FERTILIZER
Everything began with the organic fertilizer – now known as Fresh Start Organic Blend Fertilizer® and Vermicastings®. The organic blend fertilizer, created using large-scale bokashi composting, is created exclusively with the use of organic materials and agricultural by products in adherence with the organic standards of NICERT.
Furthermore it is registered with the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA). Fresh Start Organic Blend is rich in humus, beneficial micro-organisms, fungi and plant nutrients; these help improve the efficiency of water and nutrient use in soils. They also promote
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |
VERMICASTINGS
What is Vermicomposting?
• Vermicomposting is the process by which worms are used to convert organic materials (usually wastes)into humus-like material known as vermicompost.
• The goal is to process the material as quickly and efficiently as possible.
• Glenn Munroe-Manual of On-Farm Vermicomposting and Vermiculture (Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada)
Five Basic Things That Worms Need:
• A hospitable living environment, usually called "bedding".
• Adequate moisture (greater than % water content by weight)
• A food source
• Adequate aeration
• Protection from temperature extremes
What is Vermicompost?
• Vermicompost appears to be generally superior to conventionally produced compost in a number of important ways
• Vermicompost is superior to most composts as an inoculant in the production of composts tea;
• Worms have a number of other apossible uses on farms, including value as a high-quality animal feed;
• Vermicomposting and vermiculture offer potential to organic farmers as sources of supplemental income.
Facts about Worms / African Night Crawler
• There are 4000 kinds of earthworm known to humanity but nowadays only 10-15 are used as vermicultures in different countries.
• Many species grow to a length of only a few centimeters, but some tropical species attain a length of up to 3.3 m (11 ft).
• They are hermaphrodite and some species live for ten years or longer.
• Produce most cocoons over a period of 20 weeks
• Peak biomass at 10-12 weeks and began to lose wt at 14 weeks
• Peak cocoon production after 10 weeks
• The optimum temperature for growth and survival is 25C but they died at temperatures below 9C and above 30C.
• The moisture content for optimal growth is 80-50% MC, with considerable decreases in growth at 70-90%MC.
• All species are very sensitive to ammonia and cannot survive long in organic wastes containing much ammonia (e.g., fresh poultry manure)
• They are tolerant to pH but given a choice, they prefer more acid material, with an apparent pH of 5.0