“From banana peels to coffee grounds, everyday kitchen and garden waste fuels nature’s tiny composting heroes.”

🌱 What the Chart Shows

The image highlights the best worm-friendly foods for a healthy vermicomposting system. Worms thrive on organic waste, breaking it down into nutrient-rich compost known as vermicast, often called “black gold” by gardeners.

Here’s the worm menu:

1. Vegetables – Peels, scraps, and leftovers. Avoid oily or spicy foods.
2. Fruits – Banana peels, apple cores, and other sweet scraps (in moderation to avoid fruit flies).
3. Coffee and Tea – Grounds, filters, and tea bags keep worms energized.
4. Eggshells – Crushed finely, they add calcium and balance pH.
5. Nut Shells – Slow to break down but great for texture.
6. Paper Scraps & Cardboard – Shredded plain paper adds carbon, balancing the nitrogen-rich food waste.
7. Houseplants – Old leaves and dead indoor plants.
8. Yard Trimmings – Leaves, clippings, and small branches (chopped).

🪱 Why It Matters

✅ Reduces Household Waste – Up to 40% of kitchen scraps can be composted instead of going to landfills.
✅ Creates Free Fertilizer – Vermicompost improves soil structure, water retention, and plant growth.
✅ Eco-Friendly – Cuts down methane emissions from decomposing organic matter in trash dumps.
✅ Educational – A fun, hands-on way for families to learn about sustainability.

🏡 How It Works

1. Place worms in a multi-layered bin with bedding (shredded paper, cardboard, coconut coir).
2. Add food scraps regularly, covering them to avoid pests.
3. Worms eat the waste, turning it into castings.
4. Finished compost collects in the bottom tray and can be harvested.
5. Liquid “worm tea” drains out and can be diluted for plants as a natural fertilizer.

🌍 A Growing Movement

Urban gardeners, eco-conscious families, and schools are increasingly turning to vermicomposting bins. Not only do they shrink the garbage bag, but they also provide a continuous supply of natural fertilizer for gardens, balconies, and houseplants.

👉 In short: What looks like kitchen scraps to us is a five-star feast for worms, and in return, they give us some of the richest soil on Earth.