The incredible history of vermicomposting

From the “intestines of the Earth” to our homes!

The history of vermicomposting began a very long time ago, well before anyone invented trash cans and garbage trucks. Nature has always recycled its own waste thanks to discreet but essential players: earthworms. Their role is so fundamental that philosophers and scientists understood it long before we did.

AntiquityAristotle and the “intestines of the Earth”

19^th centuryDarwin becomes fascinated by earthworms

1980sThe rise of vermiculture

Late 20^th centuryDecline: incinerators and chemical fertilizers

TodayA strong comeback all over the world

In Antiquity, the Greek philosopher Aristotle closely observed nature. He gave earthworms a nickname as surprising as it was apt: he called them the “intestines of the Earth.” With this image, he explained that the soil, like a living organism, needed worms to digest organic matter and stay fertile.

Centuries later, in the 19th century, the famous scientist Charles Darwin — known for his theory of the evolution of species — became fascinated by these little creatures. He even devoted the last book of his life to earthworms, titled The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms. In his view, no other creature has played such an important role in the history of life on Earth.

For a long time, composting was a natural, everyday practice. Before trash collection existed, food scraps were simply tossed at the back of the yard. At that time, people did not yet distinguish between the different types of worms: those that plow deep into the soil and those that feed on organic waste at the surface.

It was not until the 1980s that worm farming, known as vermiculture, really took off. The practice was promoted as eco-friendly, profitable, and easy to set up. Many people eagerly embarked on the adventure.

But after this craze, vermicomposting gradually faded into obscurity. Towns and cities chose to build incinerators to burn their waste. Intensive agriculture expanded, making heavy use of chemical fertilizers and weed killers, which wiped out earthworms from many soils. Meanwhile, the public was not yet aware of the need to sort waste: it was the era of “everything goes in the trash.”

In recent years, things have changed dramatically. Faced with global warming and environmental challenges, attitudes are shifting. Vermicomposting is making a strong comeback because it offers a simple, local, and effective solution. Every pound of waste eaten by the worms is one less pound to haul, burn, and pollute.

Recycling at home: vermicomposting today

This technique is now used all over the world to replace chemical fertilizers. In Cuba, vermicomposting centers had produced more than 1.1 million tons (1 million metric tons) of natural fertilizer by 2003. In India, nearly 200,000 farmers have adopted this method. Today, this incredible story continues thanks to you: millions of households are turning their organic waste into a valuable resource at home, using a composter… and above all a worm composter.