The Complete Earthworm Library

If you are thinking of starting your own earthworm business - whether for the bait/feed market or vermicomposting - then this is the 'must-have' collection of books and reports for your library. This collection offers hundreds of pages of detail for the beginner and experienced farmer alike.

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Harnessing the Earthworm (56MB)
Harnessing the Earthworm - a practical guide into soil building, soil conditioning and plant nutrition through the action of earthworms, with instructions for intensive propagation and use of Domesticated Earthworms in biological soil-building. Thomas Barrett, 185 pages.
The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms by Charles Darwin (48.6MB). The original work by Darwin with extensive observations on the habits of worms and their part in soil conditioning and building.

Manual of On-Farm Vermicomposting and Vermiculture The Manual of On-Farm Vermicomposting and Vermiculture by Glenn Munroe of the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada is a comprehensive guide to the breeding and commercial use of earthworms. Starting with a chapter on the basics of vermiculture and vermicomposting the book covers nutrition and environmental essentials and then moves on to a comprehensive study of different verimculture systems. The final chapter examines the commercial viability of a number of worm-related opportunities and includes a comprehensive list of references and details of on-farm trials (56 pages).
Baitworm Production by Alice Beetz, NCAT Agriculture Specialist (150KB).

Earthworm Biology - a short introduction from the University of Florida.

Vermicomposting as an Eco-tool in Sustainable Solid Waste Management (2.1MB) This report is an alternative option to solid waste management based on the application of earthworms and generally termed as vermicomposting. This report describes the various treatments with earthworms from industrial sludge to kitchen waste. It also highlights the biology of these worms and how to maintain and prepare suitable bedding for this biological treatment of solid waste. This report also provides basic information and vermicomposting experiences for those involved in vermicomposting or breeding of the worms (40 pages).
The Best Practice Guidelines to Managing On-Site Vermiculture Technologies - Series of Information Sheets (2.45MB) - 106 pages.

• No. 1: Introduction to establishing and managing an on-site vermiculture unit.
• No. 2: How much compostable material is produced?
• No. 3: Can vermiculture work for you?
• No. 4: Guide to feedstock preparation and determining what size vermiculture unit is required.
• No. 5: Guide to installing a vermiculture unit.
• No. 6: Management and maintenance of a vermiculture unit.
• No. 7: Guide to using the vermicast product .A series of seven sheets
Co-Composting Paper Mill Sludges with Fruit & Vegetable Wastes (3.4MB) The research presented in this report is a scoping study that addresses several research issues pertinent to compost production and utilisation. It provides a fully-documented case study of the development of an in-vessel composting process and of the testing of the compost produced. It shows how computer simulations can help in process development and optimisation. It examines the possibility that vermicomposts might have ‘special’ properties over and above those of normal composts. Whilst the research focuses on one particular composting substrate, paper mill sludge, many of the findings could be of much wider interest (180 pages).
Raising Earthworms Successfully by Rhonda Sherman (330KB) A 26 page booklet prepared by the North Carolina Extension Service - contents include a discussion on the markets for earthworms and vermicompost, the classification and biology of earthworms as well as setting up and running a growing operation. There are also sections on feeding, harvesting and dealing with earthworm pests.
Vermicomposting by George Dickerson. Introductory guide from Mexico State University Extension Program (30KB).

Vermicomposting of pre-composted mixed fish/shellfish and greenwaste. In this study, partially composted mixed fish/shellfish and green waste was further vermicomposted on a large-scale for seven weeks. The composition of the pre-composted waste was such that the earthworms appeared to be reluctant to enter the waste directly for the first three weeks but then actively processed the waste into a vermicompost capable of being used as a basis for the formulation of high value composts (1.7MB).
The Art and Science of Composting - A resource for farmers and compost producers. University of Wisconsin-Madison..
The role of earthworms on plant performance and ecosystem function.  Alexandru Milcu (1.2MB).
Practical Application of a Lifetime Study of Habits of the Most Important Animal in the World (460KB). History& Habits of the Earthworm, Potential Markets for Earthworms, Natural and Man-Made Enemies of the Earthworm, The Trout Farmer's Problem, Feeding Problems, Earthworm Stock General Care and Feeding of Earthworms (101 pages).
Dances with Worms - The biology, ecology, taxonomy and worm species suitable for vermicomposting by Rob Blakemore
Vermicology I. Ecological considerations of the earthworms used in Vermiculture - review of the species.
Vermicology II. The potential, products and problems of Vermiculture by Rob Blakemore
Long-term effects of cropping systems on the earthworm populations in a loam soil. A Bioforsk Publication.
Effect of Insecticides upon Earthworm Populations. J. B. Polivka.
Earthworms. PennState College of Agricultural Science
Cocoon production, morphology, hatching pattern and fecundity in seven tropical earthworm species – a laboratory-based investigation. Department of Zoology, MBB College, India (12 pages) 177KB.
Optimum Moisture Requirement during Vermicomposting. Advancement in vermiculture technology requires a detailed understanding of functioning of the system. In this paper, the effect of moisture content variation using epigeic (surface burrowing) earthworm (Perionyx excavatus, Perrier, 1872, family: Megascolecidae) to predict optimum moisture requirement during vermicomposting is investigated.
Earthworms by Patrick Bohlen.
How robins find worms by Robert Montgomerie and Patrick Weatherhead.
Vermicomposting Horse Manure by A.B. Card, J. V. Anderson and J. G. Davis.
Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses (3.3MB). Producers considering innovative management practices and immature markets use business plans to map out strategies for taking advantage of new opportunities such as organic farming, on-farm processing, direct marketing and rural tourism. A business plan helps producers demonstrate that they have fully researched their proposed alternative; they know how to produce their product, how to sell what they produce, and how to manage financial risk (280 pages).
Effects of earthworms on plant and herbivore performance (437KB). Susanne Wurst, 90 pages.
Earthworms (Annelida: Oligochaeta) of the Columbia River Basin Assessment Area by Sam James. The three main ecological types of earthworms found in the basin assessment area are epigeic, endogeic, and anecic. Each type has a different life history pattern, resource requirement, and ecological function and this report summarizes the main issues about the ecology of earthworms and their impact on the physical and chemical status of the soil.
Effect of Substrate Depth on Vermicomposting. In view of the growing awareness about vermicomposting technology in recycling different types of organic wastes, this report studies the effect of substrate depth on vermicomposting (200KB).
Agricultural Management Effects on Earthworm Populations. USDA Soil Quality & Agronomy Technical Note No.11.
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