Composting is definitely a 90's kind of thing. It will surely make the "what's hot" list in the 2000s as well. While people have been composting just about forever, it is now the subject of big business and big money.

Now enters the earth worm! You see, earth worms are a composters best friends. Earth worms are natural bio-digesters and while this isn't the prettiest thought in the world, worm waste is a commodity that it is very much in demand. Worms are just as useful in home composting operations as they are in massive commercial and institutional operations.

The technical name for one of the most common earth worms is Eisenia Fetida. These worms are amazing little work horses. They are capable of consuming an amount of organic matter that is equal to half of their weight on a daily basis. Imagine a 150 pound person consuming 75 pounds of food every day (on any day other than Thanksgiving)!

You need to know your worm terms in order to sound knowledgeable at parties and other social occasions. The three key words are vermiculture, vermicomposting and castings. Vermiculture refers to commercial operations that raise composting worms for sale. Vermicomposting transforms organic waste into marketable vermicompost. Generally yard debris, food waste and sewage sludge are digested by the worms. Their nutrient rich waste is called worm castings.

These wriggly friends thrive in certain optimal conditions. Specifically, worm users need to control moisture, temperature, food supply, pH and worm density. When conditions are proper, worms can multiply at tremendous rates. Worms are hermaphrodites; they possess both male and female reproductive organs.

There is a lot of money that can be made in worm production. Companies, many of which are small start ups, raise worms which are sold to composting operations. Even successful vermicomposting operations sometimes need to replace or augment their worm population. There are many supply companies that will help aspiring worm farmers get into this business. Obviously, no investment should be made until the company and equipment have been completely researched and marketing claims have been verified.

Here are some other delicious thoughts about earth worms. First, they need to remain slimy to breathe. They breathe through their skin and if they dry up, they can suffocate.

Worms create little tunnels. The tunnels keep them cool during the day. Worms do not like to surface during the day unless it is raining. The tunnels not only help the worms, but they also serve as rainwater and nutrient channels for nearby vegetation.

When it rains, worms often leave their tunnels and travel on the earth's surface. After a rain, have you ever noticed all of the worms covering driveways and sidewalks? When the worms surface, they need to retreat below before the rain ends and the sun reappears. Otherwise, they can dry out and die. You have probably noticed many stranded worms following heavy rains.

Robins and other rodents like to consume these high protein little friends. When worms are attacked, they have mechanisms which allow them to adhere to their surroundings. If a robin detaches a part of a worm, the remaining part may continue to live. If the head is taken, a new head may grow back.

The term earth worm is really a general term, as it applies to over 1000 species of worms. Though most worms that we see are several inches long, some tropical worms can be ten feet long or longer.

Different kinds of worms work different layers of the earth. Some worms are more likely to remain within the upper levels of the soil, and thus will only enrich those levels. Other worms tend to tunnel more deeply and benefit deeper strata.

If you are a home gardener and or composter, check out some books from the library that will provide additional information concerning this subject. This will enrich both body and soil.

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.