subject: Starting A Worm Farm- All you need to Know [print this page] Starting A Worm Farm- All you need to Know
Let's start with the setup. Here is what you will need:
Worm Bin
Worms
Dirt
Worm Food
I will go through each item and talk about the choices of what to buy and how to buy it
Worm bins can be homemade or you can buy them.
Homemade worm bin info:
Use plastic instead of wood so that it doesn't start smelling. Make sure that the bin is deep enough that the worms can escape the sunlight, but not so deep that you can't get the worms out. You also want to make sure that the bins are breathable (punch holes in the side and bottom to let excess water drain out).
Store bought Worm Bins: The two most popular worm bins are Nature's Footprint Worm Factory 360 and the Gusanito Worm Farm. Both use the exact same worm bin trays, however, you will find the Gusanito Worm Farm for around $50 cheaper than the Nature's Footprint model. The difference is that the Gusanito model does not come with all the extra stuff- dvd, instructional booklet, and a cheap rake. I personally find them to be of equal quality.
Benefits of Storebought: Storebought bins are nice because after the worms get done eating in one of the trays, they migrate to the next highest level tray. That's important because you can take the dir below and throw it in your garden without loosing any worms or having to sift through dirt to find worms. Additionally, extra trays are relatively cheap to buy.
Worms: Two types of worms are typically used: Red Worms and European Nightcrawlers. Typical starter kits include 1-2 pounds of worms.
Red Worms:
Red Worms are the most popular composting worm because they are the most voracious eaters. Red Worms are tiny creatures and if the conditions are right, they can eat up to their body weight a day in food. Prices for Red Worms typically run $25-$30 a pound.
European Nightcrawlers
Nightcrawlers are larger worms. You will have fewer per pound, but they are more resilient during winters and they are better worms for fishing. These worms typically are more expensive, running ~$35-$40 a pound (including shipping).
Dirt:
Dirt is something every worm bin needs. There are some great Youtube videos that explain how to make dirt for your worm bin. Usually, starter kits include coir, which is mixed with shredded newspapers to start your worm bin off right. Other options include peat moss and compost that you already have in your garden. The most important things to know about dirt are these:
Don't let it get too acidic or base. Keep the temperature above freezing and below 90*F. Keep the dirt moist at all times.
Worm Food:
Worms eat anything organic. So, anything that was alive and is now dead, they'll eat. That includes just about all your food scraps, plus paper and dryer lint. Again, stay away from things that are too acidic. They love moist things, like oranges and watermelon.
Uses for Worms:
Worms are a great composting machine. They transform the dirt into a natural soil amendment that you can use to
