Orange peel in the worm bin

When researching information on worm bin composting, there are several areas where you come across conflicting information.  And I don’t mean just deviations of thought, I mean polar opposites!

Usually, and this is when I pay attention, the opposite opinion, as it pertains to the worm bin, comes from someone who has expereinced hands on and is sharing this experience.

Recently I have come across a discussion just like this as it pertains to orange peel. 

Those of you who have gone through my worm bin composting e-course know that I advise not overloading your worm bin with citrus peel.  A few peels here and there are not detrimental.

Here is a quote that I found quite interesting from one of the groups I am involved in that shares worm bin know how:

Orange peels don’t kill worms directly. The peels are very anti-bacterial–this is one reason they were so prized in the Middle Ages. So, when you put any citrus peels in the bin–whether chopped up or not–they will be killing and repelling the bacteria and micro-organisms.

This is important because those tiny things produce what the worms eat. Worms don’t eat citrus peels as food. Without the micro-organisms (I’m not saying bacteria on purpose as it seems new forms are being discovered monthly), none of the food would get broken down into pieces the worms can consume. [Keep in mind: waste is food]

Adding anything acidic, such as orange peels, will alter the pH or acidity/ alkalinity of the bin. This also has a huge affect on the micro-organisms.

This whole acidity/ alkalinity thing is one major problem with chemical fertilizers–they alter the pH so greatly, the micro-organisms and the worms move out (or die). Then the soil must have increasing amounts of the chemical fertilizer to support plant life, just as a drug addict must have more and more.

And here is where the polar opposite comes in from a fellow worm bin composter and that composter’s personal experience:

My worms tolerate citrus peels very well, and also onion and garlic
waste.
But I don’t put them in very often. Actually daily, I empty orange
peels into one of the worm bins, but I have 9 active bins going, and
each bin gets fed food waste once every 9 or 10 days. The rest of the
bulk food is made up with coffee grounds, aged grass clippings,
zucchini, and right now, or soon to be chopped PUMPKINS.
Afer the orange peels have molded, the worms move right in on them.

So, what does this mean?  It has been said that worms do not actually eat the food waste we place into the bin, but the bacteria, fungi, and all the microscopic life that is busy decomposing that food waste. 

Citrus decomposes.  All organic matter decomposes.  Therefore we have to assume that the worms will handle citrus in the worm bin.  However, I believe that if too much citrus is added to the worm bin at one time that the conditions in the bin would change and affect your worm population before the citrus got to the point that the worms would consider it food.

Now, I am not a scientist.  I am a worm farmer and have been worm bin composting for 11 years.  I say in worm bin composting as in all things in life – “All things in moderation.”

Don’t worry about a few orange peels going into the worm bin (the amount will depend on the size of the bin).  But if you have family over and decide to do fresh squeezed OJ for breakfast, don’t dump all those orange peels into the worm bin.  Make the trip out to the compost pile, or as this person suggests:

The potassium in the orange and other citrus peals is good for rose bushes and bannana trees. I cut them up fine then just throw them on top and they break down into the soil.

Well, that’s it for now.  I am going to be putting together a series of posts on “other critters in the worm bin”, (read this as pests), so stay tuned.

Christy

Handle your organic waste the way Nature intended.
http://www.vermiculturenorthwest.com/