VermiPod, Inc.
104 W. Market St., P.O. Box 1
Elliott, IL 60933 (217) 781-4367
Information on Encapsulated Earthworm Cocoons™ Called VermiPods™
Introduction:
It is widely known that healthy croplands have an
abundance of soil organisms, such as earthworms,
which serve to stabilize and rejuvenate depleted soil.
Fields with healthy earthworm populations enjoy
higher yields, require less chemical fertilizer, and
are able to better absorb and retain moisture, making
them less susceptible to wind and water erosion and
surface run off. Unfortunately modern extensive
tillage farming methods and certain chemical
fertilizer and pesticide applications have killed off
earthworm field populations. With organic farming
and demand by consumers for organic products,
worms have an opportunity to repopulate America’s
farm land.
It must be emphasized that Living earthworms
(outside of the cocoon) have an extremely high mortality rate when transferred to a different soil than
they were born into. Earthworms born from a cocoon into a new soil will adapt to that soil and thrive.
VermiPod Inc’s patented encapsulated worm cocoons are a revolutionary and effective method for reintroducing earthworms back into the soil. VermiPod, Inc. has demonstrated that the encapsulation,
storage, shipping, inoculation, and shelf life viability of VermiPods™ are proven. VermiPod Inc’s
experienced management team stands ready to assist in the distribution and application of our patented
encapsulated worm cocoons.
About the company:
VermiPod Inc., founded by Bill Kreitzer, is located in Elliott, Illinois in the heart of America’s farm
land. Bill’s family came to the United States from Prussia in 1879 and established a general store and
farm in and around Elliott, Illinois. For three generations they worked, prospered and established their
mark on the surrounding community. Bill grew up working in his father’s furniture and appliance store
in Elliott. While attending Arizona State University, Bill established a life-long friendship with Barry
Goldwater, Jr., one of his trusted partners in the worm business.
After attending Arizona State University, Bill returned to Elliott to manage the family farm. Knowing
that just one foot of top soil had all the fertilizer needed to grow 150 bushels of corn every year for the
next 300 years, he became frustrated with having to purchase fertilizer every year. Bill asked, “why do
I have to buy this fertilizer every year?” His son told him that there were not enough micro-organisms
in the soil to convert the natural fertilizer. Hearing this, Bill began experimenting with ways to put
micro-organisms back into the soil, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.
Once Bill discovered that the earthworm, the largest of the micro-organisms, laid a cocoon with eggs
inside, he began experimenting with a process for collecting and protecting the earthworm cocoon. The
idea being to insert a sufficient quantity of earthworm cocoons into the soil to serve as a natural
fertilizer to replace the expensive chemical fertilizers that were negatively impacting his farm’s
profitability.
In 1991, the University of Illinois came to the Kreitzer farm and preformed research to learn how many
earthworms it would actually take to grow corps without the use of fertilizers. It was during this time
that Mr. Kreitzer began to develop the idea of planting earthworm cocoons (eggs) at the same time as
the crop was being planted. Bill’s work soon produced his first Patent on July 7, 1992, on one type of
encapsulation method; US Patent 5,127,186. This particular method of encapsulation was not
economically viable because of the high cost. It was not until December 28, 2004, when Bill received
his second Patent, US 6,834,614, “Method and Apparatus for Encapsulating, Implanting, and Reducing
the Mortality Rate in Earthworm Cocoons” that it became economically feasible. He called these
encapsulated cocoons VermiPods™. Now for the very first time, earthworm cocoons could be planted
like ordinary seed, which was previously biologically impossible.
In the Spring of 2009, Kreitzer and Goldwater had the good fortune to meet Mike Hecomovich, a
seasoned entrepreneur with a broad base of skills in general management, sales, marketing, customer
service and business development. Mike is an exceptional leader, mentor and visionary who
spearheaded the start-up and management of growth strategies and initiatives of nine different
companies. Mike had just sold his company, Global Marketing Services, the exclusive sales and
marketing organization that represented IBM Printing Supplies in North and South America, Europe,
the Middle East and Africa and was looking for a new adventure. In August of 2009, Mike became a
partner. The three VermiPod partners, Mike Hecomovich, Bill Kreitzer and Barry Goldwater, Jr.
complement each other and represent the management of VermiPod Inc.
Corporate Mission:
They are passionate about VermiPod’s corporate mission of helping revitalize and restore depleted
croplands throughout the U.S. and the world by the reintroduction of earthworms and enthusiastically
envision an exciting and prosperous future. They will pursue a distinctive strategy in the Agricultural
Industry by providing principles and procedures from start to finish. Farmers adopting their
methodology will no longer have to be completely dependent on commercial fertilizers ever again.
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Photos of the Kreitzer Farm:
Research is performed through another Company Mr. Kreitzer owns called Advanced Biotechnology
Inc. (ABI) Advanced Biotechnology Inc. has just completed two years of research on viability of
VermiPods™ in actual soil conditions. This research was funded by an $80,000 USDA Phase I grant
awarded to ABI in 2006. This 5 acre test plot has had no fertilizer added over these past 12 years
except for nitrogen. It has averaged over 200 bushels of corn and 60 bushels of beans during this time
period. It should be noted that there are over 500,000 earthworms per acre in this test plot.
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Description of the Venture:
VermiPod, Inc. has developed a system for agricultural soil management using earthworms. This
system is a commercially available method of introducing earthworms into agricultural sites through
injecting them, planting them, or by having a soil technician place them into the holes that are left being
during the soil testing process. This system takes into account various factors such as location, soil
type, moisture, temperature, additives, residues, intended use of the land, and past and future farming
practices.
About the Product:
Most knowledgeable gardeners covet earthworms' presence in their plots because their castings boost
nitrogen in the soil. They move deep-soil nutrients closer to plant roots. Their tunnels loosen soil,
improving aeration. Their activities help soil particles bond, balancing moisture retention and drainage.
Earthworms perform this same magic in compost, speeding the development of nutrient-dense,
moisture-dispersing humus. In sufficient numbers, earthworms will rejuvenate depleted soil. They will
shift soil pH closer to neutral and even control harmful nematodes. With their aid, sandy soil will drain
more slowly, clay-type earth will drain more quickly, and the availability of nutrients will improve.
Research has shown that introducing earthworms into soils can produce a significant increase in crop
yields. Earthworms accomplish this by providing channels for root growth, thus stimulating microbial
activity by mixing and aggregating the soil, improving the soil’s tilth (structure). This also increases
filtration and improves water-holding capacity which makes soil less susceptible to wind and water
erosion and surface run-off. When earthworms consume organic material (the fodder/crop residue), the
excrement (castings) is converted into a form of N, P and K (nitrogen, phosphorous and potash) which
is more readily available for the following crop. This reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
Organic farming has increased dramatically over the last few years. A recent study done by Cornell
University states, “Organic farming produces the same yields of corn and soybeans as does
conventional farming, but uses 30 percent less energy, less water and no pesticides”. William R.
Kreitzer’s patent has developed a commercial method of introducing earthworms into agricultural sites
which was previously biologically impossible. His patented encapsulation of earthworm cocoons (i.e.
VermiPods), is the key that allows easy reintroduction.
The company asserts that the use of chemical fertilizers, which pose an ongoing environmental threat to
our air, waterways and intensive tillage methods have destroyed the viability of our croplands over the
last fifty years. In order to maintain the ability of these lands to continue to grow crops, we must
switch to conservation tillage methods. The benefits of conservation tillage methods are widely known.
However, the time to successfully transition to such methods can be ill afforded by the majority of our
financially strapped farmers. We assert that the reintroduction of earthworms with VermiPod, Inc.
patented Encapsulated Earthworm Cocoons™ called VermiPods™ can speed cropland transition to
conservation tillage methods and is a key to the long-term health and viability of our soil to sustain
production year after year.
During World War II, the US Army Air Core sprayed anhydrous ammonia (NH3) on the dirt to make
runways for our bombers. Spraying NH3 on the dirt killed all the microorganisms in the soil and made
it like concrete.
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After spraying it they noticed that the over spray caused the vegetation to grow. Henceforth, a new
fertilizer had been discovered. The bad news now is for over a half century the farmer has slowly been
killing the earthworms off. It should be pointed out that the NH3 is not solely responsible for this
situation, all the current farming practices. (i.e. the use of insecticides and pesticides, as well as all the
tilling methods they have been using over all these years) have contributed. This is why it is imperative
that they switch to minimum till or no till once the VermiPod have been planted.
The bottom line is, that the earthworm population has been either eradicated or is in such low numbers,
that they are insignificant in their ability to help grow the farmers grow crops.
Species of Earthworms:
Different species of earthworms perform distinct jobs. Some will burrow horizontally, while others will
burrow vertically, some to a depth of twelve feet. This is why VermiPods™ are a specially selected
mixture of earthworm cocoons. Earthworm cocoons that are currently being encapsulated and made
into VermiPods™ are:
1) Aporrectodea caliginosa, the common pasture earthworm.
2) Dendrobaena veneta, the European night crawler
3) Eisenia fetida, the manure worm.
4) Eisenia Andrei, the Red Tiger worm
5) Lumbricus terrestris, the common night crawler or dew-worm.
6) Lumbricus rubellus*, the red marsh worm. Commonly found in places rich in organic matter and
moisture such as gardens and pastures.
The reproductive habits of different species of earthworms will vary. For example, the Aporrectodea
caliginosa earthworm will lay only one cocoon every twenty-eight days, while the Lumbricus rubellus
earthworm lays a cocoon every other day. Depending on the species of earthworm, each cocoon will
contain anywhere from one to eight eggs.
Products and/or Services:
VermiPod™ is the term used to describe a proprietary product that encapsulates earthworm cocoons
which can be planted in the ground in the same manner a seed is planted. We recommend that a farmer
plant 1,000 VermiPods per acre to get the most effective spread of worms. VermiPods have a great
advantage over normal live earthworms sold because of the extremely high mortality rate of the worms
during shipping and handling. Another advantage that VermiPods have is that it bypasses the challenge
of removing earthworms from their initial habitat to be placed in a new environment, which also has a
drastic affect on the life expectancy of earthworms. Encapsulated worms are easy to handle, ship and
plant.
Earthworm Nursery™. Insect Lore of Shafter, California has created a unique new toy to hatch baby
earthworms from real earthworm cocoons, and then watch them dig and grow in the special multichambered greenhouse habitat.
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The nursery has become popular with
schools and school children. We are
looking forward to providing this toy as
an educational learning aid to all
elementary and secondary schools
nationwide, via the USDA educational
programs. This learning aid will allow
students to watch earthworms hatch
from their cocoons. Insect Lore has just
returned from American International
Toy Fair in New York, where they have
made arrangements with distributors to
sell VP’s in Australia, Canada and The
European Union.
Here in the US, stores like Toys R Us
are selling the Nursery. If you Google the Earthworm Nursery there are almost one million (1,000,000)
references to it and 4,000 references to the VermiPod. This toy can also be used to educate the farmers
on why they need to improve the physical structure of their soil and show them that they will be able to
start decreasing the amount of fertilizers they currently use.
Super Saturated Soil™
VermiPod Inc’s proprietary soil
squares, consisting of a special
blend of earthworm castings and
Canadian Sphagnum Peat,
accelerate the germination process
and give the soil an extraordinary
water holding capability. The
special water holding ability is a
closely held trade secret by the
company. Plants potted in SSS
can go as long as two weeks before
needing any water. SSS is
currently included in the
Earthworm Nursery TM product.
However, the company recognizes
that this extraordinary soil
characteristic’s universal
application has the potential to
revolutionize the Nursery, Horticultural and Floricultural industries and plans to make it available to
them in stand-alone packaging for sale to their customer base.
Worm Tea is a byproduct of the production process of VermiPods. A liquid is collected during the
cocoon harvesting process and can be used as a high quality organic fertilizer. It provides an
economically and environmentally friendly solution to fertilizing crops, gardens and flowerbeds.
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Pharmaceutical industry:
Certain enzymes derived from the flour made from earthworm Lumbricus rubellus has shown to be
effective anticoagulant, which helps prevent thrombosis. There continues to be extensive research into
the pharmacological benefits of worm flour and thus a new potential market for VermiPod Inc.
Production Methods:
VermiPod™ production involves breeding earthworms in organic matter, such as peat or composting
materials, separating the earthworm cocoons from the breeding medium, (see photos) and encapsulating
them with durable but water-soluble organic coatings. VermiPod, Inc.’s present production facilities
can produce 20,000 VermiPods (VP’s) per day. Please note in first picture the worm tea that is being
collected and then transferred into the 1,000 gal tank. Current tea production is 400 gals a day.
The encapsulated cocoons can be produced in sizes similar to corn or soybean seeds. This provides the
commercial potential of introducing earthworms into farm lands using a seed planter or, more likely, in
standard soil-sampling equipment. VP’s are relatively easy to count and handle, thus facilitating
shipping and other inoculation protocols.
How to plant VermiPods:
VP’s should be kept under refrigeration until they are ready to be planted. They may be stored up to
three months or more under these conditions and still have up to a 70% hatching rate. VP’s hatching
times will vary with the type of environment in which they are placed. Depending on how long they
have been in storage. VermiPods™ have been known to hatch within a few days for the Toy. When
earthworms are encapsulated and become a VermiPod, it puts them into a diapauses state. When in this
state, it adds weeks or even months before they all hatch. VermiPods have successfully been kept for
over 18 months before they hatched. The minimum seeding rate for gardens is one VP per square foot.
We are currently recommending one thousand VP’s per acre for the agricultural industry. A heavier
seeding rate will produce quicker results. Garden and agricultural soils can easily support fifteen to
twenty worms per square foot.
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VermiPod Inc. will develop a system for agricultural soil management using earthworms. This system
will take into account various factors such as location, soil type, moisture, temperature, additives,
residues, intended use of the land, and past and future farming practices.
For best results, agricultural customers will need to follow VermiPods protocols and adopt VermiPods
soil management system to protect the viability of their newly planted VP’s. Some of our guidelines
include: 1) Break up any compacted soils that may exist by using a sub soil tillage tool like a paraplow. 2) Use of a strip till fertilizer applicator. 3) Planting on top of this strip of fertilizer. 4) Creation
of traffic patterns in the field to stop further compaction. 5) Use 28 % nitrogen solutions instead of
anhydrous ammonia to reduce earthworm mortality for at least 5 years. 6) Use pyrethroid (correct
spelling?) insecticides instead of organophosphate insecticides for at least 5 years. 7) The use of hybrid
seed that is compatible with no-till or strip-till farming.
There are three ways to put VermiPods into the ground.
By Soil Technicians
Most farmers’ routinely have their soil tested for N, P and K by certified soil testing laboratories.
When the soil sample is taken, the lab technician leaves behind, a hole. The technician can then place
VermiPods™ into this hole. In some instances, this will be a preferable method.
They can also be planted along with ordinary seed during spring planting.
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They may also be injected into the ground using an injection applicator. (US Patent 7,478,604). During
this process the VermiPods™ are circulated until the protection material is washed off. When the
cocoons are in suspension, they are simply injected into the ground. VP’s can be placed into the
ground, any time during the year, as long as the ground is not frozen.
Potential Markets:
The marketing of VermiPods™ will be worldwide. In the United States they will be sold to farmers,
established retail outlets, agricultural suppliers such as seed companies, Catalogue merchandise
magazines and the internet by knowledgeable sales personnel. The overall marketing strategy will focus
on educating the farmer about the beneficial impact of VermiPods. Several major seed companies have
already shown an interest in the VP product and some have asked for pre-mixing rights to blend VP’s
with their corn and soybean seeds as an added- value product.
Therapeutic Drug to Combat Thrombosis.
VermiPod, Inc. has also been contacted by a Chinese company to provide it with the worm flour from
*Lumbricus rubellus earthworms. When dried and ground into a fine powder, it is used by the
pharmaceutical markets in China as a therapeutic drug for thrombosis.
Vermi-composting, uses earthworms to convert waste faster and make it safer to grow plants or microorganisms consumed by livestock! Many organic byproducts of agricultural production and processing
are currently seen as "wastes" and thus become potential environmental hazards. Likewise, leaves, lawn
clippings and restaurant food wastes have become problematical because their bulk fills limited landfill
sites quickly. In some instances where the "output-becoming-input" model has been tried, we may have
created other dangers. Currently wastes from poultry confinement systems are fed to other types of
livestock although there is some public concern about this practice.
Organic wastes can become safe soil amendments or substrate for the production of plants or feed for
livestock when properly processed. Mushrooms and worms are two examples of products that can be
raised on the wastes from other enterprises. Besides the primary product, the "wastes" have value and
are a source of revenue and profit.
Worms eat many types of organic waste materials and convert them into "castings." This material is
highly valued as a soil amendment because it contains plant-available yet stable nutrients. It is
biologically active as well and apparently contains plant hormones which can provide other advantages.
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Traditional composting is another way to reduce bulk and to improve the safety and general quality of
organic wastes. The final result in both cases is a valuable soil amendment.
If it is not applied back to the soil of the farm where it is generated, castings can be marketed to the
landscape industry for use in landscape plantings or as a component of potting soil mixes. Another
product is the worms themselves, which can also be marketed or further processed to become a
livestock feed supplement.* Organic vermicompost gives your crops the best fertilizer on the planet.
*By Alice Beetz, NCAT Agriculture Specialist June 1999
Additional markets include home gardening, land remediation, research universities, nurseries, forestry,
waste recycling and the educational toy industry. By-products include earthworms, worm tea (a liquid
fertilizer), worm compost, and worm flour, all of which should prove to be significant revenue
producing products.
VermiPod Inc. has also partnered with Gardens Alive!, one of the largest home and garden catalog
companies in the United States. Gardens Alive was the first to introduce VermiPods to the horticultural
industry in 2004 and became a vested partner in 2009. They will again be providing VP’s in their
August 2010 catalog.
Applications of this unique patented product (US 6,834,614) extend well beyond the horticultural,
agriculture and toy industries. We will also be marketing VermiPods™ the Floriculture, Forestry,
Mined lands (Land reclamation), Fishing, Livestock, Drug and Educational Industries.
Conclusion:
Earthworms have always provided a better way to manage agricultural soils. Organic farming allows
earthworm populations to grow while improving soil properties and enhancing soil fertility.
VermiPods, Inc. has developed a patented encapsulation method for the protection, storage, delivery
and planting of earthworm cocoons. We anticipate that the largest potential market for encapsulated
earthworm cocoons will be in the agriculture industry. The Home and Garden market has already been
proven with over 650,000 sold by a single catalog company in 2004. The toy business is growing
everyday and the floricultural and pharmaceutical industry looks quite promising.
For additional information regarding VermiPods™ please contact Mike, Bill or Barry at
www.VermiPod.com.
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