prompter: What are some things a beginner should know about vermiculture for the purpose of composting? Can you give tips on how to start if I only have a small space?

assistant: Vermiculture, or worm composting, is a great way to compost food waste and other organic materials. Here are some things a beginner should know about vermiculture for the purpose of composting:

1. Worms: Red wiggler worms are the most commonly used worms for vermiculture. You will need to purchase worms from a reputable source to get started.

1. Container: You will need a container to hold the worms and compost. A plastic bin or wooden box with a lid works well for small-scale vermiculture.

1. Bedding: You will need bedding material for the worms, such as shredded newspaper or cardboard. This provides a place for the worms to live and helps absorb excess moisture.

1. Food: You can compost a variety of food waste, including fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells. Avoid adding meat, dairy, and oily foods to your worm bin.

1. Maintenance: You will need to maintain your worm bin by adding food regularly, monitoring the moisture level, and harvesting the compost when it's ready.

If you only have a small space, there are a few tips you can follow to start vermiculture:

1. Start small: Begin with a small bin and a small number of worms. You can always expand later if needed.

1. Choose a good location: Choose a location that is convenient for you to access and that is not too hot or cold.

1. Manage the moisture level: Worms need a moist environment to survive, but too much moisture can cause problems. Monitor the moisture level and adjust as needed.

1. Minimize odor: To minimize odor, bury food waste under the bedding and avoid adding too much at once.

1. Harvest regularly: Harvest the compost regularly to keep the bin from getting too full.

Remember that vermiculture requires some effort and attention, but the benefits of composting and reducing waste make it worth it.

prompter: Is it a good idea to compost orange peels? I heard oranges are coated by strong chemicals.

assistant: Here are a couple of points to take into account if you want to compost orange peels, or more generally citrus fruits:
- The chemicals with which citrus fruits are treated is called d-limonene. This chemical is not eaten by all bacteria, but by some and therefore the decomposition process happens slower than with other vegetables or fruits. 
- It is advised to not place citrus fruits and onions inside compost because of their acidic nature. The acid can kill worms and other microogranisms, which can slow down the composition of your pile. You can counter this by adding e.g. hydrated white lime to neutralize the acidity.
- if your oranges are moldly take extra precautions as they can be affected by diseases which can then be passed on through the compost back into your garden.
- generally speaking, oranges and their peels make good compost material when you incorporate them correctly. They introduce nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus into your compost heap.
- the peels should be chopped into small pieces, to expose as much surface area as possible to bacteria to help speedup the decomposition process.

assistant: Yes, it is safe to add orange peel to your compost. While non-organic oranges may be treated with pesticides, the same is true of most non-organic produce. These pesticides will typically evaporate quickly as the orange peel decomposes.

One thing to note however, is that orange peel (and the peel of other citrus fruits) can take a long time to decompose. To speed up decomposition it is recommended that you dry orange peel before adding it to your compost pile. You can either dry it in the oven, or by placing it in the sun. Cutting up the dried peel will speed up decomposition even further.

assistant: That depends on the Oranges.
While organic Oranges should not be chemically contaminated, conventionally cropped Oranges can hold a wide variety of chemicals including:
thiabendazole
imazalil 
Citrus Red 2
However according to the CSE, washing them with 2% of salt water will remove most of the contact pesticide residues that normally appear on the surface of the vegetables and fruits.
Almost 75 to 80 percent of pesticide residues are removed by cold water washing.

assistant: Vermiculture, or worm composting, is a great way to turn food scraps and other organic waste into nutrient-rich compost for gardening. Here are some things a beginner should know about vermiculture for composting:

1. Choose the right type of worm: The most commonly used worm for composting is the red wiggler worm (Eisenia fetida). They are efficient at breaking down organic matter and can tolerate living in a confined space.

2. Start with a small bin: You don't need a large space to start vermiculture. You can use a plastic storage container with a lid, or even a large bucket. The size of the bin will depend on the amount of organic waste you want to compost and the number of worms you plan to keep.

3. Create a bedding for the worms: The worms need a comfortable environment to live in. You can create a bedding for them using shredded newspaper or cardboard, coconut coir, or peat moss. Dampen the bedding material with water until it feels like a wrung-out sponge.

4. Add food scraps: Once you have your bedding in place, you can start adding food scraps to the bin. The worms will eat most types of organic matter, including fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells. Avoid adding meat, dairy, and oily foods, as they can attract pests and cause odors.

5. Maintain the bin: To keep the worms healthy, you'll need to maintain the bin. This includes keeping the bedding damp, adding food scraps regularly, and removing any uneaten food or bedding that has become too wet.

6. Harvest the compost: After a few months, the worms will have turned the organic matter into compost. You can harvest the compost by removing the top layer of bedding and exposing the finished compost. You can then use the compost in your garden or houseplants.

Starting with vermiculture for composting can be a fun and rewarding experience, even with a small space. Just remember to choose the right type of worm, create a comfortable environment for them, and maintain the bin regularly. Happy composting!

prompter: how can i use it in Belarus according to the country climat?