Getting Started on a Worm Farm

Getting started on a worm farm is not that complicated, all you need is a bit of passion for recycling and some trivia about worms.

Here's some worm trivia that could help motivate and inspire you with your worm farm venture.

How much do worms eat? Well, mature worms can eat as much as their own body weight every day.

For those that are just starting out in worm farming and would like to know how to make their worms eat more and be more productive.

Simply shred, mash or blend food scraps which will make it more digestible and easy to consume by the worms.

Also maintain worm bed temperature at around 23-25 degrees celsius, since it is at these temperatures that worms feed better.

Lastly, avoid acidic foods, since it messes up the worms’ digestive system.

Here are some things you may also want to avoid feeding your worms: manure, onions, citrus fruits or peelings, garlic, garden waste sprayed with insecticides, dairy products like milk and cheese or meat.

Here are some more frequently asked questions that can help.

Is it ok to water the worm bed regularly? Watering the farm will enhance the production of liquid fertilizer, but make sure not to pour too much water into it or it could drown the worms.

Take note that food wastes are about 80% water, which is released as the worms break them down.

If water is poured over the system every couple of weeks, be sure to just add water only as much as getting the worm bed damp and cool, you will have a constant supply of liquid fertilizer.

Will I be able to harvest more worms? The answer is no, worms regulate themselves with any given or available space and the amount of food administered to them.

Is it normal for these worms to gather on the lid of the farm when it is raining? Yes, since it's a normal response for these worms to react this way during the rainy season to avoid getting drowned. Simply move the worm farm boxes over to an area where it does not get exposed to too much rain and replace the worms back to the farm bedding.

Why are worms not moving to the top level of the tray? This may be so because you may have added new food before the worms have consumed the previous feeding batch.

Worms have the instinct to stay with leftover food and will not search for a new food source until it consumes what was left previously.

Before you add new trays, stop feeding the worms for at least five days to ensure all existing food has been consumed.

Also make sure that the level of castings in the working tray needs to be high enough for the worms to pass easily up to the next tray.

Can worms endure high temperatures? Worms can tolerate a temperature range between 10-30 degrees Celsius.

If temperatures get hotter than its tolerable levels, move the farm into a shady, cool area where it could regulate the moisture and humidity of the worm boxes.

In cold temperatures, make sure to cover the box with old garments or carpets, blankets and wool shavings to sustain the warm temperature.

It is also best advised to feed the worms at least a quarter more than it should, since more food digested by the worms allow for more heat being generated in their bodies.

So take heed of these ideas and you can be on your way to getting started on a worm farm with confidence.