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Who would have thought that
the lowly earthworm is probably the greatest producer of organic manure? Remarkably
transforming bio-degradable kitchen and garden waste into low-cost, non-toxic,
nutrient-rich fertilizer. And in the process, dramatically reducing mounds of garbage
which over-populated cities find a monumental problem to solve.
 Note this - a whopping 300 MT of garbage is produced by Chennai city
alone every day! With an excuse of an infrastructure and faulty systems of disposal, the
poor Chennai Corporation finds itself abused and ridiculed. Obviously it costs a lot to
get rid of garbage!
In this scenario, what we need is our
grandmother’s technology of using bio-degradable waste (kitchen and garden) as manure
for gardens or as food for animals.
One of the few NGOs working in
vermicomposting – or using earthworms to change house waste into compost is BEL
(Better Environemnt and Life Foundation) of the Subashs in Besant Nagar.
 Subash, after retiring from the Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board
decided to join his wife, Shanthi, who was already into vermicomposting in a small way. He
had earlier gone to Japan for a training program on `Resource Recovery and Environmental
Protection.
BEL started in ’92 with the goals of
garbage collection, segregation (into organic and inorganic waste) and composting the
former while the latter goes to the scrap dealers. Since then the couple has been
educating the public on the virtues of this eco-friendly way of garbage disposal, setting
up vermicomposting bins or pits in their homes, creating awareness among ladies
organisations, school and college students, CBOs (community based
organisations),
assisting/ offering consultancy to some government agencies (like the CLRI or Central
Leather Research Institute) and industries (KCP) and conducting seminars and workshops in
a small way.
 How can you do vermicomposting? What are the
necessary things to be got? What will it cost? Will the backyard stink if we set it up?
Will it attract flies and rodents? FAQs like these may be plaguing you already. So here it
goes: All you need is a bin/ you can dig a pit in your backyard, some dung (any animal is
okay) use cow dung, water and earthworms (about 100). That’s it.
Put some soil if you are using a bin. Add
cow dung and water and the worms. Mix well. Segregate your house waste into the organic
and the rest. Put the former into the bin and cover with soil. Sprinkle water (take care
not to pour a lot and make it slushy. And wait…..After a month, the vegetable remains
or the fruit peels or even the leaves you put in can hardly be
recognised.
Shanthi says, "the first time it will
take a little longer. Like 45 days for the composting to complete. Don’t use the
harvested compost the first time alone. Put it back into the bin. The second harvest will
be faster, like 30 days, which can be used for your garden or coconut trees."
 Next the size – for individual houses, a small bin with about
100 worms is enough (they will take care of multiplying!). How much compost is generated?
A family of 4 can get as much 15 kgs. And if you want to sell, it goes at Rs.6/ kg.
Subash gives some startling facts about the
components of compost as compared to ordinary soil – 5 times more nitrogen, 7 times
more phosphorous, 11 times more potash, 2 times more calcium and magnesium and 8 times the
actinomycetes (which are enzymes or useful bacteria). And its non-chemical, non-toxic and
completely eco-friendly!!!
 Right now theres so much fear about how man has
trampled on nature and the serious repercussions threatening flora and fauna and the very
health and lifestyle of man himself. If we don’t wisen up even now, soon it might be
too late!
And the socially, politically and
economically smart thing to do now is `sustainable development’ and re-educating
ourselves with `back to the basic’ lessons of bygone ages.
As Subash concludes – "with a
little knowledge of earthworms and an investment of time and some inexpensive materials,
one can fertilize the garden with rich vermicompost."
Subash resides at 7D, CGE Quarters,
Kalakshetra Colony, Besant Nagar, Chennai 90/ ph: 4462440.
- Padma Subiah
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