Composting prior to Vermicomposting

There has been much curiosity as to why we compost our feedstock material (dairy manure) prior to vermicomposting. On the surface, this may seem slightly redundant, but there are many key issues which the process addresses. The controlled thermophilic composting (natural high heat) process we utilize completes three things for us:

1. It removes some of the potential for the material to heat up (compost) after being fed to the worm population (removal of energy). The last thing we want is to have the feedstock material start actively composting in the worm beds; thus making the living conditions undesirable or uninhabitable for the worm population (higher temps);

2. PFRP = a path to further reduce pathogens;

3. Weed seed destruction. Finished products should be weed seed free;

4. Produces a richer feed for the worms.