The Dirt on Compost: Hot and Worm Composting at Home

 

The Dirt on Compost: Hot and Worm Composting at Home

Every week, many of us dump spoiled food or leftovers into the trash and haul yard waste to the curb, not realizing that all of that organic material could be turned into something incredibly useful. Composting is the answer. It’s a simple, natural process that transforms food scraps and yard debris into a rich soil amendment that feeds your plants and improves soil health.

There are two main ways to compost at home: thermophilic (hot) composting and vermicomposting (composting with worms).

Thermophilic composting is the classic backyard method that relies on heat-loving microbes to break down organic material. With the right mix of “browns” (carbon-rich materials like dried leaves, cardboard, and straw) and “greens” (nitrogen-rich materials like vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and grass clippings), the pile heats up to between 130–160°F. This high heat speeds up decomposition and kills weed seeds and harmful pathogens. Turn the pile occasionally and keep it moist, and in a few months, you’ll have dark, earthy compost ready to mix into your garden beds.

Hot Composting Fun Facts

• Food scraps and yard waste make up nearly 30% of what we throw away, most of which could be composted instead.
• Microbes in a hot compost pile can double their population every 20–30 minutes under the right conditions.
• A compost pile needs at least one cubic yard (3x3x3 feet) of material to build enough mass to heat up properly.
• Steam rising from a compost pile on a chilly morning isn’t smoke – it’s water vapor from microbial activity.
  

  Red wiggler earthworms transform food scraps into nutrient-rich worm castings. Photo by Leon County.

Vermicomposting is a little different – and a bit squirmier. This method uses red wiggler earthworms (Eisenia fetida) to process kitchen scraps into a fine, nutrient-rich material called worm castings. Earthworm bins can be kept indoors or outside in a shaded area, making them a great option for those with limited space. It’s clean, odor-free when managed properly, and a surprisingly fun way to recycle your food waste.

Worm Composting Fun Facts

• Red wigglers can eat up to half their body weight in food scraps each day.
• Worms breathe through their skin and need moist bedding to survive and stay active.
• Worm castings contain five times more nitrogen and seven times more phosphorus than average topsoil.
• Worm castings contain beneficial microbes that help suppress certain plant diseases in soil.
  

  Finished vermicompost is dark, crumbly, and nutrient-rich – the result of red wigglers breaking down organic waste. Photo by John Edwards.

Both methods keep organic material out of the landfill, reduce methane emissions, and build healthier soil – something every gardener can appreciate.

If you’d like to learn even more about composting and hear additional fun facts about how nature recycles, join UF/IFAS Extension Agents Mark Tancig and Molly Jameson for The Dirt on Compost: Hot & Worm Composting at Home on Wednesday, November 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Leon County Extension Office (615 East Paul Russell Road).

Register on Eventbrite: https://UFIFASLeonCompostingFall2025.eventbrite.com

This free workshop will explore the science behind composting and provide practical tips for both hot composting and worm composting systems.