Worm Farming.

BilliGoatsGruff (Billi) · #1 01-07-2016, 07:41 PM

My Mum has given me her old worm farm and I was wondering if anyone would like to share some tips on getting started? Eg; what soil do I use? Is newspaper fine, or is the ink a no-no?

TIA

xelasnave · #2 01-07-2016, 08:36 PM

Keep them in a cool place often the boxes are black and they get to hot.
Mine used to escape so devise something to prevent them leaving.
Give them plenty of food. I dont know about the paper. When up and running run water thru and collect it and of course use it on your garden. And here is a tip if you use kitty litter... Use laying pellets instead od kitty litter it is much cheaper and it mulches up well.

Have you given them names yet?

Alex

drylander (Peter) · #3 02-07-2016, 12:10 AM

Newspaper is fine but not the glossy or stuff. Don't use soil. For a bed use damp coir or damp shredded paper then lay food scraps over it and just keep adding to it coffee grounds and tea leaves are good. a little garden lime every so often to keep it sweet and let them have fun. Try not to let it get too wet as that will encourage them to escape. As stated keep in a cool place in summer and they will go forth and multiply.....or come in 5th

Pete

AussieTrooper (Ben) · #4 02-07-2016, 06:45 PM

I used to do it years ago and sell them.
Keep it in a damp shady place. I used to throw a few hessian sacks over the top, and wet it on hot days.
Starting off with soil is ok, but make sure it's good stuff to start with. Maybe let it mulch down for a few weeks/months before you put any worms in it.

BilliGoatsGruff (Billi) · #5 03-07-2016, 07:08 AM

Thanks for the advice! I went to our local cheap shop last night, but their coir blocks were all sold out, so I'll try Renmark today. My neighbor said to chop food scraps as small as possible, so that the worms can really chomp through them.
Hopefully there will be no need for escapees. It's basically a refuge house for all the little worms that never got used on our fishing outings. If they try to escape they may just end up on a hook!
There's a really nice spot under our lemon tree that would be good for the worm farm. It's really shady and stays damp for most of the year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Have you given them names yet?

Alex

I'm thinking of naming the whole lot Alfred. Alfred One, Alfred Two.... Alfred Nine-Hundred and Ninety-nine.
Great idea about using laying pellets. Of course, if the cats start clucking and growing feathers, I'll know it's a bit much

BilliGoatsGruff (Billi) · #6 03-07-2016, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drylander

As stated keep in a cool place in summer and they will go forth and multiply.....or come in 5th

Pete

5th place was my standard finishing position in sports events, so I adopted it as my "lucky" number. If the worms come in 5th, we'll know they're not fast enough to get away

xelasnave · #7 03-07-2016, 02:22 PM

I think you need to buy a box of them like 1000 I never got anywhere just putting a couple in..
Alex

Larryp (Laurie) · #8 03-07-2016, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xelasnave

I think you need to buy a box of them like 1000 I never got anywhere just putting a couple in..
Alex

Yes, they are not ordinary old garden earth worms. Bunnings sell them.

BilliGoatsGruff (Billi) · #9 03-07-2016, 05:07 PM

There are places online that sell them. I think $45 for 1000. According to the instructions that came with the farm you need 1000 per person, so we'd need roughly 4000

BilliGoatsGruff (Billi) · #10 03-07-2016, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larryp

Yes, they are not ordinary old garden earth worms. Bunnings sell them.

I just came from Bunnings and never thought to ask. My friend's son works at one of the worm places around here so I'll see if she can get me some for mates rates

xelasnave · #11 03-07-2016, 09:05 PM

Ok while we are at it... If you cut a worm in half do you end up with two live worms?
Alex

MarkMas (Mark) · #12 03-07-2016, 09:22 PM

Don't put onions or meat with your worms. Onions don't agree with them and meat encourages rats.

drylander (Peter) · #13 03-07-2016, 10:58 PM

Oh and definitely not potato...they kill them

Pete

BilliGoatsGruff (Billi) · #14 04-07-2016, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkMas

Don't put onions or meat with your worms. Onions don't agree with them and meat encourages rats.

I definitely wouldn't put meat in there. Imagine the mess after a week. Ick

Quote:

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Ok while we are at it... If you cut a worm in half do you end up with two live worms?
Alex

It would definitely be a quick (and twisted) way of increasing your worm community if it worked.