Soily begins with compost aged over multiple years, followed by a second stage with worms. We blend the finished compost with measured additions including alfalfa meal and biochar, then feed it to worms raised in planted wedge beds. The care starts long before the bag.
First, a compost foundation
We start with manure and carbon-rich materials, including sawdust and aged wood chips. The material is blended, turned and aged for multiple years. Only then does the finished compost become food for our worms.
Carbon, nitrogen, air and moisture all matter during composting. As the EPA explains, microbes use carbon-rich material for energy, while turning helps bring oxygen into a pile. Those are the fundamentals behind the first stage of our process.
The years describe the compost’s preparation before worm processing. They do not mean the worms spend years working on each bag. Time is part of our approach; the ingredients and how they are managed matter too.
Then, a considered worm feed
Our finished compost is blended with measured additions including alfalfa meal and biochar, along with other selected feed components. We pay attention to what reaches the worm beds because it becomes part of the process behind our product.
Composting first and worm processing second are distinct stages. Oklahoma State University describes this general approach as secondary vermicomposting. The plain-language version: prepare the compost, then let worms and microorganisms continue the work.
The feed recipe is a deliberate part of how we make Soily. We measure each addition before it joins the finished compost, giving the worm stage the same attention as the years of preparation that come before it.
Why red wigglers?
Red wigglers are surface-dwelling composting worms suited to working through decomposing organic material. Oregon State University explains why these habits make red wigglers well suited to worm-bin composting. At Soily, they receive our prepared compost and selected feed ingredients as the next stage of the process.
A living canopy above the worms
Tens of thousands of worms live in our wedge beds, which we plant with a three-seed cover mix. We like to think of it as a well-appointed home: prepared feed below, living plants above.
There is a useful soil-science idea behind keeping roots alive. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service explains that roots release organic compounds that feed nearby microorganisms. This active area around a root is called the rhizosphere.
That explains our interest in planted beds. The USDA guidance describes soil systems generally; it is not a trial of Soily’s worm beds. We describe cover seeding as a production practice, without assigning it a measured increase in nutrients or microbes in the finished bag.
Biochar joins the process early
Our biochar is blended into the feed during the worm stage and remains part of the finished product. It is a porous, carbon-rich material used as a soil amendment.
Utah State University explains that biochar’s properties depend on its source and how it is made. Its effect also depends on the soil and application. We describe when it enters our process rather than assuming every biochar blend performs alike.
From our finished pile to your order
We bag Soily on a per-order basis, directly from our finished pile as we prepare each order for dispatch. This limits the time the blend sits in its shipping bag. “Bagged for your order” describes the final handling step; orders dispatch in 3–5 business days, with carrier transit time additional.
Worm castings are the material excreted by worms. Vermicompost includes those castings and other decomposed organic material from the worm system. Soily includes biochar as well, so we describe it as a vermicompost and biochar blend containing worm castings. Our worm castings guide explains the terminology and storage care.
Moisture and temperature matter to microbial life in worm compost. After delivery, keep the blend cool and shaded, use it promptly and avoid complete drying. Per-order bagging supports careful handling; it is not a laboratory measurement of the microorganisms in a particular bag.
Intentional about our inputs
Our feedstock excludes yard waste, food scraps and plastics. We do not add herbicides to our process. These choices are part of how we make Soily, alongside the years of compost preparation and attention to the worm beds.
The result is Soily Specialty Vermicompost + Biochar, available in 2.5, 5 and 10 lb bags. It is a soil amendment to use with your growing mix. Every size contains the same blend, made through the same careful process.