What is worm composting? It is the process of using worms to break down organic material into a soil-like product that can be used as fertilizer. However, the question for many pet owners is whether or not this process is safe for their furry friends.
Can they eat it without any health risks? Can they play in it and roll around in it with no worries?
This blog post will answer these questions and more!
Before we delve into the answer, did you know why extra nitrogen produced by these castings is nutritionally awesome for your garden?
Some of the benefits of worm composting are:
-reduced yard waste and removal fees
-less need for fertilizers, resulting in healthier soil
-improved plant health due to balanced nutrients.
Castings can be used on any plants with no worries because it is entirely organic! It is excellent for use around pets, but there are a few things to keep in mind before you start tossing castings everywhere. Let's talk about that next…
The answer is yes and no - yes if you follow these guidelines:
Can Pets Get Worms From Getting Into The Worm Compost Pile?
Most of the time, this is not an issue. However, if your worm bin is next to a garden bed that they are digging in or chewing on, it may be possible for them to ingest some worms and eggs over there.
Castings have no smell and tend to disappear into the ground quickly due to their balanced nutrients so that you can use castings around pets, too, with no worries!
If these animals die near where you live, then yes - but once again, most of the time, this isn't an issue because only particular breeds like rats will scavenge these piles.
Yes, as long as it is kept away from food and children's playrooms - you can keep the worm bin on a high shelf or in an out-of-the-way spot to avoid any possible issues!
This is unlikely because they are not tasty enough for animals to want them but also worms will move their feeding bedding once your pet has gone nearby if they sense that there is a danger of him or her eating castings. All this means is he/she'll be likely getting more exercise than before instead of being lazy all day.
If the pets are not eating it, is it safe to use castings around them?
Yes! Castings from areas with worms can be placed in your flower beds or as mulch around plants. The worms will have moved on by now, so there's nothing for them to eat, and they'll turn into excellent fertilizer instead of that smelly stuff you get at the garden center!
Is worm composting safely for pets if they don't come near my bin, but I place some castings elsewhere, like in a pot plant bed close by?
This may depend on what type of pet you have. If they are making sure no one is going near their food, this should be ok too because casting won't make its way to the food.
Suppose your dog happens to eat the worms. It is ok. The worms in the compost bin are anaerobic - meaning they don't need oxygen to survive and do not produce any toxin that can harm pets or people.
If you're adding worm castings outside, make sure to use them as mulch close to plants (worms will have moved on by now), so there's no chance for your dog or cat to eat it! And if they do, don't worry! As long as the worm casting is from an area with worms and is placed near a plant pot, this should be safe because it won't come into contact with what our pet eats.
As long as you're using entirely composted worm castings that are dry and odorless, then these pose no risk to your pets.
If worms are not fully composted, they can release toxins that could be harmful when eaten by animals or humans.
One of the benefits of using a worm bin would be that it is an entirely natural way of recycling your food scraps.
You will be able to make compost tea from the liquid that comes out of the bin, which can then be used as fertilizer for plants or gardens.
The worm bin worm will also help break down any organic materials and turn them into nutrients for the soil, keeping harmful toxins away from our environment by displacing them with earthworms.
So when you use worm castings around pets, this is safe because they won't come into contact with what we feed our pets! If you have a dog or cat, then this is good news-worm bins are harmless if there's not toxic stuff going on inside! It'll just take some time before your pet realizes that these castings are safe.
Do you wish your plants would grow bigger? Was your garden less than it should've been last year?
If you're tired of growing puny vegetables and fruits, it's time for an upgrade...Simple Grow Worm Castings!
What are worm castings? Another term for worm manure. Why would you want to use it in your garden, raised beds, and house plants? Because it makes them grow bigger, faster and healthier...with no chemicals!
How do worm castings do this? It's like giving your plants a powerful multivitamin with everything they need to grow. Trace minerals, nutrients, and most importantly...worm castings are chock full of beneficial microbes. Why does that make a difference?
In recent years, we've learned the importance of gut bacteria for humans and know that it impacts so many different parts of our health. The same thing applies with worms. Gut bacteria from the worm's digestive tract gets into the soil from the worm castings and promotes plant health. Plants have a symbiotic relationship with the microbes from the worm's digestive tract. Plants respond to it and grow really big...really fast!
If you've never tried worm castings before, you owe it to yourself to give them a try. Instead of using traditional chemical fertilizers from the big box store, why not try fresh, certified organic worm castings this year? You'll be able to grow bigger, healthier plants that you actually can feel good about eating.
Take advantage of our special bundle sale on 25lb bags today!
