Worm Farm
Feeding organic waste to worms gives people an effective and easy way to turn food scraps into a rich fertilizer. Adding worm casts or worm tea (liquid produced in the composting process) to the soil promotes soil fertility, moisture retention, and encourages plant growth. Worm composting is easy and fun and can be done indoors or outdoors. All you need to set up your worm farm is:
A container
Bedding material
The worms
Suitable food
Make your own worm farm
A worm farm is an ideal way for pre-schools and schools to reduce food scraps from their waste. It is also an excellent way for children to learn about nature, recycling and the environment, and makes a fascinating addition to any schools science or environmental curriculum. Try making a worm farm out of recycled tyres.
A container
You will need to get one or more suitable worm containers, which can be either plastic, wood or metal. Use your imagination and recycle an old bath tub or wooden box, a plastic basin, bin, or crate. Worm farm containers can either be bought from your local hardware store or garden centre, or you can make your own out of recycled materials. Wooden containers provide good insulation, and because they are absorbent, excess moisture in the wormery may be less of a problem. Plastic containers are convenient but have a tendency to keep the compost too wet at times. Experiment and find out what works for you and your worms.
Bedding material
Worms require moist bedding in which to lie and lay their eggs. Shredded paper with a couple handfuls of soil is ideal.
The worms
The type of earthworm suitable for farming is the tiger worm Eisenia fetida. This species prefers to live at or near the surface of the soil or compost and does not burrow into the ground. Tiger worms especially like to eat moist organic matter such as food scraps.
Food
Worms are omnivorous (eat both plants and meat) so most organic waste can be fed to them. They will eat most kitchen waste - including vegetable and fruit scraps or peelings and shredded paper.
Suitable food:
Handy towels
Tea bags/leaves
Grinds/filters
Bread scraps
Cereal
Ice cream
Biscuit crumbs
Meat
Fish
Dairy products
Unsuitable food:
Onion and Garlic
Spicy foods
Citrus or acidic fruit should be given in small quantities only (e.g. lemons, oranges and kiwifruit)
July 18th, 2007 at 1:34 am
Daniel,
How do I get some tiger worm Eisenia fetida?
I am very interested into Vermi but no experiences. Please help
Thank you
Tet Wong
July 20th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Dear Daniel,
I would like to get some worms as I live next to a park with trees that sheds some 5kgs of brown leaves dailyinto my garden and even more in Jan Feb, July and August.
Two years ago, we contact someone who was featured in the local papers.He offered to sell us 1kg of worms at RM1000. Do I need 1kg of worms?
How many worms will be effective for a standard pail-ful of refuse?
Best regards
Connie
July 20th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Hi Tet Wong & Connie,
Sorry for the late reply. Glad that you guys are interseted in the Vermiculture (Worm Compost). I don’t know where you guys live, but if you could email me tell where you live - I’ll can get you the worm. As for Connie, please read the articles I put up onmy blog. The worms can eat up to half their weight daily. Btw, it will definitely not be $1000per kilo!!!
July 20th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Dear Daniel,
Yes, in the last couple of hours I have gone through your blog and saw your very innovative use of old tyres to create the worm bin. From what I read of your journeys through life, I trust you are now based in Penang. Anyways, I live in Petaling Jaya; specifically Damansara Jaya.
Hope to hear from you.
Best regards, Connie
July 21st, 2007 at 12:29 am
Hi Connie,
Thanks for taking your time going through my blog. Hope you are blessed. I’ll get in touch with you soon. God bless!
July 30th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Hi Daniel,
I am staying in Selayang, Selangor,
I don\’t have you email address?
Thank you
August 5th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
DEar Daniel,
Do you know where I can get recycle bins for compost in Penang?
March 29th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I am a landscaper. My wife is the owner of a company called In Her Garden (Indigenous Herbatious Garden), producing vermicompost as we are strongly into recyclying and kitchen and garden waste management to help our environment. This product is called ‘Wormie’ and we strongly encourage anyone who would like to do this. To help you start, ‘Wormie’ and his friends can be in your home for RM350.00, a complete starter kit that consists of:
1. Bedding
2. Container
3. Worms
4. One week supply of food
5. A ‘How To’ manual
6. 500gm worm castings (conditioner)
If you would like to purchase these starter kits, please call me at 012-2358565 or email me at lester.olc@gmail.com and I will set one up for you. I am in old klang rd Petaling Jaya Selangor
May 27th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Hi Daniel,
You still have worms for sale?
I also contacted Lester to find out whether he sells worms per kg.
Thanks!
In love and light,
Alex
September 7th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
We are selling 2 type of eartheworm:
1- Lumbricus Rubellus (Red EarthWorms)
2- Eisenia Fetida (Tiger Earthworms)
We also provive Organic fertilizer
For further info and any order n price do contact us at 0192186010 or activeagroenterprise@gmail.com
December 28th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
My father wanted to start a worm farm but he dunno where to start. Please call 012-960 8021 if you can supply tiger worms… btw, he cant speak english so pls speak in chinese or bm… thanks!