Becoming a successful worm farmer is actually quite easy to do! Worms are dynamic little creatures that can dramatically improve the ecology of your garden. Not only will you be able to use your organic waste, you will also be improving the wellbeing of your plants by producing powerful plant food for your plants (worm juice).
Did you know that a worm can eat half its body weight in food in one day!
By following these few simple steps, you too can become a worm farmer!
Pick a Location
A space that is warm all year round, but has shade in the heat of summer (preferably all year shade)
Set up your farm
For your convenience, your local hardware or garden centre sell prefabricated and tiered worm farms that can be easily installed on your property. Each level will be perforated, allowing the worms to move freely around so they can feed. On the second tier of the farm add layers of soaked bedding (wet newspaper, hessian or specially prepared compost). Add your worms to this layer and then gently cover the worms with a few more layers of bedding. As time goes on, the vermicompost and liquid fertiliser will seep through the bedding and drip down to the third layer for your collection. Once diluted with water, this liquid gold will be a great booster for the nutrient levels in your soil. Happy soil, happy plants!
Feed your worms
Remember to feed your worms regularly, but do not over feed them. Worms love eating vegetable and fruit scraps (cut to small pieces), coffee grounds, tea bags, crushed eggshells, pet hair, shredded or soaked paper including pizza boxes and small amounts of grass clippings.
Keep your worms happy
This is done by keeping them moist. They can survive longer without food, but they must be kept moist at all times. If you are heading away on holiday, add a few extra layers of soaked (shredded) newspaper or wet hessian.
After approximately five months, your worms would have bred, with the increase in happy worms, your farm will produce vermicompost for your garden sustainability for years to come.
*Vermicompost – Dilute 2ltrs in 10ltr watering can. Use on all plants for happy, healthy growth (except roses and citrus)
