The castings, or droppings, that worms produce as they digest organic matter have been shown to promote plant growth, suppress disease, and improve the structure and fertility of soil.  Red worm castings contain a high percentage of humus.  Humus helps soil particles form into clusters which create channels for the passage of air and improve its capacity to hold water.  Humic acid, present in humus, provides binding sites for the plant nutrients and releases them to the plants upon demand.  Humus is believed to aid in the prevention of harmful plant pathogens, fungi, nematodes and bacteria.  Castings are also high in microbial activity and contribute to the maintenance of healthy soil.

All castings are dried and screened to 1/8 of an inch, and shipped via USPS Priority Mail (2-3 business days).

Remember: feed the soil, not the plant!

(For a great overview on the the benefits of worm castings, read this article by Rhonda Sherman, Extension Solid Waste Specialist at NC State University, "Earthworm Castings as Plant Growth Media.")

General Application Rates for Worm Castings:

Potting mix--one part castings, one part sand, one part perlite or pumice, one part peat moss.

Seed starting--sprinkle a thin layer of castings in the bottom of the seed bed.

Vegetable plants--place a handful of castings in the bottom of the hole when transplanting from flats to the garden.

Top dressing--spread a half in layer of castings on the surface of the soil around base of plants or near drip lines.  Nutrients are water soluble and will be washed into the soil as the plants are watered.  This also works for potted plants, but you may need to remove a half inch of potting soil from the pot before adding castings.