle’s South Korean Worm Gin and more!

Includes:

• A 90 minute PowerPoint presentation that can be viewed on any PC.
• Text, graphics and sound effects
• Over 160 slides
• 30 pages of text including tabulated demographic data

#850

Developing A Successful Business Around Earthworms CD Rom Package

$35

Now you can get the slideshow and book delivered to your mailbox electronically and save.  No shipping.

#850e

Developing A Successful Business Around Earthworms electronic Package

$25

This requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. It is a free download that allows you to read all pdf files.  Click here to get Acrobat Reader 

Commercial Vermiculture: How to Build A Thriving Business in Redworms by Peter Bogdanov

"With its focus on how to make money raising earthworms, this new book is a welcome source of up-to-date information on the business of vermiculture. Bogdanov puts vermiculture into a historical context, gives basic information about composting worms, tells how to get started, and describes how to set up commercial beds. He covers pests and predators, harvesting, and packaging and shipping. This book is a must for anyone wanting to go into the worm business." Mary Appelhof, Worms Eat My Garbage, 2 ^nd ed., 1997

Commercial Vermiculture looks at the opportunities available for joining a true "growth industry" in vermiculture. The author takes readers through a journey that starts with a look at current efforts in converting tons of organic waste into vermicompost, a high-grade soil amendment. Some landfill diversion sites in California utilize thousands of pounds of redworms to process a variety of organic residues, including yard debris, bio-solids, and the biodegradable fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). While California's climate allows nearly year-round vermicomposting to occur in outdoor windrows, in-vessel systems are in use in other parts of the country to control key process variables. The emphasis of large vermicomposting sites is upon processing organic waste and production of worm castings for sale. Due to frequent harvesting, worm populations remain fairly steady. In order to start or even expand a vermicomposting operation, redworms are purchased from vermiculture sites, where the emphasis is upon breeding earthworms. Vermiculture operations (worm farms) may not be able to supply the thousands of pounds needed for a large vermicomposting facility.

Frequently asked questions about earthworms are answered in the second chapter, covering such topics as how much do worms eat and how fast will a worm population multiply. In "Getting Started," the author offers suggestions for small, medium and large-size operations. Wooden and concrete bins, pits, and heated, insulated bins are covered. Chapter Four, "Monitoring Conditions in Worm Beds," looks at temperature, moisture, soil pH, and aerobicity. Earthworm feedstocks, including how to find sources of free feedstocks, are discussed in the fifth chapter. Other chapters in the book cover essential information for preparing worms to be shipped to customers.

What is the value of worm castings? A series of quotations from various authorities on the subject of castings is presented in Chapter Nine. In "Earthworms: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow," the author provides a brief history of the practice of vermiculture, including an inside look at what happened to a million-dollar-a-year worm growing business from the 1970s. The final chapters of this book offer a variety of things that can be done to maximize success and suggest 20 ways to profit in vermiculture in addition to selling worms.

• Learn which type of worm is best for commercial breeding and why.
• Find out how to avoid hurting, damaging, or destroying your investment in worms. Proven methods of monitoring the optimum conditions for your worms.
• Causes of success and failure in the worm business.
• Great ways to get free feedstock and bedding for worms.
• Discover the best ways to harvest your crop.
• What you should never do in raising worms.
• Eliminate worry of pests and predators.
• Learn what you can do to prepare for growing worms before your shipment of worms arrives.
• More than worms: Other ways to profit from your business.

...And much, much more!

This book was written after researching major landfill diversion sites, touring many different size commercial operations, attendance at composting and vermicomposting conferences and seminars, and research in past and current scientific literature. There is no comparable up-to-date book available in print. It was written with the new grower in mind, but has valuable information for established commercial operations.

Peter Bogdanov is Director of VermiCo in Merlin, Oregon. He is a WORC Certified Compost Facility Operator. He has spoken at various conferences, including the International Worm Growers Association, Association of Oregon Recyclers, and at the BioCycle West Coast Conference in San Diego. He is also publisher of the bi-monthly newsletter, Casting Call, which has a focus upon vermiculture, soil fertility, composting, and matters related to organic waste, and which was recently mentioned in an article on vermiculture appearing in US News & World Report (Sept. 22, 1997).  Most recently, the popular New Horizons in Vermicomposting Workshop and Tour featured him as conference organizer and speaker.  Bogdanov has contributed articles to various publications, including Remineralize the Earth and Worm Digest.  He recently submitted a chapter entitled, "Vermicomposting in North America," for an upcoming anthology, Manual on Vermicomposting, to be edited by Dr. Edwards and released in early 1999.

You can read a review of this book at amazon.com.

Satisfaction Guaranteed! If you re not happy, send it back for a full refund!   If you buy only one book on vermiculture this should be it. Discounts available for multiple copies. 1-2 copies $25 ea. 3-5 copies $20 ea., 6-9 copies $18 ea., $10 or more copies $15 ea. Shipping $3 for the first 2 books and $1 for each book thereafter.

#101

Commercial Vermiculture

$25

#101cd

Commercial Vermiculture on CD rom

$20

This requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. It is a free download that allows you to read all pdf files.  Click here to get Acrobat Reader 

#101e

Commercial Vermiculture ebook

$15

See VermiCo's Best Selling Information Package Deal #301 for the greatest value!

Earthworms for Ecology and Profit, Vol. 1 Scientific Earthworm Farming by Ronald E. Gaddie

This is the book that launched the revolution in the 1970s as hundreds of thousands read this authoritative description of growing worms. Today, this all-time, best-selling earthworm book (over 750,000 copies in print) can't be found in bookstores. Because of a special purchase we have made directly with the author, we can offer this classic. Complete with photos, tables, graphs, and diagrams, you'll treasure this book as a valuable addition to your earthworm library.

#102

Earthworms for Ecology & Profit, Volume 1

$20

Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof

Newly revised and updated, this new edition gives even more information on how to set up and maintain a worm composting system than the popular first edition which sold over 100,000 copies. This book is useful for the home vermicomposter. It tells how to construct a simple worm bin, and what kinds of foods you can feed your worms. Harvesting worms and castings, making potting soil from the vermicompost, and growing healthy plants from recycled food wastes are all covered here.

#103

Worms Eat My Garbage

$15

 

Worms Eat Our Garbage by Mary Appelhof, Mary Frances Fenton, & Barbara Loss Harris

Classroom Activities For a Better Environment. A workbook for teachers centered around a classroom worm bin. This curriculum uses over 150 worm-related activities to develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills in children grades 4-8. Integrates science, math, language arts, biology, solid waste issues, ecology and the environment in ways that draw children into the learning process. See our package deal #303 for discounted package offer.

#104

Worms Eat Our Garbage

$30

Darwin on Earthworms by Charles Darwin

Highly recommended reading. This is a rare and classic book written by Darwin just before he died.

#105

Darwin on Earthworms

$20

Harnessing the Earthworm by Thomas Barrett

Dr. Barrett describes his book as "A practical inquiry into soil building, soil conditions, and plant nutrition through the action of earthworms, with instruction for the intensive propagation and use of domesticated earthworms in biological soil building." It has facts, figures and illustrations showing how earthworms can be applied to condition your soil for better plants, more beautiful gardens and richer crops.

#106

Harnessing the Earthworm

$10

Recycle with Earthworms: The Red Wiggler Connection by Shelley Grossman & Toby Weitzel

This book by two Master Composters with 25 years combined experience is a wealth of knowledge for environment-conscious organic gardeners, hobbyists, and commercial worm farmers. Whether you are a novice or an expert you will appreciate the precise, clear, personal instruction. It includes lots of illustrations and an important trouble-shooting chapter too. 

#107

Recycle with Earthworms

$10

OSCR Construction Manual by Dan Holcombe & John Longfellow

This blueprint for a successful vermiculture compost system is modeled on the famous continuous flow, Oregon Soil Corp. Reactor. It includes construction drawings, operators guide, operation plan, parts list, and site license. Build an OSCR from plywood and screws. Add insulation and soil cable heating system to keep the bin at a constant 72° F. Dimensions of the bin are 36" wide x 48" long x 36" high. Make out of new or used materials. Plans include directions to make harvesting screen and audit box. Many diagrams, charts and graphs. Add feedstock to the top of the system and harvest castings and worm tea from harvest chamber below. Use of these bins allows you to keep worms at their happiest in the coldest conditions. (VermiCo uses these as incubation bins throughout the winter.)  Students at UC Berkeley constructed dozens of these.

#108

OSCR Construction Manual

$50

Earthworm Selling and Shipping Guide by Charlie Morgan

Tells how to sell at home or nationwide at a profit, how to write a classified ad that brings inquiries, and how to write a good sales letter. It explains postal regulations, packages and packaging materials and where to get them. An excellent reference that every worm grower should have.

#109

Earthworm Selling & Shipping Guide

$10

Manual of Therapeutic Medications & Pesticides for Worm Growers by Charlie Morgan

This book covers everything from a chemical worm toughener to safe use of pesticides and medications. Tells how to control mites and other insects, harmful bacteria, acidity, plus methods of controlling capsule production and growing larger worms.

#110

Manual of Therapeutic Medications & Pesticides for Worm Growers

$10

The Worm Farm by Charlie Morgan

A diary that explains establishing a successful worm farm and business. Morgan tells the experiences of a worm grower revealing the headaches and triumphs that were part of starting and building a successful business.

#111

The Worm Farm

$10

Profitable Earthworm Farming by Charlie Morgan

A comprehensive treatise by a research biologist, who is also a practical earthworm breeder.  Here is a detailed scientific study of earthworm biology, history, types classifications and reproductive processes--PLUS many practical suggestions for beddings, feeding, handling, housing, heating, grading, counting, packaging and selling. Chapters also on Native and African Nightcrawlers, Mealworms, Crickets, Grasshoppers and other live baits.

#112

Profitable Earthworm Farming

$10

Earthworm Feeds and Feeding by Charlie Morgan

A research report based on many years work and experience solving worm breeding problems. Tells how to prevent mites, acid beds, protein poisoning. Answers questions about best feeds and the use of antibiotics. Describes methods for making synthetic manure plus many other ideas and methods used by leading worm growers. It is filled with vital information and is a valuable reference for every worm grower.

#113

Earthworm Feeds & Feeding

$10

Raising the African Nightcrawler by Charlie Morgan

The only complete book yet written concerning this fascinating and highly profitable BIG worm, to which so many established growers are now turning for extra profits. A thoroughly detailed book of primary importance to anyone who plans to experiment with Africans.

#114

Raising the African Nightcrawler

$10

How To Raise, Store & Sell Nightcrawlers by Charlie Morgan

This is about the tough, big northern nightcrawler so popular with fishermen in many areas, the worm that brings a premium price. Morgan tells how to raise the northern nightcrawler inside and outside. He covers what beddings and feeds to use, how to harvest and store them, tips on selling, packaging and shipping. It is full of useful information every worm grower can use.

#115

How to Raise, Store & Sell Nightcrawlers

$10

Dear Charlie compiled by Patrick H. Shields

The world renowned "wormologist" responds to your questions about worm farming in this book. A collection of correspondence between the late Charlie Morgan and worm farmers around the world. They ask a wide variety of questions and Charlie answers them in his inimitable style. His scientific knowledge and ability made him a leading expert and authority in worm farming. This led to an extensive consulting business. The letters are classified by subject matter, including Red Worms, African Nightcrawlers, Northern Nightcrawlers, Pests, Pharmaceuticals, and miscellaneous material. Charlie keys in on the more common problems.

#116

Dear Charlie

$10

#302 Charlie Morgan Package:  All 8 books by this famous author.  
Total Package for just $65 includes free shipping 
 A $112 VALUE if purchased & shipped separately!  
SAVE $47!  

#302

Charlie Morgan Package

$65

With Tails We Win by Mary Crowe and Gladys Bowen

This is a cleverly written and fascinating story of two professional women who operate a practical and profitable earthworm "farm" on a city lot--a project that grew out of a "miracle in a flower pot" and grew and grew and GREW! You'll enjoy this little book a useful breeding guide, seasoned with humor and backed by practical experience.

#117

With Tails We Win

$10

Let An Earthworm Be Your Garbage Man

The original outdoor vermicomposting book! This is far more comprehensive than the title indicates. It includes a treatise, generously illustrated, on the role of the earthworm in the soil, by Henry Hopp of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, an eminent authority on earthworms.  64 Pages

 

 

#118

Let An Earthworm be Your Garbageman

$10

A Worming We Did Go by Ruth Myers

An inspiring account of how a handicapped woman starting "on a shoestring" built 1000 worms into one of the best known worms farms. You will enjoy her friendly, humorous style as she instructs how to build bins, mix feeds, tackle enemies of the earthworm and gives valuable tips on packaging, advertising, and working with bait dealers. Photos of operation.

#119

A-Worming We Did Go

$10

Larger Red Worms by George H. Holwagger

An interesting report by an earthworm breeder whose eminent success has been largely due to his ability to produce a larger red worm faster, and at amazingly low cost. He passes on to others the story of his revolutionary feeding and fattening methods.

#120

Larger Red Worms

$10

The ABC s of the Earthworm Business by Ruth Myers

The author draws on 10 years experience in building one of California s biggest worm farms to give information the "newcomer" wants to know. Includes such things as selecting breeding stock, getting off to the right start, marketing, selling bait dealers, mail orders and more.

#121

The ABC's of the Earthworm Business

$10

Raising Fishworms with Rabbits by Howard "Lucky" Mays

The author, breeder of champion rabbits, shares his experiences in establishing a profitable business of raising worms under rabbit hutches, an ideal combination.

#122

Raising Fishworms with Rabbits

$10

Raising Earthworms for Profit by Earl B. Shields

This comprehensive book is useful to the prospective grower. It has 128 pages of usable information, with 62 photographs, 37 drawings. You'll find many ideas, methods, advertising and sales helps for the beginning or established grower. It also has a complete section on the African Nightcrawler.

#123

Raising Earthworms for Profit

$10

The Nightcrawler Manual by Ray Edwards

This is the complete guide to harvesting and storing native (northern) nightcrawlers. It tells about methods used by experts with photographs and illustrations. It describes equipment needed to get started and techniques used to store bait for six months. Ideal for the avid fisherman or bait dealer.

#124

The Nightcrawler Manual

$10

As The Worm Turns: New and Easy Methods for Raising Earthworms by Roy and Diane Fewell

A simply written treatment of the subject, with index and list of worm resources at the end.

#126

As the Worm Turns

$10

Earthworm Buyers Guide & Directory 2006-2007

This edition marks over 50 years of publication, a period during which it has grown in value to the earthworm industry. Its 80 pages list leading earthworm growers in the United States and Canada with the names of owners, types of worms sold, and related items and information.

#127

Earthworm Buyers Guide

$10

 

Biology of Earthworms by C.A. Edwards and J.R. Lofty (1972)

In this classic, first edition of Dr. Clive Edwards' textbook, the fundamental aspects of the biology and habits of earthworms are presented. The authors state that "no previous book has attempted to review all aspects of the biology, morphology, physiology, taxonomy, and ecology of earthworms, and we hope that the present volume may help to fill this need." Filled with pictures, charts, graphs, tables, and diagrams, this reasonably priced scientific text has value for today's student of earthworms and their role in soil fertility.

#128

Biology of Earthworms

$20

 

Worm Café: Mid-Scale Vermicomposting of Lunchroom Wastes 
by Binet Payne

This 1999 manual has been written especially for schools, small businesses and community groups. In this book, Payne has detailed how to incorporate your own mid-scale worm composting program through project-based learning.  The Worm Café is richly illustrated and offers a wealth of useful information.  This is must reading for teachers interested in starting their own classroom or school-wide vermicomposting program!  Read a review of this exciting new book from the February, 1999 issue of Casting Call.

#130

Worm Café

$30

>

   The Farmer's Earthworm Handbook:  Managing Your Underground  
Money-Makers by David Ernst

Everything you always wanted to know about managing earthworms--those underground money-makers--but didn't know who to ask,  is found in the 112 pages of this valuable handbook.  Dealing with all aspects of managing earthworms more profitably in your farming operation, hundreds of rigorous scientific research ideas from leading scientists around the world are balanced with many practical in-the-field cropping ideas from farmers.  These are farmers who fully believe in what earthworms can mean in the way of increased yields, reduced costs and higher profits in their fields.  You'll learn how earthworms allow more air and water to penetrate the soil, improve fertility, help plant roots grow deeper and increase crop productivity.  

Some 19 chapters delve into all aspects of on-farm earthworm management...from seeding fields with nightcrawlers, increasing worm populations as well as earthworm friendly fertilization and pesticide application, manure management, sustainable agriculture, the worm's impact on tillage systems, cover crops, crop rotations and the dozen major benefits of increasing worm numbers in your fields.  There's an in-depth chapter on understanding the biology of worms and properly identifying the most common earthworms found in North American fields.  

#132

The Farmer's Earthworm Handbook

$16

 

Best Management Practices in Vermicomposting Manual

Since we began the two-day Seminar in September 1999, we've had many requests for the material in the Best Management Practices in Vermicomposting Manual. Several have asked if the course manual is for sale. Until now, we've only made the manual available at the Seminar, largely to encourage people to attend the live performance. However, we realize that many people, for many reasons, simply cannot attend, but would appreciate having access to the material found in the manual.

Our first manual contained about 250 pages and our attendees spoke very highly of it. Today's current edition contains over 420 pages divided into 13 tabbed sections. In the actual seminar, power point presentations, slides and videos are used in the first 4 or five sections only. Because of the great number of guest speakers used, we have never covered all the material contained in the manual during the live presentations. There simply has not been enough time to cover all the material over the two-day event.

Chapters in the Best Management Practices in Vermicomposting Manual

• 1. Introduction: Waste Management Issues
• 2. Composting: The Process
• 3. Compost: The Product
• 4. Biology & Ecology of Earthworms
• 5. Vermicomposting: Process & Product
• 6. Marketing
• 7. Financing
• 8. Site Design
• 9. Operations
• 10. Business Plan
• 11. Regulations
• 12. Resources
• 13. Glossary of Terms

If you are unable to attend one of our Seminars but would like to purchase the manual, we are making it available for the same cost as advance registration fees for the seminar--just $249 with free shipping in the US and $35 shipping outside US. The purchase of the manual also enables a special half-price offer (for one person), for a future seminar registration. Please note that all sales are final and no refunds will be given.

Best Management Practices in Vermicomposting Manual

#1003……$249

#1003

Best Management Practice in Vermicomposting Manual

$249 with free shipping

 

Casting Call

VermiCo's bi-monthly newsletter, keeps readers up-to-date with the latest developments in vermiculture. Every 60 days we bring you the biggest stories, events, book reviews, interviews with industry leaders, and news items to keep you informed. Our primary focus in upon vermiculture, composting, soil fertility and related issues of organic waste.

Casting Call Back Issues

Get the first 30 back issues of Casting Call, Volume I and Volume II & Volume III, Volume IV and Volume V in a bound edition for just $30.

#701

Casting Call Back Issues

$30

 

Casting Call 10 years of Back Issues

Get 10 years of Casting Call now downloaded into your email box in pdf and save!

#701e

Casting Call 10 years Back Issues

$65