Worm farming, turning waste into gold

There is NO doubt that worms are one of the best things for your garden. Worm farming is ‘cold’ composting as opposed to ‘hot’ composting for garden waste. The worms’ job is to live at your place in the worm farm & decompose organic matter.

Composting worms are ideal for those of us that only have a small space to farm as well. No need for huge gardens or yards. They work really hard to provide our gardens with the most powerful products called ‘vermicast’ (worm casts) and also the liquid waste which is highly concentrated liquid fertiliser that is collected, diluted in 10:1 ratio and sprayed or watered over plants and seedlings.

There are many types of worm farms on the market or you can make your own out of some containers. Start with a solid base, then add others with perforations on top. The aim is to build layers for the worms to move through. Look for a base that collects the liquid (which will drain from the top), and a tap at the bottom means it’s possible to collect the liquid in a bucket to dilute 10:1. There are some great websites to help you get started.

When setting up any worm farm a cool, dry space is ideal, definitely not in the hot afternoon sun. Keeping the farm moist with damp hessian cloth or wet newspapers on the top layer is very important too. (They will eat the newspaper so keep replacing it.)

Worms like food scraps, especially pumpkin skins & eggshells, (but crunch them up a bit first). It gives them variety in their diet. Coffee grinds & tea leaves are also great. Don’t use any citrus or onions which are acidic. I don’t use meat or dairy either - stops vermin. Worms in a farm can eat twice their body weight! The bigger your farm - the more waste it eliminates & turns to gold goodness.

I have been worm farming for years (I bought one from a local manufacturer made out of a standard Sulo style bin recently after using a home made one) and love that I can use my kitchen food scraps and waste as well as the habitual weekend papers!  Also being an avid gardener knowing that I can make my own vermicast which is a potent chemical-free fertiliser I can dilute makes me happy. And my garden loves it because it aids in holding in moisture & improving the soil condition.

Why not set up a worm farm, it’s also a great activity for the whole family & children get to see what happens & be a part of the whole process.

If everyone got themselves a worm farm our compostable garbage would be reduced by 1 tonne per person per year. Keeping food & garden waste out of landfill helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions & the rate we fill our landfill spaces. You can’t beat both those realities!