Worm Farm help needed

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #1 17-05-2009, 12:11 PM

Anyone here with experience with worm farms?

The kids and I are setting up our worm farm today.
It's a prefab job that consists of a base where the worm juice collects, then there are 3 perforated trays that sit on top.
One set of instructions say that the worms live on the bottom/first tray and the worms work their way up, others recommend that you set them up on the top tray so they can work their way down.

Maybe I should put them in the middle tray then they can go either way.

Liz · #2 17-05-2009, 12:56 PM

Hey jjj .... yes, I have one which I need to empty as FULL of worm castings.
have found my instructions ... and you put them in the 2nd bottom tray (first working tray) over the top of the bedding stuff and put worms on top, and cover with wet hessian or newspaper. Then put the next tray on and put in your food scraps, and cover with damp cover - i usually use newspaper.
Keep it damp ... out of sunlight or they will get cooked. The worms will work their way up to the food, and the castings are left behind in the lower tray.
Good luck

BerrieK · #3 17-05-2009, 01:10 PM

Happy worming jjj!!

My understanding is that, as Liz just said, you put the wormies in the second bottom tray (the bottom one collects the worm 'tea'). They eat their way up - think of the way mulch disintegrates in the garden...all the broken down bits sit below the top layers (probably due to moisture and nitrogen content..and wormies!).

In wet weather the worms may migrate up into the top tray / lid to avoid drowning ...you just move them back down to the lower level and try to get the farm into a less watery position.

Try to avoid citris (too acidic), onions / garlic / shallots (again too acidic) or protein (you'll get a smelly bunch of maggots - good for fishing but not worms).

Good luck - post us some pics!!

[1ponders] (Paul) · #4 17-05-2009, 01:47 PM

Quick summary.

1. Liquid collection tray. Empty every couple of day onto your favourite veggies.
2. 1st removable tray (tray 2) contains bedding material (initially) and worms. If the bedding material doesn't touch the bottom of the next upper tray (tray 3) when you put that on, use only the one bottom tray and feed into that until its full enough so that when you put the next tray on it 'sits' on the first tray worm castings.
3. Second working tray. The worms need to be able to easily pass from the first tray to the second tray. This is why you need to make sure the first one is full before starting the second tray. Eventually the worms will migrate up to this tray.
4. Don't put another tray on until the last one is full (tray 4). Then stop feeding the worms for a week or so, so that they all move from the bottom tray (2) up into the next tray (3). Then you can remove the bottom tray and put the worm castings into the garden.

It can take a while to fill a tray. Don't over feed, add a bit of lime every few weeks if its a bit yucky, flush with a few liters of water first if needed and put that on your garden. Under most situations you will only have two trays on there at a time; the bed tray and the working tray.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #5 17-05-2009, 02:14 PM

Thanks everyone.
Your prompt help is greatly appreciated.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #6 17-05-2009, 02:18 PM

Funny how I don't mind worms but when it comes to caterpillars and fly larvae (can't even write the word) I'm the biggest woose out.

go figure

Liz · #7 17-05-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Funny how I don't mind worms but when it comes to caterpillars and fly larvae (can't even write the word) I'm the biggest woose out.

go figure

I was going to add that dont TOUCH the worms, cos they are yucky, dirty and squishy .... but thought youre a farmer gal who doesnt worry about those things .... so you love caterpillars and fly larva ... not!!

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #8 17-05-2009, 03:11 PM

Hi,

What a forum

. You can get help here on anything I think now, we have the expertise

. Not being snide either,

Cheers

TrevorW · #9 17-05-2009, 03:19 PM

I had a worm farm once but the Dr soon fixed that

I thought being worms they would'nt care where you put them as longs as it's dark and damp

Happy worming

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #10 17-05-2009, 03:24 PM

Tell the truth Jeanette - you wanted a worm farm becaues you thought that you'd get some good worm gears for a new mount

Sorry, but couldn't resist.

Trevor beat me to what I was originally going to say lol. I still haven't figured out how the trays are inserted...lol!!!

Dave "bad bad boy" (they call me that at work)

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #11 17-05-2009, 06:44 PM

groan@David and Trevor.

Those who know me know that I never have trouble with worms.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #12 17-05-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

groan@David and Trevor.

Those who know me know that I never have trouble with worms.

double groan

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #13 17-05-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

double groan

Still not enough groaning

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #14 17-05-2009, 07:41 PM

@Paul

TrevorW · #15 17-05-2009, 07:45 PM

Hey not fair

As the worm turns so are the days of our lives

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #16 17-05-2009, 08:25 PM

rofl @ Trevor.

Dave

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #17 17-05-2009, 08:34 PM

So profound Trevor.

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #18 17-05-2009, 08:54 PM

Two male silk worms wanted the affections of a beautiful female silk worm. She said that she wanted which ever one could win a race.

So the two silk worms started racing across to the finish line.

However ... they ended up in a tie!

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #19 17-05-2009, 09:02 PM

Pretty funny for a clean one

TrevorW · #20 17-05-2009, 09:16 PM

Geoff I don't think you have a thread of evidence to support that

Cheers